The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-08-04
XXIII.

Not until several months later did
hear something of the part of Lamar's
story which explained his coming into
my life. \ letter from Perez brought
this explanation, for which had been
waiting eagerly. Neither johnson nor
had had signs again of Lamar's pur
suers, who, however, we believed, had
contrived to secure proof that their
intended victim had evaded their ven
geance. The strange schooner had not
reentered the bay, but the fisherman
had heard that vessel answering her
description had lain for three days Mt
anchor in little harbor some miles up
the coast, and that at least four of her
people had been away from he-
throughout her stay. 1t was his the
ory that the four revisited the house
the night before Lamar's funeral;
though the man whom had employed
to assist johnson rs watcher and care
tatcr, and who was then on duty, re-
ported no unusual happenings, and the
fisherman's belief had, so far as l could
discover, no more substantial basis
than the fact that as he approached
the house late that night the sea-breezc
bore to his ear faint sounds which lie
took for those of oars against thole.
pins.
My term Of residence in Rodneytowu
was closed within a fortnight after the
body of tie suicide had been committed
to the earth; but before / went away
there was n wedding, at which an al
together charming bride was given
away by my good friend DIR. Banks,
standing for the time in loco PARENTS.
In view OF the change in our circum-
stances, l had persuaded Dorothy to
consent to an early marriage, and to
come with me to Trent, where there
promised to be an excellent opportu-
nifty to establish a practice, and wher,
the bay laight become a doctors nag
in reality as well rs in name. And
there Perez's letter found us, as happy
n pair as the city held within its bor-
ders. As Lamar's residuary legatee =
if the term can be correctly used IA
such a case-I was possessed of an in
heritance which, with my savings, was
ample to support us in comfort for
the several years we deemed It wise to
allow for the building up of q profitable
professional connection.
But now for th. letter, which was TO
tell me all 7 had ever learned of the
career of the man whom knew as
Lamar.
'Hc was of a family of rank and
wealth." it ran. ''He had much 10 con-
tent him with his lot. yet he was by nd.
ture an :ntriguer and plotter,. cold.
selfish, daIing and revengeful. Many
hated him, more feared him. So adroit
was he in his schemes, that, though
they sometimes came TO grief, he him.
self escaped.
"At last he became involved in po.
litical plot Of the gravest character,
and for once lost his craft. There was
n meeting of the consrirators, ut which
enthusiasm ran high, and, in the furor
Of the moment, n compact was drawn
up and signed by those present. So
reasonable was this document that the
signers were hopelessly compromised
should it fall into the hands of even
the most observation-disclosures govern
ment. Within "a hours after the meet
ing the paper disappeared. The sign
ers set themselves to search for it, and
at last gained clew Following this,
| they discovered that il had come into
the possession of woman of rank,
| young, beautiful, ambitious, mad for
political intrigue, and attached to Il
rival faction. The fact that she had Sc
cured it was sufficient to insure the
lanure oI 'ae Plo!eel ~ ou.,'heu' ouS
J wo.se 'nah 'nIs iaIiure was tne shehaee
10 tne s'she". ~ WIS lesoi'eu =" l
So'er the compac. .. ahy eoS', pus
.neh arose .ne 9ucs.'oh' wnu 'no.i ~.
take ,ne oin,c"i1 W'A me
man VINO ai'er"aro came 70 you WI
uiueereo' ,,r ana was ascepteu. s
ne recovered the oocumeht. S'ngle'
nanueo' ne "aylaid inc lauy cuIrlaee
aro'e OH her servants anu on her re-
iusai 10 surrender the paper cut her