The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-18


for visit of John Charlford's, this confes
zion of anticipated evil, affected him il
strange manner. In vain he attempted
to battle with the feeling; he detected
himself listening for noises and startins
without adequate cause.
ut is Dick whom l fear-DTck!" ht
muttered. "But l must tell him a speciou.
tale. Of course he must be made to be
lieve that 1 have done all that lay in my
power to find him-that have been silen
to his sisters in order not to oppress theil
hearts with too much misery just whe1
they are mourning their sister Mabel:
loss. Perhaps l made mistake in get
ting him druggcd and shipped for Rio
but who does not make some mistakes ir
this miserable world?''
Then, sitting down to brood over his
fears and dangers, he watched the twi
light creeping over the stately cedars in
the park and the forest trees, now nearly
| stripped of their leafy benuty.
Meanwhile Neville Wynmore, about tc
start for the West Indies in search OF the
missing Dick, a clew to whose abduction
he had received, was hurriedly writing
| some instructions to his steward before
| his departure, when a detective he had
employed was ushered in.
The man was to accompany. him, so that
Lord Wynmore was not surprised at his
visit, though he had not expected him to
| call. One glance at his face, however,
| showed Neville that he came with impor-
| tant tidings.
You bring newsr' he exclaimed, rising
| hastily to meet him.
Yes, my lord; and there is no time to
lose. Miss Charlford is to meet her lover
tonight. She will arrive at the Padding
ton Station-presumably on a visit to a
friend-about 5 o'clock. To be brief, l
bribed the maid, who already had her sus-
picions. To her 1 am indebted for this
news; she managed to read a couple of the
young lady's letters, which informed her
Of the fact that her young mistress haG
arranged to meet gentleman at the
Paddington Station tonight infer the
rest You are we'll acquainted with Miss
Charlford, my lord; disguise yourself in
some way and accompany me without loss
of time
In moment Neville had darted down
stairs.
Here, Turner be said-slend me your
oldest hat and coat for disguise, and be
quick about it, and then call a hanson.
Quickn'
Eyes, my lord answered Turner, dis
appearing the next minute bearing in one
hand a wide-brimmed light gray hat and
an overcoat, while from the other hand
dangled false brown beard.
In very short time Lord Wynmore
was whirling along in a hanson by the
side of the detective. looking very much
like respectable middle-aged farmer who
could not afford to wear too new coat.
"Shall we be in time?" he asked, anx-
iously, as they drove into the yard of the
terminus.
ga minute to spare, my lord" answered
the detective, sprinSing from the cab.
One minute to FIVE! But the train was
not in when they hurried on to the arrival
platform. They had retained their cab
in view Of having to follow Caroline, and
now they took up position as if waiting
like so many others--for the arrival Of
a friend. Neville stood behind the detec-
tive, but he was so disguised that even
Mabel would not have recognized him,
Scarcely three minutes had ELAPSED
when the train they were SO anxiously
looking for steamed slowly in.
A moment later he touched his com
panon's arm.
'"rhere she is" he said hurriedly; "and
her maid is With her. Looll-that young
lady in black velvet! The maid wears
a green costume"
AT that instant tall, handsome, evil
looking man hurried up to them and took
Caroline's hand.
''The carriage is waiting" they heard
him say.
Caroline, much asitatcd, though she en-
deavored to seem at ease, exclaimed, with
q forced smile:
"Oh, has my friend sent you to meet
me?"
EYES," he said, with an answering smile:
"she did not like you to drive through the
streets alone. Where is your luggage?
Let me lead you to the carriage"
"Gibbons," said Caroline, turning to her
maid, ''as my friend has sent her brother
to meet me, I need not take you such q
long drive, and you will be glad to get un.
der shelter this cold evening; so you can
take cab and drive at once to Madame
Henriette's, order the dress and tell her to
be ready to fit it on tomorrow, and then
go TO the lodgings have engaged for YOU.
AS my friends house is so full, she cannot
take you in for a couple of days Do YOU
understands"
"Yes, MISS" returned the maid, demure.
~, perfectly compreheading the ruse, for
she had read her mistress letters and was
certain that this tall gentleman who pass
ed for the brother of Miss Charlford's
friend was secret lover.
81 believe it will be a runaway match
this time!' she thought, as she showed
porter her mistress luggage, and then pre-
pared to obey her orders.
Am 1 to come to you the first thing to-
morrow morning, miss?" she asked, as she
was about to enter the cab.
NO, not to-morrow-it would only cause
confusion when the house is so full!' an
swered Caroline, with suppressed agita-
ton. ''The next day at dinner time-in
time to dress me-wil be soon enough.
Good night"
Good night, miss replied Gibbons,
with difficulty reprcssing smile.
Then she got into the cab and drove off,
leaving Caroline and the tall, evil-looking