Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-10-08

T8LleF superior manner. ~
"You just leave 1t with me-" he said.
We've not done with him yet. I'll tell
! you soon enough when it's q hopeless
| case" 5l
And so Ralph went his way with a
shoulder shrug, and made all manner
of foolish mistakes at the office, for the
nearer names Weuulng day approach
ed, the less he was able to live like the
promising young man he had been ac-
counted before Donald Ferguson came
on 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' weeklies.
Ralphs own particular chums. who
knew how hard he was hit, had done
their best with him, and failed. They
could not convince him that there
We're as good fish left in the North sea
as any that reached Grimsby market.
Neither could they persuade him that
Mamie Wrottesley was heartless
mink and worth no true mans adora-
ton.
Meantime Mr.. Porter had not been
accessible.
Ralph had called twice and had not
| seen him. He had written and receiv-
ed no answer.
| The truth was that his client irritat-
ed the good detective, who preferred
not to see Ralph until he had hit what
| he was aiming at, or was positive lie
never could hit it, Mr.. Porter was, in
! fact, mot at home" to Mr.. Ralph Ruy
! ton.
This, If Ralph could have known it.
would have been yet one more of those
pleasant arrows which the facts just
then took delight in shooting at him.
AS it was, he thought comparatively
little about the detective and all about
Mamie.
He had seen her and the Coolgardie
man driving together with Mrs. Wrot-
teslcy) in the Row, and he had seen
them together in a Bond street shop.
If we could Judge by Maimic's face she
| was prodigiously 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 nothing could keep her
| from being mother-in-law to million
aire. 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 eXacted
of the rich by Dame Fashion. There
was not hitch anywhere. True, Mai
mic was very pale, and once held her
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 soon
afterward Mr.. and Mrs. Ferguson were
| carried north.
Mamie hankered after the lakes for
a honeymoon, said her mamma, and so
Mr.. Ferguson had engaged rooms at a
Windermere hotel.
| Matters got thus far, indeed, ere Mr..
Porter obtruded himself upon the I'm
happy Ralph. The latter was at the
| Office, after an Intellectual luncheon,
when the detective appeared.
"NVell, Mr.. Por-," Ralph was be-
ginning with great irony, when the
other stopped him.
There's no time for talk, SIR he ex-
claimed; come with me at once.'
but DO you know -
| II know everything. That confound
ed ship only came in at II o'clock this
morning, and couldn't trust my docu-
mcnts until then. I've thought it best
to charter special for us ALL"
The detective spoke with JUNCTION. He
enjoyed his clients surprise immeas-
urably. -
"1'll explain it as we go along In the
hansom," he added. The others are
already at Euston."
It was Ralph's turn to feel faint.
However, Mr.. Porter's subsequent
words were better for him than sad
volatile.
"There was another woman in the
case" ran Porter's tale. II learned
that from a Melbourne man who knew
the parties. He vowed Ferguson was.
married to her eight years ago. That
was what he had to establish, and it's
taken some doing, 1 can tell you. in
the time. However, they're a wide
awake lot in Melbourne, and thanks
quite as much to that Melbourne man
(who has mighty fine grudge against
Ferguson) as to your hundreds, Mr..
Ruyton, everything's clear. The wife
herself and her eldest boy are at Eus-
lOu S1le HAS TIE Certificate, anu tuc
lads face tells it's own tale. oh, it's
just a beautiful bit of piecing through
out, and all we've to do is to fix up
the rogue about supper time"
Ralph's feelings may be imagined.
Happily, there was no difficulty about
the train. 1t could be so managed that
this special arrived before the other,
carrying Mamie and the man who was
not her husband. ,.
OF, the journey in both cases nothing
need be said except this: Mamie came
near wishing there could be collision,
With her death as one of the conse-
quences. Mr.. Ferguson's veneer of re-
tinement was cast ruthlessly aside be-
tween London and Windermere. She
was by no means the convantionally
happy wife on her wedding day when
she was invited to leave the train for
the luxurious carriage that was await
ing them.
But at the hotel, much to the man
ayers chagrin, dramatic scene Lad
been arranged for them.
The millionaire's face was w,cathed
in smiles as he handed Mamie across
tha hotel Threshold