Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-06-23
CHAPTER V.

cOuld h" no lll~t;lnt. W e knew nm TOO
we'll for an crrOI OF Identification to be
possible. But, though he was found, the
mystery was now az far from solution as
| it had ever been. indeed past all hope of
explanation apparently.
! Out of the tirony ly this time gath
cred BUSTED two doctors. who after
careful and critical examination of the
lightnings victims determined that one
of the men and one woman were dead,
but life still fingered i'll the other three,
and one of those for whom resuscitation
might yet he possible was my former
partner. A stout. elderly gentleman Of
kindly face and hearty manner received
this verdict with evident pleasure and
Immediately began giving orders Az.
Harolds removal. At this point Mr..
Bunker seemed to wake up and asked
the stout gentleman, Are you acQuaint-
ed with this young man.
Acquainted with Henry Lessingi !
should say SO. He has been in my en-
ploy, and a worthier young man never
lived"
May ask what is to be done with
him."
Certainly. I'm going to take him to
my house and carry DIR. Harris here
along with me to fetch him around"
Il have also known the young man
and would like to know if he RECEIVERS"
well, come and see him. Here's my
card. shall be glad to have you call.
Any one who is friend Of Henry's will
be welcome in my house."
! By that time an old fashioned "dear-
born" wagon had been brought up, its
seat taken out and Harold slid in upon
the floor. The gentleman referred to as
DR.. Harris got in with him; the stout
gentleman took the reins and drove rap
idly away. We read upon the card Mr..
Bunker had received, H. E. Trimble,
commission merchant" with business
address. and penciled upon its back his
residence.
"What do you think now?" demanded
Mr.. Bunker as we started back to town.
never saw face more expressive Of
sorrow and sympathy than his was when
he believed my old partner dead. but the
altered conditions had altogether changed
it now, and saw at q glance all his sus-
picions were again fully awake.
II don't think feel like expressing an
opinion inst yet." 1 said, "for beyond
the possibility of his being alive we
know no more than we did yesterday"
I'VE know at all events that he has
been here year under false name
and have a thunderation curiosity to
learn why"
When we reached our hotel, he went
to his room. as supposed. to change his
clothing and lie down; but, as subse-
quently learned. no such supine self in
diligence was on his programme. What
ever he did l saw him no more until
breakfast time next morning. when he
said to me:
"Merrivale. I'm going up to Columbus
this morning to get from the governor
the necessary papers for Harold's return
to Bridgton- Last night hunted up q
magistrate, got warrant, and this
morning if the young man woke up
guess he found an officer by his bed wait
ing to arrest him on charge Of smbez-
cling $500 from Ransom Merrivale.
They won't let him get away again be-
fore | return. What's the matter with
you? You look dumfoundedY
$50 am" replied. "by your unholy
energy in this matter. Why in thunder
couldn't you wait even to know if he was
alive or dead? Why didn't you let me
know what you were up to?"
icouIdn't afford to take any chances.
Now, see here. have that doctors as
surance he can pull him through and
take it for granted he will. Suppose he
does. What will Mr.. Linden do when
he wakes up and finds somebody has
identified him? Skip again. OF course
he will. But say No. I've too much
at stake. That mystery has got to be
cleared up. My daughter Annie-and
she's all I've got in the world-thinks
just as much of that rascal as she ever
did. and I've got to have him straight
ened out definitely one way or another
for her sake. And should fancy your
interest is pretty strong one, too, II, as
you have more than limited to me, his
sister will not marry you until he turns
up again. So I'm going to take him
back by the scruff Of the neck with my
own hand If there's no other way, but
won't trust even my hand when l can
make use Of bigger and stronger one
that Of the law. didn't tell you be-
cause l know you have q sentimental
nature which is apt to get the better OF
your practically, and I meant to protect
myself and you, too. against it There's
the card. Go and see him while I'm
gone if you choose and sympathizs with
him as much as you like, but I go with
the comforting assurance / shall be able
to put my hand on him all the same
when get back"
l could not get angry at the old fol-
low. for his view Of the situation was
undeniably practical, but neither could
approve his radical measures, 30 said
nothing and pocketed the card hs xsvs
me. But when train had carried him
off toward Columbus l did something he
had not thought of. I believe. I tele-
graphed to Celia:
Come Immediately. Take first train.
Harold is here. Needs you greatly. Do
not lose minute"
Perhaps repeated my insistance upon
haste more than was necessary, but I
have always deemed it best to be 30 e.
plicit in giving directions to . woman
that she shall not imagine herself 70
quired to use any judgment Of her own.
That dispatch had more effect than I an
ticipated. Celia and Annie Bunker were
closer friends than knew. Their COM
mon love as sister and sweetheart for
the same man-and he the core of Q
seemingly insoluble mystery - had
brought about bond Of more than Sis
terly affection between them. Conse-
quently when l vent to the depot to
meet my dear girl l was electrified by
the sight of Annie in her company
and felicitated myself not q little that
my colleague had not yet returned from !
Columbus.
Some good news had for tho girls,
DR.. Harris had reported to me that,
though Harold's consciousness had not
yet been fully restored, his recovery was |
assured and in few hours more proba-
bly, his narrow escape from death would
be simply memory. Incidentally I
learned that a policeman was indeed. az
Mr.. tanker had declared, sitting by the
young mans bedside to arrest him when
he awoke, to the indignant bewilderment
Of worthy Mr.. Trimble.