The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-12-06
CHAPTER: XVII.

CHAPTER. XVII.
MANTIN'. r&COG NTEi:S GROINDWIi.
1t wa, Il lucky circumstance which
placed the inrOstrr in charge of the
telegraph. or else that message would
have been in Mary, hand, and he
would have been AN outlaw against
whose life every mans hand might be
raised. How wisely providence plans.
thought tn" impostor .and how strange
ly the things He proposes comes about.
Again his telegraph service came to
his aid. Without sharing his plans
with others and knowing that he could
Use the wires with the utmost secrecy.
he sent the following disIath:
To Mrs. Caroline Carter, Holmstead Conn
am in trouble. You can help me out
Leave the first train. Don't fail. Wire
mo when YOU will start. LOUIS
1t was two weeks to the time fixed
fer the wedding. I'm ten days at the
outside Louis Patterson would be in
New York. and in three days more he
could reach his home. 70 dctain him
in that city and prevent his leaving
until the marriage should have been
soiumizcd was t he first plot to consider.
IT, upon he discussion of hat scheme
wit the adviser he had summoned, it
should be considered impractirabc.
then he would take the chance
and run the risk Of arou-ing Marys
su.picious. by undertaking to persuade
her 10 fix an earlier day for the mar
riagc.
The idea of living in Il foreign land
had been discussed and as Mary had
no kindred to hold her to hrr old
home, she consented to that plan and
became earnestly in favor of it. 1t had
already been given out that the
bridal tour would be across the
best not to arul,:,nt the neigh bOrhuod
If the fact hat the lcavc-taking after
the wedding might be Il final one.
Thus ar and thus successfully had
the plans of louis Patterson advanced
when the awful message came from
the supposed dead to the known dead.
In good time Mrs. Carter arrived.
Sh. was the woman in black.
She had been instructed by trlc-
graph 20 repair to Il secluded spot in
the al accent forest. where she was at
once joined 10y the impostrr.
They met inside II rude cabin, built
by IL wuoAsnun for shelter in the
winter. and hardly had the two persons
recognized each other. than Louis
whispered in II trcmulOus voice that
would at such time and place have
frightened into Mysteries any other
save such as she.
"Nothcr. W here is GroundwiG:"
At the mention OF this name. the
woman started as if TO dodge blow
aimed 1T her head. and. shaking like
an aspen leaf. and with Il voice unlike
hat oI a human being. and uncontrolla
hr as il WAS unnat ural. she answered
l. lx.,&
me-
'lcca,-c want to use him. wan,
to use him bad. want tollsc him quick
and know that you not only know
where he il. but that where YOU go h,
goes. nnd where he goes You 20. Tel
me quick: i he not near here: | iii,
not telegraph you to bring him Will
you. because Il woman OF Your Guic!
brain uftn"r does the right thing Will
out the telling them Ivy the trlitnG."
Il can tell YOU he Is not with me
and. further more, do not know whrr,
he Is. Can not bring some one els,
to lssi~. ynu:"
Mot her. know yoa speak falsely
There, l., no time 70 triilr wit Il me-. Til,
minutes passing - rapidly may be fata
ones. and You Know what il means i
my plans miss carry.
y tell YOU, woman. il is Il despcrat,
sclcmc must have executed. ANA i
Will take Il desperate man 10 do it. y,
Nru know ~ another creature living
that can take the placcof Sila> Ground
wiz where there is something unl,~tl
ally Gsllllluhic - hc accomplished:
Il do not understand YOU Charlie
Manning, If Won
Hush. woman For heavens sake
Il ~1naI> tfHt hh,.,> Tn,