Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1895-09-13

nc lTubu was Out. 1efTy hYnlnS
stood revealed to his enemies
Possibly something might have yet
been done to gloss over the situat on, II
the newcomer had been alive to tho
signals and warnings Perry gave her,
but 1t was not TO be. Her gaze had en-.
countered Eltlo Tower. to whom sho ad.
vanced swiftly, exc aiming:
sAnd Ellie, too; what .oy!"
She caught the girl to her heart,
caressing her and kissing her, continu.
ing:
"l knew you had seldom en- In town
before, and was afraid YOU might have
missed your way, or had some other
trouble. How thankful | am that my
fears were all in vain"
BY the time the good woman had thus
given expression to her sentiment, she
becam conscious of the constraint of
Elie. and even of something peculiar in
the aspect of Perry, and at oncc con
nected these pecu iarities with the pres
ence of the strangers, upon whom she
now turned a questioning gaze
Wynans and ElGet
These names had given Jerry and his
daughter hint of the truth.
Alter exchanging startled glances,
they turned koen look of inquiry upon
.tlle.
"My niccc!" gasped Jcrry.
"My cousin" cried DAISY.
"Strange | didn notice tho family
likeness before" pur ued Skiddcr ">he'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:
"Who is this man?"
Tho newcomer repeated tho query
with mingled terror and wonder.
She was a mother,y looking woman OF
about forty-five years with a pleasant,
chubby face, and wholly winsoEe and
sym pathetic manners.
"You-you of course know who you
are dealing with?" she answered, with a
wondering air, when Palsy had angri y
repeated her fathers question.
swell, we thought We did," avowed
Jerry, livid with hate and CONSERVATION,
"but 1t seems we were mistaken. l no.
ticcd that detective would have pro-
nounced the name OF Wynsns if he
hadn't been interrupted Who is this
man, Mrs Bankle, if that's your name?"
The newcomer looked inquir.nyly at
Ferry who gaze her smiling nod,
whereupOn she answered:
"He's Perry Wynans"
Despite all his fears had torctold him,
Jerry Skidder was Wis bly, lnfounded by
this announcement 1t was sevcral sec
onds before he could recover his self
control sufficiently to ask:
sand this gir?"
~She's Elfie Tower"
iOf Ingehcim?"
sShe left there this morning "
daughter of the late Charles and
Mary Tower?"
"The same!"
"An she is no wise related to this
man?"
"No moro than ami"
swell, thought there was no family
likeness between them Tie coup G are
not named Dollger?"
~No more than YOU arc." declared
Mrs. Bankle, rather CT! Dying the confu-
sion of the stranger, aud seeing readily
by the smiling content Of her friends
that they were In NJ wisl the dupes or
victims of the evident mystiticatlon IL
which they were figuring.
"What idyuts we've been" groaned
Jerry "We ought to have kcepersl"
The words, with the air accompanying
them, produced a hearty burst OF laugh
ter from Perry and Elfie, and even from
staid Mrs. Ranlsle.
alt seems | have unwll ing'y troken
M little masquerade in which you and
Eliie were figuring, Mr.. Wynans," said
the latter,
"Yes but no harm is done" replied
Perry. al received your telegram in due
course. and intended to forcstall this
accident, bit the truth would have como
out at the best few minutes later You
have como prepared to 60 with us,
ho, e?"
al have, sir. As you suggested, left
my trunk at the station
"Gise me your check, please.
Mis-. RankIc compiled
al will see TO checking your baggage
to its destination, or as Jar | can" he
explained. securing the check in his
rocket @We are ready to start, and
shall be off in few minutes Have
you had dnner?"
"A bite simply"
"Thcn SIT down here and make yourself
at home, invited Perry, eading to the
table. "Weve oeen ha' ing sort Of
Belshazzar feast, and there's enough
left TO dino dozen hearty men
Mrs. Rankle smllingly complied with
the invitation. as entirely at her case as
if the Skidders had bcol a thousand
niles distant, and Ellie sat down near
her. losing herself readily in the many
pleasant queries and anticipations crowd
ing upon her
@And so-you avow yourself to be Mr.
Wvnans?n growlcd Saidder, turning his
bloodshot eyes anew upon Perry "thc
owner Of the Musselshell mine?"
A smiling nod answered him.
"How very singular it ! Isl"
Every" said Wynans
81 never heard of a more extraordinary
encounter" pursued Jerry.
"Nor did ]. -
aAnd you knew all the while who I
wasp"
certainly. Your daughter had men