The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-08-20
CHAPTER xu-Continued.

lhClC was q OlC6iJ lopcO VI oiiOhCOj
but during its reign the cleaning. scin-
tillant eyes of Beatrice Mercer told that
their owner was not idle.
to act. Her quick mind grasped the
situation readily, the situation she had
anticipated, and which she had come
prepared to meet. She held the remedy
gold. To befriend the father of the
man she loved in his dire extremity, to
save an honored family name from re-
proach-would it not win the gratitude
of the delinquent son, and gratitude
pity, and pity love?
She had other final resources In re-
serve. She had prepared plans calmly
systematically. This was but the first
step. Oh! she could not fail.
She arose and stole to the door; she
peered in. There sat the stern faced
implacable lawyer, the fatal documents
spread out before him. There, too
wan-faced, wretche1, lost, shrank the
father OF Raymond Marshall.
She stepped boldly across the thresh-
old Of the room. Not until she hat
reached the table and her shadow fell
across it did lawyer and victim glance
up, with vivid start.
Madam!-why-"be began the former
Il have come to purchase those docu-
ments."
Her hand pointed to the pile OF notes
and securities, almost touching them
In profound wonderment the lawyer re-
garded her. With gasp Of hope, sus-
pense, dread, Colonel Marshall stared
at her yelled face.
You have come" repeated the
lawyer, vaguely.
To buy those Documents"
"Why-I do not UNDERSTANDABLE wha
right"
Are they for sale?"
Her voice rang out sharply.
To Colonel Marshall or his author
lied agent, yes, but to stranger
Beatrice Mercer turned 10 the be
wildered Colonel.
Il am no stranger, but friend, sh'
half-whlspered in his dumfounded ear
Il came to save you, and then aloud
Colonel Marshall, you authorize me t
act for your"
The half-stunned Colonel could only
nod like an automaton.
"Ten thousand dollars Is the amount
believe" went on Beatrice, calmly
There Is the money. See that 1t i
right.
She had flashed heap of bank-notes
of large denominations before the law
yer's sight. She took up the papers or
the table.
HThis Is the forged $4,000 note. 1 be
lleve?" she said, selecting one from tn
many papers, Colonel Marshall,
shall never trouble you again.
With two twists of her dainty bu
supple wrists, she severed the fatal doc
ument in twain.
These other papers shall keep TO
a day or two.- The amount is correct?
She demanded Of the lawyer. AColone
Marshall, you are free from debt an
dread alike. trust we all know hoy
to keep secret. would like to spea
few words 10 you alone.
The lawyer had witnessed some
strange scenes in his professional ca
reer, but tho denouemehs of the presen
inexplicable one left him speechless.
Colonel Marshall, like one In dream
followed the woman who had myste
rously saved him from ruin and dis
honor from the room.
Then, realizing that he had bee
snatched from the brink of precip &C
he reeled TO table in the outer offic
for support, and burst into tears.
Woman, angelic deliverer!" he fairl
Bobbed. who sent you here2 70
have saved to me all l hold dear o
earth. My tears, my prayers shall b
yours till my last breath. shall teac
my own to reverence you. l shall re
pay you dollar for dollar. What can
say, what can l do to acknowledge, {
repay this stupendous obligation tina
brushes, stuns, mystities me?"
"One single favor.
Name it--ohl namo 1t.
ASK no questions, feel no obligations
only ask that tomorrow evening q
dusk you come to the hotel and to tn
apartments of Miss Leslie, and brin
your son Raymond with you.
She was gone like fash with tn
words. The Colonel stood staring ate
her as IL she were some wrath. hi
eyes closed and no swayed like one u
dream. He fastened after her min
ute later to demand Ii more lucid ex
PLANTATION OF her strange intercession ]
his behalf, but whom be reached tn
street, like the fairy IN the story books
she had disappeared utterly.
Beatrice Mercer had hastcEed back
the hotel. Her face was flushed, he
eyes hopeful, exultant, as she laid asid
her wraps.
$50 far all is WE'LL" she ,nurmuret
confidently. Now for the most difiicu
part of the plot.
When DIR. Simms came. slis led him
sofa, and for over an hour in low
earnest tones she conyarscd with him.
She told him all her plcs. all her az
sires. She startled him with her bod
ness and shrewlness, she dazzled hii
with the promise OF munificent rewards
What q scaeme!' he oiscn.ates
arising at last, "and all for tho love OF
man whose heart is buried In the gray
OF that lost drowned girl. Beatrice,
the game worth the candle?'
Il will have it SOL" she cried, wildly
without Raymond Marshall, what
wealth to mel Yon will help mel"
ITO the lest!"
aYou can give me the medicine to pre-
duce the effect desire. You will bel
me carry out the imposition
Yes. Wait till go to my Office
In an hour he returned. Deep an
subtle must have been the plots OF IN
fair and false siren, for, as he hande
her tiny phial, he said:
aYou can rely upon 1t. When Ray
mond Marshall comes to see You x
morrow. it will be as you desire. a
the pity OF his heart cannot faii 10