The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-01-19
THE MYSTERY OF A CRIME,

AUG OWL my ESUA ohAy sss0hs eAssA es>sA
en-, and the wind was shrieEing ike
prisoned demons as 1t tore about the
MedfOrd mansion. where. In the libra.
~, the gray haired master OF the house
sat beside his desk, talking earnestly
with the beautiful girl standing before
him, her face stamped with u world OF
misery ana despair.
And SO YOU still love Earl Vhorn."
the old man was saying sternly. My
God, Dora. are you mad: Think OF the
crime for which he IL to answer-the
murder Of robert Give. the banker
"isut, OH! father. listen to me-" the
girl pleaded. holding out her hands ell
treatingly. Earle never committed
that terrible deed. l know circumstall-
tial evidence has condemned him. hut
surely justice will yet be done! True.
he was the last person seen IN Robert
Gives, company before the murder WAS
accomplished. They had an interview
ut Give Towers that night. when Earle
borrowed ten thousand dollars from
him to save his brother from impend-
ing disgrace, and left, as security for
the loan. casket OF family jewels.
These. with the papers to prove the
transaction are missing. Even the
black wallet in which my lover saw
the banker place the papers has disap-
peared. Oh. father.g ii this mystery
could only be cleared
MIR. Metiford's face darkened passion
ately.
DORA" he said. "the story Of those
missing documents was all Il fiction. by
which Earle Thorn hoped to escape the
consequences OF his sin. Why. what
more proof could I've had than the tes-
timonies Of Neal Alden and the bank-
er's hOusekeeper, who claim to have
seen the murder committed by the man
YOU love? 1t is ridiculous to believe him
innocent! There! come now. my child.
forget him aud marry Neal Alden. IL
man worthy indeed Of my daughter.
Neal Is young. llantlsome. and wealthy.
He loves you. and your marriage To
him will save me from poverty and
disgrace. for am completely in his
power! Alas! my fortune and proud
old name are ut his mercy"
And am to BIZ SacriiiceN!' Dora
cried. "Oh. father II will break my
heart! Don't force me into this compact
with a man whose fatal accusations
have branded my lover with the curse
OF CAIN
My fate lies now in your hands.
Dorar he said. his stern. face white rs
death. IF YOU refuse To marry Neal
my God. think of the ruin that will
come! Have some pity for me! Your
lovers doom is sealed. and now. when
wealth and power are held out to you.
YOU cling to Il vain, mad love and let
diSllolOr come"
With Il dcspairing cry the poor girl
sunk. pallid and trembling. into chair
and OH. the struggle that went on In
her heart. Then al last she yielded.
But the motherlcss girl had one faith
full friend, to whom she told her troll
bic. 1t was the foster-SiSter vi Earle,
good hearted. nladcap Fenella Thorn.
who was now living at the Metiford
mansion.
ooh. Fenella. IL l could only unravel
this mystery" Dora said. one starlit
night. as the girls stood upon the We
ran,ll; but II curse has fallen upon
Earle and his enemies are to tri-
umph."
keep up Your courage and trust to
me-" tile madcap cried. throwing her
arms about Dora. why. do you think
that l. that starving miSer'S child Earle
rescued FROM the streets OF this wicked
city, would furS:lkp him now! Never!
The time has now come for me to re-
pay ILL.,. hest friend | ever had. Yes.
! have Il clew to the mystery Of that
crime. and: I'm going to work 1t up for
All it's worth. iou remember Earle
stood between Neal Alden and a large
fortune. Well. since the murder. Earle
has been diSinheritGl and Alden sue
ceedS to til" estate. and will win u
bride. N0w.it has been Il game OF gain
all through for that man. who. ! am pO-
sitive. is In some cruel plot against
your lover; but I-ah! will yet. ferret
all this dark work out. SEQ III | don't.
"rhen may Heaven grant my prayer
and guide You to vlctOry!" said Dora
fervently. III l--tiuSh! heard
footsteps near us then. We must not
bp overheard. Let us return to my
bOll,loir." -,
And no sooner had the girls disap-
pcarctl. than IL man rose from behind
the clambering vines near hy. and
Neal Alden. tall. and darkiy handsome.
stood revealed in the starlight.
$50 that is your game. eh!.. nc Mss.
cd. claShing his teeth vindictivciy.
You cursed hoytlen. you suspect my
scheme against Earle Thorn. and in
tend to play the spy to betray me! !
could kill you. Well. rOrewarned is
forearmeti. Now. I'm ready for yOu!'
And tbs the days Went by. Fenelia
was baked at every turn by Alden.
and this madcap WAS on the verge Of
DESPAIR
Then. all too soon. the day before our
heroines wedding came. t'enclla left
the house early in the morning. and.
heavily-veilpd. Swallowed Alden about
the city.to return In the afternoon with
q bundle under her arm. and steal up
10 her room.
An hour later. sailOr-hoy stepped
thcrefrom. 1t was Fenclla In disguise.
She made her way to the lower portion
of the city. approached an old house,.
and pperfd through one OF It's uncur-
tanned windows.
''There Is 10 one Within" she NUT
tered. after knocking upon the door
and listening eagerly. Eyes. the coast
plot.'
OPP med it. and leaped into the room.
No warning sound reached her. Spring
ing forward. she searched through the
trunks and the bureau standing against
the wall. then. with feverlsh haste.
ransacked the clothes closets.
Not there!" she painted. "Oh, II /
could only find the wallet and papers!
Tin sure they are hidden In this ren-
devious Of Alden's. Hark! Some one IL
cOming!" and concealing herself behind
Il curtain. she suppressed u cry Of sur.
prise as Il woman entered the room.
whom she recognized as the late bank,
er's hOusckeeper Its Mrs. Poole. by
Jingo. Here's more mystery! Now to
watch this birthstone witch!'
But not till night fell was Fenella re-
warded by the appearance Of Alden.
who held an interview with Mrs. Poole
out in the hallway. and then quietly
left the lonely house.
"Ha. la! IL clever game and 4 paying
one. too. for mel" the hOusekeeppr
laughed aloud as she returned to the
room. "Alden's gold can only silence
my tongue now! And so, hp thinks Il
destroyed the wallet and papers. eli?
papers. ELI? No; ! was too crafty TO
do that" Suddenly shipping before the
fireplace and lifting some bricks from
the hearth, she drew forth black wal
let Yes. they're ali safe here. Now.
when his plot is ended. Ill just produce
these. and then name my price ~ hide
his ernie! Ali. lin no fOOl!'
And thr1lsting back the wallet. she
raked up the slnOlderins fire. and sink
ing into Il chair soon fell asleep.