The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-06-08
CHAPTER TX.
SUCCESS.

A crabbed-faced man answered the
ring at the iron gate after a lapse of
several minutes, stared at the yelled
figure without, first penetratingly and
then without suspicion, and asked, un-
tremendously:
'WhO are you-what do you wantT'
Beatrice Mercer was an actress. She
had come prepared to feign part, and
she did it well.
All the fire and impetuosity Of her
passionate nature was subdued to the
seemingly shrinking timidity of shy
young girl.
She stammered out frightened apol-
ogy and chung to the iron gate rs if
weary and weak.
Il have come a long ways" she muir
INJURED, ''and I must make no mistake.
The gentleman who lives here-Mr.
Caleb Marston."
The servant or helper uttered a sharp
ejaculation of surprise and renewed
suspicion.
:"Who told you that Mr.. Caleb Mars
ton lived here?" he demanded.
'I-I-does he not? Then l will go,
ed.
gate, seized her arm, dragged her in
side the overgrown, ill-kept garden,
and regarded her much with the angry
glare of an enemy. ''.''' =
mo, you don'tv' he said. "Whare
did yOu get that name-Marston? Who
told you? Speak! Have they guessed
his hiding place again?" the IMAM half
muttered to himself,
Il got the name from o letter-a let,
ter from Mr.. Narston himself" ex.
planned Beatrice
"Oh!' muttered the man. 'I'l guar
antee he never told you to use that
name hereabouts, all the same Rails.
ton, girl! Do you understand? Never
whisper Marston again, if you're friends
of ours
Can I see him?'
Can you see who"
"Mr. Mar-Mr. Ralston? lie sent
| for me-"
HE did,"
eyes, Take me to him. He will tell
you it is all right
The man studied a bit He relocked
| the gate and made sure that 10 enc
was lurking about the place Then tax
| ing an enormous bunch of keys from
his pocket, he led the way TO the
| house.
A massive, gloomy structure, the care
he manifested in penetrat ting the doubly
locked portals, indicated Jail or {
castle of defense 1t was richly fur
nished within, but the closed and barred
windows and chill pervading each apart
ment made the antiquated mansion
seem sombeE, gloomy and uninEitiing i
| the extreme.
| You wait here"
Beatrice's guide pointed surlily to {
chair in small waiting room, and dis
| appeared through door at it's othe1
| end.
| There was q low hum of converse
ton in the adjoining apartment Hel
eyes glowing like two sinister stars Of
| light, Beatrice glided noiselessly 10 the
| threshold of the door that had jus
closed noiselessly on her companion
Her ear bent, she strove to translate
| the gruff, explanatory accents of the
man, the sharp, querulous, excited tones
| of his companion.
When the door. again opened, how
ever, with the grace and agility Of {
panther she had regained the chair.
Go in nodded the keeper, and tn,
| door opened and closed after her, usher
ing her into a roomy apartment, ant
leaving her face to face with jler fate
Half reclining in an invalid chair wa
thin, white-haired man. She studied
his working face from beneath her veil
she noted the nervous tension BIZ 'brail
with excitement, his eyes were keenl,
alive with unconcealed suspense.
My steward tells me you come her,
with letter." spoke the master of tn,
mansion, in tones scarcely audible from
emotion.
YES" murmured Beatrice.
Il have written but one letter-in wa
to one / have not seen for years.
your daughter, Alice Edna Ralston
/ am sne. Father!'
| The plot, the fraud, the false assump