The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-03-24
CHAPTER XIII.
A SCITLE PLOT.

A sUITLE PLOT
@All is ready"
Everything. My housekeeper, whom
we can trust, will act as nurse and is in
the next room. 1 will receive the Mar
shalls when they arrive and pave the
way for you"
Make no mistake."
1t was the afternoon of the day succeed
ing that which had witnessed Beat
rice MERGERS strange act OF generosity.
Beatrice herself, in propria persona.
the disguise she had hitherto adopted
now abandoned, lay upon a couch in
one corner of her sleeping apartment.
She was no longer disguised, but there
was a change in her from her ordinary
appearance that was most remarkable.
Her face looked thin and wretchedly
white, her eyes heavy. As she lay back
on the pillow, her labored breathing and
hectic cheeks seemed to indicate hot,
burning fever.
hot. burning fever she had. but
produced by artificial means. This
ruthless schemer had paused at nothing
TO accomplish her ends. To further her
schemes an assumption of mortal ILL
ness had been necessary, and her
worthy cOadjutor, DR.. Simms, had not
prevaricated when he told her that the
contents Of the little phial he had given
her tn day previous would bring about
the result she desired.
These two had plotted we'll in unison.
and as he entered the outer room Of the
suite he assumed that grave, serious ex-
preston of face that the average physi-
clan wears while attending a patient in
the last extremity.
Ha nnapod tho door with worniDO
noiselessness as there came a tap final
ly. A servant stood there, two persons
at his side.
Gentleman to see Miss Leslie, sir,
he announced, withdrew, and Doctor
Simms ushered his two visitors into the
room and pointed to chairs, his serious
manner evidently surprising them.
Colonel Marshall was the one, his son
Raymond the other. The former was
all curiosity and excitement. AS to
Raymond, as he sat gazing vacantly at
the floor, his hollow cheeks, haunted
eyes and detected bearing generally
told that the present visit had no inter-
est for him.
Doctor Simms!" calculated the Colo
mel. Why! l came to SEQ"
Miss Leslie?"
yes"
Miss Leslie is dying woman, Colo
mel Marshall.
| What"
With an incredulous gasp the Colonel
started to his feet.
Yes, she has been ill for some time.
l was summoned yesterday afternoon.
1 found her fevered, almost deliriOuS.
She asked me to receive you,
Doctor, you amaze me! This strange
lady"
Has an iron will even in death She
has explained everything to me. She
insists upon seeing yourself and your
son, even in her dangerous condition. I
told her that the shock might kill her,
but she insists
Doctor! l am at a perfect loss to
understand this lady's remarkable gen.
crosby in my behalf-the mystery sur
rounding her"
Here are the notes she took yester-
day. She babe me destroy them in your
| presence
, Wait, Don't! I really cannot &C.
cept all these favors from a stranger.
The Colonel spoke too late. The
documents were blazing on the hearth.
He was a free man! A stranger had
, liberated him from all the financial en-.
tanglements Of the hour.
Doctor" he painted, this mystery is
maddening. Who is this lady?"
you will be surprised when you
know. Como; you, too, MIR. Marshall,
to Raymond.
He advanced to the door Of the sleep.
, ing-room and tapped lightly. The
nurse opened it. Awed, startled, Col
: Marshall stood in the center of the
l apartment, gazing obviously at the fig.
ure living on the couch, its face Turned
, from him.
Quite as curious and interested for the
moment, Raymond Marshall looked up
too.
Miss Leslie has asked me to explain
t to you why she has interested herself il
your behalf" spoke the Doctor. in calm
measured accents. Her act has beer
one in a measure of atonement, of com
. pensatiOn for a wrong done a member o
t your family"
, "Ha." exclaimed the Colonel with
, start, she must be, then. some relativ,
of the wretch who robbed me-who en-
, comprised me in all this trouble, my
+ former partner"
Not at all. She simply deceived ,
member Of your family. She Is familia
: with the troubles Of your son, as we'll a
: yourself. and she desires me to impair
4 some mOurnful Information to him
e Mr.. Marshall. will you kindly read tina
article?"
The Doctor had handed to Raymont
D Marshall the newspaper which had frs
+ Set Beatrice on the trail of Edna Deane
e 1t chronicled her death at the snow
laden bridge. So accurately did it de
scribe Edna and her attire, that, a
t Raymond Marshall perused 1t, with dis
tended eyes and ashen face, he coul,
0 not mistake the truth. With wild CT,
, he sank to a chair, the paper flutterini
to the floor
: Dead. dead" he walled. All hope
then, is lost
q What may all this have to do witt
!. the lady here?" began the astoucded an,
|, mystified Colonel Marshall.
q Much. This ordeal is trying, fata
Q to her. but she insists. Nurse. turn VI
s the lamp. Colonel-Mr. Marshall, you
benefactress. the lady who makes Al
;. atonement for great wrong. is
8 Beatrice Mercer"
In surprised accents from the Colo
ners lips, in gasp Of incredulity iron