Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-07-06
CHAPTER NI.-(Continucd.)


impatiently. Briefly. have come
into possession Of several thousand
dollars. choose to spend the money
as l like. l offer you $500 to help me.
Dc you agree
Yes. indccd"'
First, my identity and plans are to
be a dead secret between lis, now ana
hereafter"
Trust me for that"
Next, you are to obey me impll-
city.
With such pay for my services,
am your slave!
Very good First and foremost. !
wish you to 80 now. and at once, and
learn all you can about the where
abouts of Raymond Marshall.
Eth calculated the doctor with a
start Il don't think he is in the vii
lage"
Then ascertain where he is
III try"
Next. find out about the whispered
financial complications in the affairs
of his father. Col. MARSHALL
That is more easy"
And report progress to me as soon
as YOU can
There shall be no delay"
DR.. Silnms departed. Beatrice looked
excited, SllSpenSeful
The ball set in motion-oh. with Il
trusted ally and unlimited wealth. L
cannot fail in the scheme | have
adopted"
She counted the hours until late i'll
the afternoon. Her face underwent
vivid changes of color and expression
as there was Il knock at the door
finally
Come in
1t was her ally DR.. SimmS He looked
tired and excited.
Well" she demanded imperiously.
I've had an afternoon of it,
You have found Raymond Mar
shall:"
He returned home this morning
Prom wliCre:'
Prom 4 fruitlcSS. Lrartbroken quest
for thar girl he WIS sroony on at the
Seminary the enc who disappeared So
1EySt"ri"Hsly.
"Eu'!:t Dcaur, !ou n,cah!'
Yes; that's the Ealne. He's been
searching for her every where neglect
jill: D!iSiu"Ss. growing: thin and pale
that they say lie is fast breaking down.
And his father:
Added trouble there. Dark rlmOrS
Say ;lI,: hiS business integrity is at
stake. that Il financial crash threatens.
l made cilcumspect. but close inquiries.
He Is at the Office of the lawyer now.
striving 70 :d Just affairs. You SEQ
'1ou nrct not tell me more inter-
ruptcd Beatrice. inpatently. II know
more than you Go probably, about that.
AT the lawyers otice:" she continued,
arising and putting Oh her wraps. Re
port to NE here about eight O'Clock
this evening"
You are HOT CCing!'
TO the lawyers office myself
She left the hotel alone In ten min
Ctps Size entered the outer room Of the
Gtlicn; of the lawyer her informant had
referred rC.
She sank 10 & chair near the half
open door Of the compartment marked
Private" adjoining. Then she bent
Ecr ear and listened eagerly.
Voices sounded quite clearly. Her
eyes gIoW.u viii; satisfaction as she
realized that accident had enabled her
to enter The office and linger upper
ceived. Her heart beat quicker as she
recognized The broken, pleading tones
nt Col. Marshall. Raymond's father,
and the worus he uttered were:
Ten thousand dollars. Impossible.
1tii WI tltdI 1dN Z tlllle. I'LL
less those documents are suppressed CT
DESTROYED. an ruined man.
Just in time! l shall win. Every
thing favors me"' fell in a baleful,
triumphant murmur from the lips Of the
conlidtn: Beatrice Mercer.
CHAPTER XII.
Saved.
Beatrice Mercer drew nearer to the
half-open door. as those ominous words
sounded forth.
Unless those documents are sup
pressed or destroyed, / am a ruined
mani
A strong mar spoke then, but the
voice. while InoTrnful, bore a token Of
pleading despairine agony.
The listener knew that the speaker
was the father Of Raymond Marshall.
What she already knew Of his business
complications had brought her to Hope
dale. 1t was through the father that
she relied upon reaching the son.
There was the rustling of papers
ana then the lawyers voice reached
her ears:
Il am very sorry. Col. Marshall, but
have Lly orders to act.'
You can defer action"
Nout Sjclite lily uuty 10 my Gil
ents it l deferred ii day longer"
''Then--
10 morrow I 50 into court and sub
Nit these documents. They represent
personal Indebtedness of $1,000 They
represent your Endorsement for 5000
more. The distressing feature of the
latter amount is that the alleged maker
Gf the note denies its validity. In other
words if is Il furrery''
4 groan rang from the lips OF the
unhappy Ican.
You are right" he murmured in a
hollow. broken tone of deep despair
My personal Indebtedness does not
worry Inc. ! should never have been
called upon to bear it. for never per-
sonally contracted dollar Of it. How
cvc:. penary. restitution myself and
family might boIorably endure. but dis
honor. never! If that S2,OOO-dollar
claim is presented in COURT
'You will BIZ accused of forgery
(Which never committed" cried the
colonel "iou believe me?'
II certainly do, but will jury? Those