The Dickinson press., 1893-07-01
CHAPTER NJ.
PlOtters in Council.

The false Alice RalSton. the real
Beatrice Mercer. Went straight to Hope
dale after leaving the home where she
had found a father and Il fortune.
She took 10 risks in hcr movements.
R;lston did not know of her deStina-
tion had not known that She was at
the Hopedale institution through the
years Rodney. the man who had died
at the bridge. his friend. his advisor.
had the sole charge of placing the real
Edna at the seminary, for as Be
atrice knew. when father and daughter
had parted years before the former
was fugitive from justice.
She had told the anxious Ralston
that she would return speedily. She
had secured a large sum of money,
She made sure that no one followed
her to the train. To break any posi-
BILE trail she changed cars ut Il large
city midway to Nopcdalc and made
several mysterious purchases at GUS
TONER'S and ut IL hairdrcsscr's shop.
When the next morning Beatrice
Mercer alightcd from Il sleeper on the
train ut the nearest railroad town. to
Hopedalc, and took Il carriage to her
recognized her.
For she was completely disguised.
She had come to act part, and she
had come fully prepared. In dress
and face she had effected Il marvellous
| change, and when she reached the
| Hope(lale hotel and ordered Il suit OF
| rooms, no one formerly familiar will
| the trim, neat figure and rather at
| tractive face of the half-pay schoo
teacher of Hoprtlale seminary, abOu
| the village. would for moment have
suspected tho true identity of this new
Beatrice Mercer
She had come hitller with an object
definite object. She had come t
sock u trace of the man She hat
loved, Raymond Marshall. She ha,
resolved to win his love. Ruthlessl
she had strivcn to destroy his faith Il
Edna Deane as ruthlessly she ha
covered the trail of the young CIR
wien she had DISAPPEARED, she ha
had robbed her trusting friend 9
name, father and fortune, and now sh
would steal her loyal, broken-hearte
lover from her. This was her plO
and her spirit never quailed at the III
braidings of an outraged, hardcne
conscience.
HE shall be mine! Wealth is notl
ing without him. she had told he
self, and forthwith she set herself
work to consrmmate her designs. ST
had money-tllat could buy informs
ton, cooperation. She had annal
in reserve, and after remaining in HI
room to rest until noon dispatche
a messenger for DR.. Raphael Simms
This man was physician who r
sided near the village. He was
hard, coars,-tcaturcd man Of abou
forty. and her only living relative il
the world. He had Il very small pract
ice, for people generally disliked him
but lie combined with his profession
mortgage loaning office, and carct
very little for anything except money
A half cousin of Beatrice's father, thes
two had rarely met one another, bu
Beatrice knew the man fully, and com
pretended that she could rely on hi
secrecy and cooperation where ther
was moncyed reward assured him fo
I his services.
4 At about . o'clock in the Afternoon
DIR. Raphael Simms was ushered int
the parlOr Of the suite of rooms ut til
hotel occupied by Beatrice. He ev
IDENTIFY supposed he had been sent fo
by patient. for bowling awkward
to her he looked somewhat puZZlet
d as he said:
y You are the lady who sent Il
u meY'
y Yes, DOCTOR" responded Beatrice
Z You are ill-somc friend"
NO. 1 want your personal service
.r not your professional advice. You I
u, not know me? Look!'
le Her visitor started violently as r
q. atrice removed the false front of ha
"a and her glasses for the first time, i
vealing her true identity.