Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-10-09

sailed Mrs. Wrottesley. She had
heard these last words and was angry.
MY daughter will marry Mr.. Fer
guson next month";" she said, with the
| stOniness of demeanor that must have
reconciled her late husband in his early
demise. "There can be no question
about rivalry in this matter. Good af-
ternoon, Mr.. Ruyton. Ring the bell,
Mamie"
Ralph Ruyton went back to town
both irritated and depressed. Not be
ing a very original young man, he
could think of no more original way
of fighting the great Donald Ferguson,
late of Melbourne and Coolgartlie.
than in calling in the aid of detective.
James Porter, the detective engaged,
encouraged him nightly by not laugh
ing when he heard all Nalph had to
say.
"You see,' said Ralph. apoioecticli-
", there's nothing really against him
that know of. but
But there's large field of possibili-
ties. Quite so. When does this MAR
riage take place:"
"ln five or six weeks. suppose"
said Ralph. dismally.
I'VE must thank heaven for the in
vcntion of telcgmphy. You wish no
expenses spared?"
up to II few hundred. you know"
Ralph replied.
VERY good. Then will be off TO the
city Immediately. If Mr.. Ferguson
has amy virtues and any failnsS shall
certainly hear of them there
"'rhen l may really llope:"
$50 the extent of the few hundtrls
you can afford to cNpend in the matt ~,
Mr.. Ruyt.n.' said the ,lrtcctiv".
H.
| In these words there seemed tn Ralph,
after the expiration of IL week. no en-
cOlll1gcmcnt.
Mr.. Porter had absolutely nothing to
tell him in derogation of Mr. Fcrsu-
sons pocket, which had perhaps nat
ul:llly appeared his only assuilabie side.
Il wish. sir" said the detective. that
! my credit was as good as this Aus
tl1lian gcntleman's. Folks s.li;.ck
Whereat Ralph groancd.
We may as we'll stop then" he
murmurcd
''You just leave it with me- he said.
We've not done with him vet. I'll
tell you soon enough when it's nope.
less case.
And SO Ralph went ais way with a
e.1, Inr Il, ,,,l .,11
of foolish mistakes at the office. for
the nearer Alaimic's wedding day ap-
preached the less he was able to live
like the promising young man he had
been accounted-before Donald Fer
glison came OIL the scene.
The last week arrived.
The impending marriage had been
mentioned in the papers. and Maimie's
wedding gown had been described in
two or three of the ladies' wceklies.
Ralph's own particular chums. who
knew low hard lie was nit, had done
their hest with him-aud failed. They
could not convince him that there was
as good fish in the North Sea as any
that reached Glimsby market. Nei-
ther could they persuade him thai Mai
mic Wrottcsley was II liear.lcss mink
and worth no true mans alteration.
| Meantime Mr.. Porter had not ueen az
cessiblc
| Rnlpll had called twice and had not
seen him. He had written and re-
ceived no answer.
The truth was that his ellen, irri-
| Il.
red not to see Ralph until liz had hit
what he was aiming at. or was positive
lie never could hit it. Mr.. Porter WAS.
in fact. mot at home to Ralph Ruy-
ton.
This. ii Ralph could have k;uwn il.
would have made yet one more of
those pleasant arrows which the !atcs
Just then took delight in shooting Mt
| him.
AS it was. lie thought comparatively
little about the detective, and all aho,n
Mamie.
He had seen her and the Coolgar,!ie
man driving together with Mrs. Wrot-
teSley) in the row. and he had seen
them together in Bond street shop.
~ lit CUulu JulSc ny AliillllIc race size
us plodigiously happy. And he did
so judge.
Mrs. Wrottesley WAS wiser. She
knew better. Now that the marriage
was only three days distant this as
tute lady felt sure nothing could keep
her from being mother-in-law to Il
millionaire. But instinct told her SO
much that was in her daughters mind
that she longed Intensely for the quick
and safe transit of these last three
days.
Needless anxiety. you would have
thought. if you could have seen the
marriage ceremony. which was duly
celebrated with all the pomp exactetl
of the rich by Dame Fashion. There
was not IL hitch anywhere. True. Mai
mie was very pale, and once held he,
hand to her heart. But other brides
did the same thing. and were not a
whit less happy for it as wives.
Then came the breakfast. and sooll
n