The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-05
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'Fight for the Mlsseblel Millions.
BY LEON LEWIS.
CHAPTER v.

VERY STRANGELY BKFRrEKDED.
How the shadow lifted from Elfe's
face at her encounter with her uncles
e1-cashier!
sOh, MI. Wynans!s she cried, after
single instant of wild incredulity. "How
glad I am to see you! Where did you
come from so suddenly"
II followed you, Ellie, from your
pncles store" replied Perry, shaking
hands warmly accept my arm, please,
and we'll take little walk. I've some
thing to say to you"
Elia complied without hesitation, as
without question, her sweet, glowing
asce attesting her joy at meeting him,
and they sauntered away together.
How sudden it seemed to her, his re-
appearance in her life, and at such
moment! And how suddenly, too, with
his arrival, had the whole aspect OF the
world itself changed for her!
sWhy, didn't see you in the store!"
she murmured, archly, radiant with her
new gladness, which she did not seek 10
conceal
u none the less saw you there" re-
sponded Perry, my desk was close be.
Side your uncle's Office, so that saw
you when you came in and when you
went out /"
aDid you heard all uncle said to me?"
sNot all-no, but enough to give me
Just idea of what he was saying and do
ing
sThen you heard him tell me-"
Eyes, the hesrtless monster! Need ]
say how deeply ! was grieved and
shocked by his conduct"
Ellie locked up with the gratitude
these declarations were 80 we'll calculat-
ed to awaken, as also with the keen re-
lief the new situation OF affairs had given
her.
SYou are very kind, Mr.. Wynans," "
were the simple words which escaped
her, but with what tender joyousness
we're they uttered!
l. @You can never know how impatiently
] have waited to see you again, con-
tinued Perry. aSince I first went to
1ngleheim, almost three years ago, to
3alk with your father about his lands on
the Musselshell, have had the extreme
happiness Of being acquainted with you,
but our meetings have been alike too
few and too brief, you were away so
much-st school, at your booksellers,
and elsewhere.
How snyly and sweetly Ellie looked up
again into his face. o..
/; II an glad you comprehend why I
have not seen more Of you," she said
with delightful frankness. Il can
Z never tell you how much have priced
your acquaintance"
i sMany thanks for the assurance, Ellie.
I became quite intimate with your
parents very soon after my first visit to
ingleheim, and cannot err in saying
that they valued and esteemed me as
highly as did them"
sHow often they have said as much"
exclaimed Ellie. II shall never forget
how warmly mamma spoke Of you the
day before she died, and how grateful
she was for your last visit. For myself,
how can 7 ever forget what consola-
Non it was to me to see you At the
funeral? Your kindness and sympathy
on that occasion went to my heart"
II am glad Of that, Ellie" returned
Perry, sfor it was from my heart that
they came. AS to what has since taken
place, our mutual friend, Mr.. Bush, the
house agent, has kept me posted. He
wrote me yesterday that you would call
upon your uncle today, or should
have come to Ingleheim to see you
/ Ellie bowed gratefully, her eyes shin
ing like stars through mist OF tears
~ hope you realize, Ellie, how often
have been in Ingleheim and how much I
have strolled around its hills and val
aeys with your father, and especially
how much admired and loved him. AS
an outcome Of that friendship. have
now some very important and surprising
facts to communicate to you. II you
will step into Jackson's, popular.
restaurant for ladies and gentlemen in
3he next block, we'll call for q few re-
areshments and I'll tell You number Of
things I want you to know"
Certainly" returned Ellie.
T. Little more was said until they had
seated themselves in the restaurant In
question and given their orders, and
then Perry resumed:
! "About ten years ago your Uncle
Hiram visited your parents at Ingle-
helm, and it was on that occasion that
your father and uncle sent ten thousand
dollars to Montana, to your uncle Jerry,
in consequence Of the latter's represen-
tations, to invest in wild lands on the
Musselshell River"
II remember the transaction" re-
turned Ellie. II also remember that
Uncle Jerry's investment turned out
very poor one."
! $50 he reported, Ellie" pursued Wy
mans, abut at length became suspicious
that he was not acting in good faith.
This suspicion eventually became so
strong that availed myself Of sum-
mer vacation to pay secret visit to the
Musselshell about three years ago, and
with the most astonishing results. Not
to keep you In suspense, hasten to say
that uncle Jerry had been lying from
the very date of the purchase. The
lands were we'll worth all they cost, II
only as range for cattle. But gold had
been found on them in paying quanti-
ties, and certain old prospectors prophe-
sled great discoveries. / came back with
the idea that the property was far more
valuable than Uncle Jerry pretended,
and l lost no time in buying it
@Did father know, when he sold you
his half-interest, all you had learned
by your secret visit to Montana?" asked
Ellie.
SHe did," replied Perry. aHe was my
friend, and was obliged to tell him.
He comprehended perfectly what he was
selling. Realizing that he was stricken
with death, and that your uncles would
not hesitate to rob you, Ellie, and know
ing that it takes strong hand to hold
its own in the wilds Of Montana, he
decided me the lands, with the under
standing that / would hold them as q
sacred trust for you, and that you should
share with me any good which might
come Of them"
@But you didn't tell Uncle Hiram"
"Certainly not" answered Perry. Il