The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-06-22
n 1.>4zeAsz ss@2G
Z YRvEt IS STtEL,{
NaaSISAnasS zseeaa 49, lazgaszssagl
o07AAzgg AzgG2SSg


ity, to save an honored family name
from reproach-would 1t not win the
gratitude pity, and pity love?
She had other final resources In re-
serve. She had prepared plans calmly,
systematically. This was but the first
step. Oh! she could not fail
She arose and stole to the door; she
peered in. There sat the stern-faced,
implacable lawyer, the fatal documents
spread out before him. There, too,
wan-faced, wretched, lost, shrank the
father of Raymond Marshall
She stepped boldly across the thresh-
old of the room. Not until she had
reached the table and her shadow fell
across it did lawyer and victim glance
up, with vivid start
"Madam!-Why--" began the for
mer.
II have come to purchase those docu-
ments"
Her hand pointed to the pile of notes
and securities, almost touching them.
In profound wonderment the lawyer
regarded her. With gasp of hope,
suspense, dread, Col, Marshall stared
at her yelled face.
You have come" repeated the
lawyer, vaguely.
.T5 ibGy those documents!"
'Why-I do not understanding what
right?'' IN
Are they for sale?"
Her voice rang out sharply.
ITO Col. Marshall or his authorized
agent, yes, but to q stranger
Beatrice Mercer turned to the bewil-
dered colonel.
II am no stranger, but a friend"
she half-whispered in his dumfounded
ear. II came to save you," and then
aloud "Col. Marshall, you authorize
me to act for you?"
The half-stunned colonel could only
nod like an automaton.
"Ten thousand dollars is the amount,
believe" went on Beatrice, calmly.
There is the money. See that it is
right"
She had flashed a heap of bank
| notes of large denominations before
the lawyers sight She took up the
papers on the table.
This is the forged $1,000 note, be-
| heveT' she said, selecting one from
| the many papers. "Col Marshall, it
shall never trouble you again"
With two twists Of her dainty but
supple wrists, she severed the fatal
document in twain.
These other papers shall keep for
a day or two. The amount is correct?"
she demanded of the lawyer. "Col.
| Marshall, you are free from debt and
dread alike. I trust we all know how
to keep a secret. / would like to
speak few words to you alone"
| The lawyer had witnessed some
strange scenes in his professional ca
reer but the denouement of the pres
ent inexplicable one left him speech
less.
| Col Marshall, like one in a dream,
| followed the woman who had mysteri-
ously saved him from ruin and dis
honor from the room.
Then, realizing that he had been
snatched from the brink Of a preci-
pice, he reeled to table in the outer
office for support, and burst into tears.
Woman, angel: delivererw he fairly
sobbed. who sent you here? You
have saved to me all / hold dear on
earth. My tears, my prayers shall be
yours till my last breath. l shall teach
my own to reverence you. I shall re.
pay you dollar for dollar What can ]
say, what can do to acknowledge, to
repay this stupendous obligation that
crushes, Stuns, mystifies me?"
Zone single favor"
Name it-oh! name it!'
ASK no questions, feel no obligations
1 only ask that tomorrow evening al
dusk you come to the hotel and to the
apartments Of Miss Leslie, and bring
your son Raymond with you"
She was gone like a fash with the
words. The colonel stood staring after
her as If she were some wrath. His
eyes closed and he SWayed like on In
a dream He fastened after her a min
ute later to demand q more lucid ex
PLANTATION of her strange intercession In
his behalf, but when he reached the
street, like the fairy in the story-books
she had disappeared utterly.
Beatrice Mercer had fastened back
to the hotel. Her face was flushed
her eyes hopeful, exultant, as she LAID
aside her wraps.
$50 far all is WELL" she murmured
confidently. 'Now for the most difficult
part of the plot"
When DIR. Simms came, she led hin
to a sofa, and for over an hour in low
earnest tones she conversed with him
She told him all her plot, all her de
sires She startled him with her bold
ness and shrewdness, she dazzled hin
with the promise of munificent re
wards.
What a scheme?' he calculated
arising at last, land all for the love o.
man whose heart is buried in thu
grave of that lost, drowned girl. Bea
trice, is the game worth the candle :?
II will have it SOP she cried, wildly
without Raymond Marshall, what il
wealth to me! You will help me?"
$40 the last"
You can give me the medicine tt
produce the effect desire. You viii
help me carry out the imposition"
Yes Wait till 60 to my office"
In an hour he returned. Deep anC
subtle must have been the plots of thu
fair and false siren, for, as he handed
her tiny phial, he said:
you can rely upon it. When Ray
mond Marshall comes to see you to
morrow, it will be as you desire. AL
the pity of his heart cannot fail to q
out to the woman who has saved hi
family from penury and disgrace, for, t,
all seeming, through the agency of tina
potent drug, you will be a dyini
womanw
CHAPTER XIII.