Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-23
SOpyTlSHt, lo3S,
SYNOPSIS,


Va, on day Fort Sumter surrendered
Dr. Francis Brodnar makes remarkable
request Of his friend. Dick Somers, to
which somers finally agrees. He is to
marry. blindfoded, a woman whose
name name he Is not to know, ask no cues.
the power of certain enemies. is to grant
her an honorable divorce,
CHAPTER 1I-According to the agree.
ment, Somers Is mysteriously married to
a young woman, who is called Frances,
and being left with her, they fall in love
with each other. Upon her insistence he
ights match in the dark room, that
they may see each other. A pistol shot
rings out. Somers falls with a scalp
wound Just as Brodnar comes to take
MIN away. He Is conveyed to the doc.
tors office.
CHAPTER 1II-Somers. on his recov-
cry, receives telegram to report to war
office Immediately. He learns Frances
is Well, and asks the doctor to tell her
hlchard Somers passes out of her life
10 serve his country. His duty done,
please God. and she needs his arm, he
Will follow her to the end Of the earth"
CHAPTER IV-Woman named Louise
Is visited by Raymond Holbin, the IA
tner OF her child, who has not kept his
promise to marry her. and who bears
striking resemblance to Dick Somers.
She tells Of having, in her desperation,
shot man who she thought was he.
CHAPTER V-Frances' father, John
Brookin. makes his will bequeathing her
certain property upon condition that she
he dies she disillusions his mind Of no.
ton that she had been disloyal to him.
ana tells him friend has wished her
to say to him: Ask Raymond Holbin
what he has done with Louise (the dy-
ing mans niece; for he is the man who
betrayed ner by 4 mock marriage, and
took her abroad
CHAPTER vI-HoIbln's absence from
the Brookin funeral Is noticed. He IN
busy In the deserted residence of de-
ceased unraveling the mystery Of the con-
nection between the shooting, told him
BY Louise, and the implied charge against
him made by Frances. He finds evidences
of a rivals presence in Trances' room.
and his evil mind fills with suspicion Of
tie S.-e siEL
CHAPTER VII-Holbin decides to ask
DR.. Brodnar II he knows the man who
was shot in Frances ROOM The doctor
asserts ne had been shot there, and that
mother) of being the woman who fired
tho shot. which. he declares, missed tts
mark.
CHAPTER vIII-Baffled in attempt TO
learn anything from DR.. Brodnar, Hol-
DIN turns to Frances, but Is again un-
successful. However. by a skillful move,
the man has made most powerful I'M
preston upon the woman he hopes to
marry.
CHAPTER IX-Holbin having exhaust
ed all his resources for information con-
corning the victim of the shooting, at
last turns to Frances old nanny, but
again fails.
CHAPTER x-Upon this he goes to his
mothers room and makes a clean brea st
of the facts She summons DR.. Brodnar.
ana demands to know the information he
possesses who then denouncss her liber-
tine son, who comes out of his conceal
ment in the room and attacks the doc
tor with knife. The doctor escapes.
sees Frances long enough to tell her
what he knows about somers' assailant.
and drives away. Misconstruing his mean
ing, thinking Louise had been Jealous on
account OF 6omers attentions to her,
she visits Louise full of sympathy for
latter's troubles. but nothing comes up
to throw the distrust out OF her mind.
CHAPTER xI-Frances becomes q
nurys for the wounded soldiers brought
to Richmond. A wounded federal came
under her care. He has been with Can't.
Somers, who had at the same time been
desperately wounded. Frances love and
trust for Somers returns upon this news
Of him..
CHAPTER xII-Louise has an interview
with Holbin. and later with his mother.
She has come into possession Of evil
dsnos proving q common-law marriage.
MRS. Brookin sees necessity of getting
her finally and forever out of the. way.
but temporarily yields to all demands.
and agrees upon full reparation.
CHAPTER XIII-Holbn wins thu graft.
tuds of Frances by Offering to escort her
wounded federal NOW well on til. road
70 recovery across the lines. He has
learned reason Of Frances interest In the
soldier. The next day this soldier is
round dead, shot in the back
CHAPTER xIV-From the murdered
tederaIs pockets Holbin had taken GER
tam letters and the formers pass allow
ing MIN to cross the lines. From the
letters he learns Of Frances marriage.
that Somers had been the victim OF
Louise's pistol. and that Dr. Brodnar had
oeen, at least, attempting to thwart his
plans for securing the Broohln fortune
CHAPTER xv-Somsrs {now colonsD
commands a regiment In vicinity of Rioh-
smond. Louise, disguised in solder 8
uniform, is brought wounded to him.
For the sake Of his old love for her he
Secures permission to enter Richmond
IN . confederate uniform. In the city
In his inquiry for one Raymond Holbin.
he comes to Frances home and the oou-
yersation that occurs is overheard by
Prookins scheming widow.