Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-05-13

They found her grave, hendstone and
all, but could get no trace OF her long
devoted lover. II was surmised that he
had taken what was left Of the money
and gone elsewhere in search Of con.
ISOLATION. McLane came back to New
York, met Fanny Hayward, fell In love,
and Uncle Mellen urged the match in
every way; and we know the result.
There was fortnight In which McLane
seemed the happiest Of men. Then came
u shock. Fanny found him nearly
crazed with trouble. A letter had come
purporting to be from that supposed
to-be-dead woman demanding further
heavy payment rs the price Of her ST.
lence. McLane honestly told Fan the
truth. and was astonished at her de-
cislon. She bade him pay the money
and have done with H."
They might have doubted the genu-
ineness of her letter, but there was no
doubling that Of young Mcl.ane's dying
statement, witnessed by the officers
from Sedgwick. He declared his moth
er alive. And SO one crime led to an
other. No sooner had they reached
California than the whole Perkins
family seemed resurrected, and black
mail was their business. The eldest
sister demanded heavy hush-money,
and II WINS paid. The second sister
turned up with her husband and pre-
posterous demand. II WINS they who
haunted him ut the San Francisco club,
and the man, drunk and triumphant,
insolently demanding money that
night, had fred that well-nigh fatal
shot when repudiaied, deied. and
struck. The very next day ut their
hotel came q letter warning them to 81.
lence ns to the identity Of the assailnnts.
so long as these latter were allowed to
escape arrest they would keep the &C.
cret, but II arrested and brought to
trial they would proclaim McI.ane a
bigamist. All this was mnde known to
Uncle Mellen. and he, too, backed the
niece's cause md kept up the deception.
l:ut no one could tell where the FIRST
wife was hidden. "She will be pro-
iuced when needed. and her money
must be paid through her sister," The
money. large sum. was paid, and then
there was temporary pence. but Nc
Lane dropped and died under the
weight Of shame and anxiety. There
was quarreling between the widow and
the guardian and further demands
from those cormoranis, who now Open
~ threatened TO claim the dead mans
state for the widow and her son-they,
I, least. knew nothing Of the lntter's
leath; and then Fanny, coming 10 Sedg-
wick, tried TO renssert her old sover-
.ignty over Merriam and to gain pos
'ession Of the papers Of which her hus.
and had told her and which Randy had
nng since sent 10 Parry. but concern
ug which she had never spoken to her
Iother-in-law. believing him 10 be ig-
iorunt of their existence; and u
,leased Ned Parry TO LEI her live on In
gnornnee that be had them. lie took
curious interest In making study Of
her. and had. without consulting bis
Silent. q more ihr professional inter-
y: In the case.
but now Bullock. the man who shot
LcIane. had been traced 10 and ar
rsied In Chicago. together with bis
lushing helpmeei. Uncle Mellen had
aen prostrated BY paralysis as a re-
'uli Of he news. The secret could be
10 longer kept. and Fanny McLnne.
united. desperate. seli-deluded. and
.wlf-drugged. believed herself q ruined
" man whsn IT last Ned Parry came.
Tho N % pPs bin. ahe agemed q
- rllIlEll q NOV hllad 11n,. A..