Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-06-06
CHAPTER XVIII. Continued,

What does this ean?" he exclaimed.
"Merciful heaven. Car there have been
some reason in her words just now?
Can a robbery have taken place."
As he spoke, stopping over her, Mr..
Grant raised her from the floor, n
half-carried her to a lounge. AS he
laid her upon ii he whispered:
'SilenCe. You are betraying your
self"
Beatrice could not repress a scream.
In her overweight condition. it seemed
TO her that little short of a miracle had
been effected.
She forgot all care. all prudence, as,
~clinging 10 him, She cried aloud hat he
would stay beside her.
do not cave me! Oh, do not leave
me-" she pleaded, pitifulIy.
But neither action nor words reused
in Chester's mind suspicion. They ap-
peared TO him but the cOunterpoise TO
her feeling OF aversion against himself.
Besides. now but one sentiment alb
sorbed him.
What had the empty drawer CON
tanned, and where had its contents
flown? Had Beatrice, indeed, discov-
cred the missing will? And If so, VIII"
was It who at this moment shared her
sAS~SN ~ . - IAAN "a iAAAA AAA@N~~E ~
know and ascertain this fact.
Beatrice" he said, calming himself
60 use the old, persuasive tone. for
give me if, a moment ago, I was harsh.
But Tell me what has happened. Have
you. indeed. been robbed?"
Caution" whispered Bertie's voice
again.
But its accents reached her ear alont,
! "To-morrow-give me until to-mor-
row, and 1 will tell you. Tonight 1 can
not talk"
But you were robbed?"
81 found some papers in the desk. and
I'm the darkness some one snatched
them from me. / thought that it was
you"
The ashen pallor deepened on Ches-
ter's face.
WAT here he laid. Il will return
"Bertie!" whispered Beatrice. in a low
voice OF supreme ecstasy. 'Bertie! 1t
is indeed your"
yes. my darlIng-yes." answered the
Sc. called Mr.. Grant. rs my disguise,
indeed, so perfect?"
Your disguise so perfect and my des-
PAL" so hopeless! oh. BERTHE, why have
you not come before?"
Because, my love, Until your letter
reached me, 1 knew not where You
were. My anxiety concerning you was
400 great to admit even the effort neces-
sary to the tracing of this fox to the
earth. But were you, indeed. robbed
tonight, Beatrice? Tell, me quickly.
dear"
yes I had just opened the secret
drawer. / only discovered its existence
this afternoon. All, Berthe, If i had
this afternoon. All, BERTHE, If / had
known then that the desk was to be
made your property. all this might have
been saved"
Il tried TO give you some word, some
hint, but dared not risk discovery. AS
IL vas. l hoped that YOU woUid under
stand"
NO; I was blind. My misery blind
ed me TO all else. And then the wild.
mad hope that I had discovered the pa
pers that meant TO us both SO much, 50
dazzled me that / could see nothing
nothing. But / had only clutched my
treasure tight, when, in the darkness,
some one stole upon me from behind
and snatched It from me. The next in
stant-so It seemed to me-the room
was flooded with light, and you and
Randolph Chester were standing look
ing at me. In that moment, BERTHE, i
understood the feeling which prompts
men to murder. I thought that ii was
ha who was the thief"
mo; for / followed him directly from
the drawing room. 1t will be a bitter
fight between us as TO who shall discov-
er the thief and regain possession OF the
papers. Meanwhile. dear, / am on his
track. Night and day. I follow like the
sleuth-hound OF the trail Of the deer;
and every hour, every minute, / am
nearing the goal. Yet, one false step
would ruin all. Are you sure, Beat
rice, that you are now strong enough
not to betray US by word or ~glance?"
"Ah, BERTHE, to know you are near
gives me back all my lost strength!
you need no longer fear for me. 1t was
only when / felt myself alone-only in
the moments when IL seemed to me that
the shadow OF death lay lke an eternal
wall OF separation between us-that my
strength and courage alike entirely for
sock me-"
Listen, then. dear. and 1 will tell you
my plans. l."
He paused. .
A step sounded in the room beyond;
a rustic of silken skirts was heard. The
next instant Miss Lorrimer entered the
room.
MIR. Grant," she exclaimed, you
have forsaken us! The tree has reached
a point where your taste is absolutely
essential to its further progress"
you have not seen it, Miss Mark
ham," he said. rising as he spoke.
''Wil you not lend US the benefit Of
your taste, as wellr"
To Miss Lorrimer's surprise. Beatrice
asserting laid her hand upon his arm.
HAS she fascinated him, too" she
thought.
Half an hour later she saw him write,
on a sheet he had torn from his note
book. a few words.
3, .'You would give me no commissions
to-day, Miss Markham" ne aid. May
] give you some for tomorrow, though
fhey will not demand a trip to the
city,"
"Are they d~ificult?" she questioned,
with a smile.
But here was a ring in l,-r tone. a
badness In her smile. Edith's quick
ears and eyes were not slow to note.