Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-11-02
CHAPTER XVII.


telegraph, or else that message would
have been in Mary's hands and he
would have been an outlaw against
whose life every mans hand might be
raised. How wisely providence plans,
thought the impostor, and how strange
ay the things He proposes comes about.
Again his telegraph service came to
his aid Without sharing his plans
with others and knowing that he could
sIsc the wires with the utmost secrecy,
nc sent the following dispath:
To Mrs. Caroline Carter. Homestead Conn.,
1 am in trouble. You can help me out
Ieave on the first train. Don't fail. Wire
me when you will start. LOUIS.
It was two weeks to the time fixed
for the wedding. In ten days at the
outside Louis Patterson would be in
New York, and in three days more he
could reach his home. TO detain him
In that city and prevent his leaving
until the marriage should have been
sSOlOmizcd was the first plot to consider
If, upon the discussion of that scheme
with the adviser he had summoned, it
should be considered impracticable,
then he would take the chance
and run the risk of arousing Mary's
suspicious, 10y undertaking to persuade
her TO fix an earlier day for the mar
riagc.
The idea Of living in foreign land
had been discussed, and as Mary had
NO kindred to hold her to her old
home, she consented to that plan and
became earnestly in favor of it. 1t had
already been given out that the
Bridal tour would be across the
ocean, but it was thought
best not to acquaint the neighborhood
of the fact that the leavc-taking after
the wedding might be Il final one.
Thus far and thus successfully had
the plans of Louis Patterson advanced
when the awful message came from
the supposed dead to the known dead.
In good time Mrs. Carter arrived.
She was the woman III black.
She had been instructed by tcle-
graph to repair to u secluded spot in
the adjacent forest, whore she was at
once joined by the imposter.
They met inside rude cabin, built
by q WuodSman for shelter in the
winter. and hardly had the two persons
whispered in tremulous voice that
would at such a time and place have
frightened into Mysteries any other
save such as she.
Mother, where is Groundwig?'
At the mention of this name, the
woman started as if to dodge blow
aimed at her head, and, shaking like
an aspen leaf, and with q voice unlike
that of a human being, and uncontrolla-
sble as il was unnatural, she answered:
why do you ask that question of
me-"
because want to use him, | want
TO use him bad, Iwant to use him quick
and | know that you not only know
where he is. but that where you go he
goes, and where he goes you go. Tell
Hne quick: is he not near here? [ did
not telegraph you to bring him with
YOU, because woman of your quick
brain oftner does the right thing with
out the telling them by the telling"
II can tell you he is not with me,
and, further more, | do not know where
he is Can not bring some one else
80 assist you?"
Mother, [ know you speak falsely.
There is no time to triie with me. The
minutes passing so rapidly may be fatal
zones, and you know what it means if
my plans miss carry.
Il tell you. woman, it is a desperate
,scheme | must have executed, and it
will take a desperate man to do it. Do
YOU know of another creature living,
that can take the place of Silas Ground
wig whore there is something unusu-
ally damnahle to be Accomplishment"
II do not understand you Charles
Manning, if you
Hush. woman. For heavens sake,
do not speak that name here. The
&eaves are listening, the very air is full
of ears, and that name pronounced out
side these woods and all is lost. Tell
,ne. and tell mo quick, where is
VSrounGwig?'
~'Bcfore | answer that question, you
tell me what this wicked scheme is,
that only he can do"
-'.MrS. Carter you are mad to keep
me here in waiting, even for only a
moment. You will ruin all by your
foolish curiosity. Know then that |
want him to so to New York, and |
want you to take message to him,
irstructing him how to carry out the
,schcme have planned.
Tell me what that scheme is and
WIFI take your message to him, and
nail she been made of iron she could
NOT have bore herself more coldly or
answered more unconcernedly.
''Will you pledge eternal secrecy?"
''Yes. yes, like that. Secrets | can
keep. No trouble for me to do so.
Who oa the face of the earth am | to
share the secret with except with you
and Grounding? / swear now and
eternally."
Then hear me, Louis Patterson is
not dead.
20 do rot start or interrupt me.
Enough for you to know he has sent a
message here that three days ago he
would sail from Liverpool FOR New
York
''ln six days he will land in that city.
''You see precious time has already
oeeE lost. In two hours the east bound
limited express is due here viii sig
ial Il and .s,u must get aboard. and
make al speed to deliver Grounding
my lcste1