Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-05
II promise solemnly."

pTOlulSe SOleIunly.
"And promise you will not think me
very foolish girl?"
"Neverl"
"Well, then, after the bank robbery
used to read all the papers to ascer-
tain If the robbers had been discovered.
The time went by, and you, poor boy,
were still under the cruel suspicion.
Why, Nelson, nearly all of your old
friends believe you had hand in the
affair.""
ooh, know that!" I answered,
gloomily. "And I was foolish to give
up the trust and love and confidence Of
the only true friend seemed to have
at that time," kissing the faithful girls
forehead.
Indeed you were foolish, and cruel,
too" Florence murmured. "Six months
went by, and you went to Europe.
Nothing was discovered regarding the
robbery; and, what was worse, moth
ing seemed to be donei in the matter.
Every one seemed to have forgotten all
about 1t, except that you were the
guilty one; that was not forgotten.
Oh, Nelson, I felt so sorry for you! I
knew how honorable you were, and
how heavy your heart must have been.
80 made up my mind to do something
myself"
"You!"
eyes. It was foolish, know, but
| I could not -est until determined to
try and clear you"
For few moments my heart was too
full for speech. "And what did you
do?" asked, gently.
IT did not want father to know, SO
I asked Mr.. Jackson to send the best de-
tective he knew of to me. Mr.. Jackson
seemed very kindly disposed toward
you at that time; he did as 1 requested,
and asked me no questions about my
intentions"
$50 you hired detective to trace the
robbers?"
EYES,"
"And that fellow Skinner-is he the
one2"
Eyes. suppose it was a foolish
thing to do, for nothing seems to have
come of it, although Mr.. Skinner keeps
telling me he is on the right track now,
and will soon have them"
Foolish, was it? Oh, my darling!"
I exclaimed, as caught her hands in
mine and gazed down into the sweet
face. I could say no more then, choked
as was Thy my emotion. The noble,
true-hearted girl! Impelled by her love
for me and her absolute faith in my
integrity, undertaking alone to estab-
lish my innocence, while all the world
remained Indifferent! I saw the noble
ness, the willingness to make sacrifice
for her love, back of 1t all, and tears
came into my eyes and great thank
fulness into my heart. What for
tunate fellow was, after all, to be per-
mitted to inspire such devotion!
but if Skinner is in your employ and
therefore working in my interest, why
should he endeavor to shoot me?"
finally remarked.
!, "Oh, Nelson, don't know. cannot
understand it," she replied, as deeply
perplexed as was.
"How does it happen that he is sta
ton agent at sidington? Why does he
remain here at all?"
Father procured the position for
him at my request. The detective said
it was the best place to watch the rob
bers from, for absolute secrecy was
necessary, and no one would suspect
the station agent at retired place like
sidington of being detective. OF
course I did not tell father that the
man for whom I desired the position
was detective"
made no reply to her last words. In.
deed, could not. My mind was in q
whirl.
| ut is all SO mysterious, and now
your dear life is threatened" Florence
exclaimed. the tears again coming tc
her eyes and falling down her cheeks.
| While again endeavoring to calm he,
the sound of approaching footsteps
reached us.
(To be continued)