The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-06-15
CHAPTER XII.
Pl0tters 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 a fortune.
She took no risks in her movements.
RalstOn did not know of her deStina-
ton, 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 large sum Of money,
She made sure that no one followed
her to the train To break any posi-
BILE trail she changed cars at a large
city midway to HOpedale and made
several mysterious purchases at a GUS
TONER'S and at a hairdresser's shop.
When the next morning Beatrice
Mercer alighted from a sleeper on the
train at the nearest railroad town to
Hopedale, and took a carriage to her
home, her best friend would not have
recognized her.
For she was completely disguised.
She had come to act a part, and she
had come fully prepared. In dress
and face she had effected marvellous
change, and when she reached the
Hopedale hotel and ordered suit of
rooms, no one formerly familiar with
the trim, neat figure and rather at
tractive face Of the half-pay school
teacher Of Hopedale seminary, about
the village, would for moment have
suspected the true identity Of this new
Beatrice Mercer.
She had come hither with an object,
a definite object. She had come to
seek a trace Of the man she had
loved, Raymond Marshall. She had
resolved to win his love. Ruthlessly
she had striven to destroy his faith in
Edna Deane as ruthlessly she had
covered the trait of the young girl,
wien she had DISAPPEARED, she had
had robbed her trusting friend of
name. father and fortune, and now she
would steal her loyal, brokcn-hearted
lover from her. This was her plot,
and her spirit never quailed at the up
braidings of an outraged, hardened
conscience.
He shall be mine! Wealth is moth
ing without him." she had told her.
self and forthwith she set herself at
/ work 10 cansCmaaEe her designs She
had mOney~-that could ihtly i1ltor1lS:
| ton, cooperation. She had annually
in reserve, and after remaining In her
room to rest until noon dispatched
a messenger for DR.. Raphael Simms.
This man was physician who re-
sided near the village. He was Il
hard, coarse-featured man of about
forty, and her only living relative in
the world. He had very small pract-
Toe, for people generally disliked him,
but he combined with his profession
q mortgage loaning office, and cared
very little for anything except money.
A half cousin of Beatrices father, these
two had rarely met one another, but
Beatrice knew the man fully, and com
pretended that she could rely on his
secrecy and cooperation where there
was moneyed reward assured him for
his services.
At about o'clock in the afternoon
DR.. Raphael Simms was rlshered into
! the parlor of the suite of rooms ut the
| hotel occupied by Beatrice. lie evi.
dently supliposad' 'he had been aept 20,
by patient, for bowling aWkWarlly
to her he looked somewhat puz4!ed
as he said:
You are the lady who sent fol
meT'
Yes, DOCTOR" responded Beatrice.
"You are ill-some friend"
mo, I want your personal services
not your professional advice. You dt
not know me? Look!"
Her visitor started violently as Be
atrice removed the false front of hail