Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-09
CHAPTER XII.

Dr. Dudley went over 70 the Cedars
early the next morning. He felt that
he held in his hands a clue which
might lead ultimately to the detection
of what he firmly believed to be
gigantic fraud. and he could not rest
| until he had conveyed his impressions
| to the Greysons.
Maude Bradburne met him in the
hall, in a becoming suit Of white cash
mere and scarlet ribbons. Pretty, pi-
quaint, warm-hearted Maudel She went
straight up to the young physician and
laid her little hand in his.
Il am glad that you have come, DR..
Dudley" she said in her frank,
| straightforward manner. for I am so
distressed about Lesley. She scarcely
eats or sleeps, and her strength Is fast
leaving her I co believe that II some
| thing is not done to arouse her de-
spondent spirits and give her hope fer
the future that the poor girl will die.
And, doctor, she is one OF the best girls
| in the world. l think my heart would
break il anything serious should befall
Lesley"
Maude was true blue, and DR.. Dudley
knew it. But he could not unfold to
her the turned-down page in his own
history. So he sought Mrs. Greyson
and told her his own sad history. How,
years before, when he had been a STU
dent in Germany, he had met and
loved young French girl-Viva Dud-
ley. 1t was C. romantic affair. Dud-
ley, not yet graduated from the medical
college, was poor as poverty; and the
girl was an orphan, living with an
aunt, who treated her with cruel harsh
ness. The sequel Is plain. Dudley
married the girl and took her to his
| humble home. and then went back to
finish his collegiate course confident
that armed with his diploma as ply
sician he would be able to hew his way
through the difficulties in life. Left
alone, necessarily a great deal of the
time, Viva made the acquaintance of
woman who seemed to her unsophisti-
Gated fancy very angel of light and
beauty. Her name was Lurline st.
Cyr, and she was fourth-rate actress,
oAhSSi II iopSAS pei ASA AhOA. IL hoo AOl
long before she obtained complete as
cendancy over Viva's foolish mind.
She imprinted upon her imagination
the vivid scenes OF her own gay life.
She made the girl-wife believe that she
herself had power to become a great
actress. She never rested, just through
sheer love of destruction, until she had
ii ,11
her husband and finally from her
home
With his medical diploma at last in
his hands, Morris DCdley sought the
little white cottage where he had left
his childish wife All was the same.
grant heads at til doorway; the pur-
pie morning glories peered in at the
lattice; but Viva Dudley had fed
gone TO her own ruin: and mis- home
was empty, deserted, dishonored. Can
you wonder that when he stood face TO
face with the woman who was respon-
sible for this worse than murder and
looked upon her, in all her bold beau
ty, enjoying the prestige OF wealth, and
an honorable name, that Morris Dud-
ley said in his heart, There is no
Cod"
He told his sad story now TO Mrs.
Greyson; told it in a few words, and
the kindly old lady grew grave and
sad. When he had finished she wrung
his hand. Il thank you for your con-
fdence, DIR. Dudley" she said, slowly,
and what you tell me fills me with
alarm, and yet-would you believe it
| have a little hope. l begin to be-
iieve that there is a conspiracy afoot,
and perhaps we may yet be able 10 get
at the bottom of the mystery. Heaven
grant it,"
"Amen!" responded the doctor, fer
vently Then after a pause he added:
Il am going to find your husband,
Mrs. Greyson, and confide the situation
to him. His superior knowledge and
experience may suggest some mode OF
procedure. Try and keep that poor
girl as cheerful as possible, and in the
meantime | think we must soon learn
smoothing Of Ardley's whereabouts. l
have set a detective on his track. He
must be a contemplate villain to de-
sert that poor child il her hour OF sor-
row"
IL do not believe that he has de-
serted her." returned Mrs. Greyson
gravely "and If am not mistaken we
will yet unearth terrible mystery and
find that he has been foully dealt
with"
At that very moment, Lesley-alone
in the pretty sitting-room assigned
her-chanced to raise her eyes and she