Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-06-16

them D0th.
How provoking that anyone should
call just when I wanted "A quiet talk
with ysu. Beta said, as she rose to see
who was there.
A meek-Iooking old woman clad in
faded but respectable garments, en-
tered the studio.
well. Mrs. Flack. what can | do for
you this morning." Beta asked, in q
kindly tone. Can't Lily come to me
this afternoon
That's just it, Miss Mansfield. L
want 70 know where she ISL the old
woman said, anxiousIy.
Il don't qnow, Mrs. Flack. She was
here a usual on Saturday and gave
me a sitting, and / have not seen her
/ SINCE
The old woman staggered against a
chair.
Observation-Disclosures! You-hav-
en't seen my Lily since Saturday 2 she
gasped.
NO. Mrs. FIack. I expected her here
this afternoon for n final sitting"
But, Miss Mansfield, my Lily never
came back faItered the old
wringing her hands. 20, what am I TO
dos"
Beta'Ieeakea At the lawyer with horror
in her eyes.
What can it mean?' she asked.
Lilly Flack left me on Saturday even
Ing, just after it became too dark TO
paint any more. She was in very good
spirits, because Afra had given her IA
cloak and a hat. They are just about
the same height, and not unlike in hg
ure."
But Mr.. CleavIand could give no ex-
PLANTATION.
Lily also sits to Mr.. Falkland in the
MCuntjoy studio" Miss Mansfield con
tinued. Perhaps Mrs. Falkland, who
is always most kind to her husbands
models, has taken her nto the country
for a sunday outing. Have you been
there to inquirer"
Mrs. Flack tearfulIy replied that she
had come there first, but that she
would go to Mr.. Faikland's at once;
and, wiping her eyec. the old woman
toddled off.
1T certainly seems very -unaccounta-
bic" Beta remarked, with a slight
pucker on her brow. Lilly FIack is IA
thoroughly good girl, and I am very
fond OF her. She has a sweetheart. a
young man in a grocery store, TO whom
she is to be married in the summer.
She is making up a little purse-poor
ctild-for the occasion. and / keep her
savings-bank book, SO that she might
not be tempted TO fritter her money
away. Afra almost clothes her.
Suddenly a light seemed to break in
| upon Mr.. Cleavland's mind.
u 90 L. w..- H. - -
Mrs. Packenham, you say he asked.
so much SO that she can wear
Afra's dresses without alteration
And might easily be mistaken for
herr
Yes
.'Miss Mansfield, what IL that man
has plotted TO carry of--his wife?
What if Gracious Heaven
Beta started TO her feet. fiji
'0h. Mr.. ~Cleavland, people don't do
such things nowadays. He dare not"
! she exclaimed.
1t w6ufttii be impossible for either of
us TO set a limit 10 his daring" the Iaw-
yer replied. '+Packenham is not a man
to be measured by ordinary rules. He
imagines himself above all those con-
| ventions of law and order by which
| civilized people control their lives"
But he would not rush into crimey''
"He would not consider Ii one TO pos
sess himself OF the wife who had de-
fed him.
mir. Cleavland, you terrify mer'
Remember, it Is only my surmise.r
But il 1t proves 10 be the correct
ones"
Then Mrs. Packenham must seek
tie protection of the law.
divorce him2 That she will never
do
She must have a legal separation"
s0h, Ii Ia all TOO dreadful Really,
Mr.. CIeavIand, | think what she her
self proposed would be the best step
for her to take
What was thaty' the lawyer de-
handed. eagerly.
'.ro return 10 Africa; join the Sisters
/ Of Sbocrf6Rtein. and be under my I'M
Gle Dudley,s care. She would be safe
there
Memo" returned Mr.. Cleayland,
hastily.
'.But what else remains for her? She
Is kept in daily terror OF her life. We
cannot go outside the door without be
ing dogged every step OF the way. and
Afra has been utterly unnerved."
"YoT have decided upon leaving Lon
don? Leave no race Of your wherea-
bouts. That is easily done"
Perhaps you will tell me the wayTr
If Mrs. Packenham Will consent TO
go with my sister to her place in Glou-
cestershire," Cleveland began. when
another knock at the street door dis
turbed their conference.
IL proved to be Mrs. FIack, who was
weeping bitterly.
.0h, Miss Mansfield the woman
sobbei. MIR. Falkland has not seen my
girl since she left his place on Satur-
day morning. saying that she was due
with you In the afternoon; and here's
a letter from her young man asking
what has happened 10 prevent her from
meeting him as she promised The
poor old creature became almost inco-
herent with grief and terror. 'Oh,
Lily What's become OF my girl she
walled
Mr.. Cleaviand reelected for a moment.
and then said:
'slf you wish, / viii go AZ onee 70
Scotland Yard, and put the matter into
the hands OF the police