The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-08-11
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!: A CLEW BY WIRE
Or. An Interrupted Current.
BY HOWARD NJ. Y0ST.
Copyright $50. ~ J. B. Llrpinoou Co.
CHAPTER NI.-CoNrrSrrn.

fairs, l sought to ,ead Florence away
from a subject WI ,ch seemed to cause
her distress.
And what can you tell me about the
station agent at Sidington?' l asked.
"oh, Nelson! how puzzled 1 am over
what you have told me! You say he
tried to shoot you?"
Yes; but do not agitate yourself
over that. He did not hit me, you
know" l answered.
But why should he want TO shoot
you?" she exclaimed
That is as much a mystery TO me as
TO you. Who is the fellow, anyhow?
Where did he come from? His real
name, understand, is Skinner"
"Yes, that is his real name" was
Florence's answer.
why, what reason could he have had
for telling me his name was Hunter?
Tell me what you know about him, my
dear" l demanded, for / thought she
really appeared somewhat reluctant to
give me the desired information.
Florence, who is he?"
"He is a detective" she answered.
"a detective He! What is he do
ing about here?" 1 asked, in astonish-
ment.
Promise me you will not breathe a
word" Florence said, earnestly, hold
ing up her forefnger in emphasis
II promise solemnly."
"And promise you will not think me
4 very foolish gi-l?"
"Never!"
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 a hand in the
affair"
"Oh, l know that" 1 answered,
gloomily. "And l was foolish to give
up the trust and love and confidence of
the only true friend l 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 done in the matter
Every one seemed to have forgotten all
About it, except that you were the
guilty one; that was not forgotten.
Oh, Nelson, l felt so sorry for you!
knew how honorable you were, and
how heavy your heart must have been.
So made up my mind to do something
myself"
"You!"
"Yes. 1t was foolish, I know, but
l could not rest until l determined to
try and clear you"
| For few moments my heart was too
full for speech. "And what did you
do?" asked, gently.
! 81 did not want father to know, so
! asked Mr.. Jackson to send the best de-
! tective he knew of 70 me- Mr.. Jackson
seemed very kindly disposed toward
you at that time; he did as requested,
and asked me no questions about my
intentions"
so you hired a detective to trace the
robbers?"
"Yes"
"And that fellow Skinner-is he the
one?"
Yes. 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
| exclaimed, as / caught her hands in
mine and gazed down into the sweet
face. could say no more then, choked
as was 10y 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. / saw the noble
ness, the willingness 10 make sacrifice
for her love, back of it all, and tear:
came into my eyes and great thank
fulness into my heart. What a 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.
Ou, NClSOl, L NOL I huOW. NdhhO
understand it," she replied, as deeply
perplexed as / was.
How does it happen that he is sta
tion agent at Sidington? Why does ht
remain here at all?"
Father procured the position fol-
him at my request. The detective saiC
it was the best place 10 watch the rob
bers from, for absolute secrecy was
necessary, and no one would suspec
the station agent at a retired place like
Sidington of being a detective. o
course l did not tell father that tn,
man for whom / desired the position
was a detective"
made no reply to her last words. In
deed, could not. My mind was in I
whirl.
1T Is all so mysterious, and nov
your dear life is threatened" Florenc,
exclaimed, the tears again coming tC
her eyes and falling down her cheeks.
While again endeayoring TO calm he
the sound of approaching footsteps
reached us.
CHAPTER MI.
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