The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-12
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX
THE OUTCOME OF THE MASQUERADE.
The truth was out! Perry Wynans
stood revealed to his enemies.
Possibly something might have yet
been done to gloss over the situation, II
the newcomer had been alive to the
signals and warnings Perry gave her,
but it was not to be. Her gaze had en-
countered Elfe Tower. to whom she ad-
vanced swiftly, sxclaiming:
sand Ellie, too; what joy!"
She caught the girl 10 her heart,
caressing her and kissing her, continu-
ing:
SI knew you had seldom been in town
before, and was afraid you might have
missed your way, or had some other
trouble. How thankful I am that my
fears were all in vain
By the time the good woman had thus
given. expression to her sentiments she
becam conscious Of the constraint OF
Elfe, and even Of something peculiar in
the aspect Of Perry, and at once con-
nected these peculiarities with the pres
ence Of the strangers, upon whom she
now turned questioning gaze.
Wynans and Ellie!
These names had given Jerry and his
daughter hint Of the truth.
After exchanging startled glances,
they turned keen look Of inquiry upon
Ellie
sMv niece!" gasped Jerry
@My cousin!" cried Daisy.
GStrsnpe I didn't notice the family
likeness before pursued Skidder @She's
the very image Of her mother-my sister
Mary-at the same age
Turning to Mrs. Rankle, he demanded,
Indicating Perry with an index finger:
sWho is this man."
The newcomer repeated the query
with mingled terror and wonder.
She was q motherly looking woman Of
about forty-fve years, with q pleasant,
chubby face, and wholly winsome and
sympathetic manners
sYou-you Of course know who you
are dealing with?" she answered, with
wondering air, when Daisy had angrily
repeated her fathers question.
swell, we thought we did," avowed
Jerry, livid with hate and CONSERVATION,
@but it seems we were mistaken. l no
ticed that detective would have pro.
nounced the name of Wynans If he
hadn't been interrupted. Who is this
man, Mrs. Rankle, if that's your name?H
The newcomer looked inquiringly al
Perry who gave her smiling nod
whereupoI she answered:
3He's Perry Wynans." ---...
Despite all his fears had toretold him,
Jerry Skidder was visbly confounded by
this announcement. 1t was several sec.
onds before he could recover his self.
control sufficiently to ask:
sand this grip"
@She's Elfe Tower"
@Of Ingleheim?"
sShe left there this morning"
daughter of the late Charles and
Mary Tower?"
"The Same!"
sand she is no wise related to this
man?"
mo more than I ami"
.Weli, thought there was no family
likeness between them The couple are
not named Dolliger?"
sNo more than you are!" declared
Mrs Rankle, rather ell Dying the confu.
sion of the stranger, and seeing readily
by the smiling Content Of her friends
that they were in no wise the dupes or
victims OF the evident mystincation In
which they were figuring.
what idyuts we've beenl" groaned
Jerry. sWe ought to have keepersl"
The words, with the air accompanying
them, produced a hearty burst Of laugh
ter from Perry and Ellie, and even from
stsid Mrs. Rankle.
at seems I have unwillfngly broken
up little masquerade in which you and
Elfie were figuring, Mr.. Wynans," said
the latter,
ayes, but no harm is DONE" replied
Perry. u received your telegram in due
course and intended to forestall this
accident but the truth would have come
out OF the best few minutes later. You
have come prepared to go with US, I
| hope?"
u have, sir. AS you suggested, left
my trunk at the station"
"Give me your check, please"
Mrs Rankle complied
u will see TO checking your baggage
to its destination. or as lar l cam" he
explained, securing the check in his
| pocket. ave are ready to start, and
shall be off in few minutes Have
| you had dinner?"
"A bite simply"
"Then sit down here and make yourself
at home" invited Perry, eading to the
table. "We'vc been having sort Of
/ Bcishazzar feast. and there's enough
left to dine dozen hearty men,"
Mrs. Rankle smilngly complied with
the invitation, as entirely at her ease as
if the Skidders had been q thousand
miles distant, and Ellie sat down near
her, losing herself readily in the many
pleasant queries and anticipations crowd
ing upon her.
"And SO-yon avow yourself to be Mr..
| WynanS?" growed SHidder. turning his
bloodshot eyes anew upon Perry; 1tho
owner of the Musselshell mine?"
| A smiling nod answered him.
"How very singular it all isl"
@Very." said Wynans.
u never heard of more extraordinary
encounter" pursued Jerry.
a4Nor did L" -. .~..-- .~ -.