Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-07

ness was settled he would show her his
gratitude and appreciation in very
substantial way. Indeed, he had
reached a point where he was almost
ready to declare that she should not
sink into oblivion at all, when the boat
touched the New York side, and she
proposed remaining in the ferry wait
ing-room, that she might be near at
hand when he wished her without ham
pering his search.
An hour later he came hurrying
down the walk alone, his face express
i've of failure.
Esther Thorndike was waiting at the
gate. He knew her in an instant, but
before he could speak she laid her hand
on his arm, saying:
"Hurry. He just passed me. He is
on this boat
Again strange feeling crept over
him, which he remembered afterwards.
AS the wheels started, Esther Thorn
dixie entered the ladies' cabin, and on
the other side Stanton greeted the cler-
gyman with the question:
do You remember my uncle's last
words, DR.. Borden?"
Early in the morning the good doctor
had heard that the property was taken
from his young friend and parishioner.
1t fell like a heavy weight upon his
heart, and all day long his mind had
been upon the death-scene, with the
dying words it's salient feature. In
stantly he repeated them: Twelve
o'clock, and all is well.' But, Robert"
he said, anxiously, what does this
mean that hear about the property?"
"a mistake" Stanton replied hur-
riedly. ut is for me to correct if I
can, and 1 can do it with your help.
did not like the way the property was
left, and did not care to redeem it.
Only last night 1 learned the reasons
for my uncle's wish that should keep
It, and I resolved to do SO if l could. l
cannot explain it better now, but will
satisfy you fully later. The seizure of
| the estate was made according to the
death certificate, which was dated De-
| cember 81 hut the physician has ac-
knowledged that he was wrong, and, as
| you know from those last words my
uncle did not die until after 10 o'clock.
1t was upon the 9th. If l am married
before midnight tonight, 1 shall carry
| out my uncle's wishes"
"But the wife, Rsbert?" the good
doctor said, lowering his head to look
| over the top of his glasses, as was his
wont in moments of emergency.
"she is waiting in the ladies' cabin.
| We have been searching for you all the
evening"" Stanton replied.
ga good wife is better than riches,
but poor wife turns heaven into hell.
am sure your uncle would not have
the property preserved at the risk of
| sacrifice" the doctor said, a little
| doubtfully.
"She is very much too good for me, in
any case" Stapten said, taking out his
| watoh-a legal trick which rarely fails
to distract the attention. Involun-
tarily DR.. Borden looked at his own
watch, and his thoughts turned upon
the time.
SIT is 1928, Robert" he said. "Too
close to the last mement, Too much
like a death-bed repentance. But we
can make it by taking carriage direct
~ to the house. Have you the papers
ready?"
Stanton handed him the Brooklyn
permit. He glanced at it and said:
Esther Thorndike, Brooklyn It's q
good name, Stanton. Whatever there is
in q name I don't know, but there's
something; and that is a good one. But
| ! don't seem 10 remember it. Where
does she live?"
"She attends DR.. Atwood's church, y
Stanton replied, with some hesitation,
He was not an expert at answering
questions, especially when he had some
thing to conceal, and from the doctor s
tone it was evident that if he knew the
facts his assistance would be doubt
fui.
"Yes, but her home ?" Dr.. Borden said,
There was wild cry forward. Some
one was overboards and it was not sur
prising that Stanton's first thought was
OF Esther Thorndike.
| Instantly leaving the doctor, he
pushed his way frantically through the
ladies' cabin till he found her, and,
laying atrembling hand upon her Shout
der, said:
'Thank heaven! was afraid that it
was you, and that had driven you to
it. I've been blind to every interest but
my own. want you to ask whatever it
is that you are to ask me, and I will dc
it, and a great deal more, if l can, and
we will let this miserable business drep
right here"
~ ~