The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-16

thanks TO her Improved circumstances
and the doctors care, was SO much i'm
proved as to be able to sit up. The
doctor spent his evenings with the
ladies when not professionally en-
gagged. and charming companions he
| found them. One evening while they
were engaged in an animated CONVEX
sation the doctors bell rang, and, ex-
eusing himself, he went below. As he
opened the door tall, fne-looking man
stepped into the hall He stood there
Q moment and then said, in a low voice:
"James!'
Harry" exclaimed the other, spring
ing forward and dragging him into the
light ut is you, my dear boy! Where
have you been these three years? Come
in and get warmed up"
When they were seated before the
cheerful CRATE fire James said:
Hal tell me; why did you desert
your fiancee in her hour of need?"
Good heavens. man! who told you
/ that? did not desert her. My story
! is a strange one, and but for the most
substantial proofs 1 could never con
vince You of it's veracity. But how did
you hear Of this?"
From your farcee. The Misses
Carnold are living upstairs in the ut
most poverty"
The other sprang to his feet. ''Ohl
let me 60 TO her!" he cried. "Do no,
| detain mer'
mo; you must watt" said hi.
brother, quietly. 1T would XIII her tc
see you suddenly in her weak state.
will prepare her for the meeting. Blu,
I first tell me about your disappearance.
{ You wrote to Miss Carnold, saying that
you had decided TO start anew, and that
she would never see You again. Tha,
| sounds like desertion. doesn't it?"
Hal uttered an exclamation OF sur.
prise. ut was a forgery" he cried,
Indignantly. - never wrote such a
letter. AS intimated to you, mine Is
q strange story, and this l suppose is
but another chapter.
"Mr. Carnold, Mary's father. the day
before he died intrusted to my care q
mortgage which he held on = gold mine
claim in southern California. and which
! he had intended to foreclose in three
weeks. He wished me to take posses.
sion Of the claim and run it for his
daughters benefit, as this would be
their sole support l consented, and as
soon as left him placed the precious
document in a safe deposit vault
Mr.. Carnold died the next day, and
in the confusion and sorrow forgot tc
mention the mortgage to the girls
That evening. sitting in my room,
fell asleep woke to find myself So
curely bound and gagged. To make 6
long story short, l was carried to q
cab, conveyed long way from the city
to lonely spot, and there kept prison
er. being guarded day and night by
| two of my four armed attendants
AFTER two years Of this sort Of life.
succeeded IN making my escape while
my guards were in a drunken stupol
after day OF debauch. l reached Sar
/ Francisco in safety, foreclosed the
mortgage. and caused the arrest of al
concerned in my deten ton. Theu
cases come up in the November term
The mine was now the property of the
| girls, but no trace of them could find
they had disappeared. then came or
and sought you. Like a fairy-Story
! isn't it?''
1T certainly Is. my dear HAL" An.
swered James, when his brother hao
finished the recital of his adventures.
Il will run up now and break the good
news to Mary and Alice"
! IA tiresome patient" he said. as he
entered the room. But have learned
! through him that my brother Henry is
well, and. what will be good news to
you. that he has been totally blameless
! in tho matter of his supposed deser.
tiou."
He then related his brothers story,
being careful to conceal the fact tina,
the mortgage interested them.
And SO your brother is rich miner
nowY' said Mary. Il hope, DIR. Banks,
you viii do all in your power to keep
US apart"
II will do nothing OF the sort, Miss
Carnold He is anxious to see you.
understand"
But do you not see that we are
miserabiy poor and he is q wealthy
uanT she said, sadly.
suppose 1 tell you" he answered,
that you are both rich? Suppose
tell you that the mortgage was left BY
your father in my brothers care for
your maintenance, and that the gold
mine is yours2"
The two women spraug up with ex.
Carnations of surprise; but the inper.
turbable doctor said to Mary, as be
gently fore I'd her back into her seat:
Come, now. Miss Carnold, l see
that l must exercise my authority.
You must not excite yourself: you are
still very weak. Besides-well, there's
another patient" he added. interrupt.