Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-09
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER I-Story opens in Richmond,
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. blindfolded woman whose
tons. and finally, when she is out Of
the power of certain enemies, Is to grant
her an honorable divorce
CHATTER lI-Accordng to the agree
ment, Somers is mysteriously married to
young woman. who is called Frances.
ana being left with her. they fall in love
with each other Upon her insistence he
nshts match In the dark room, that
they may see each other A pistol shot
rings out. Somers fails with a scalp
wound just as Brodnar comes to take
MIN away. He is conveyed to the doc
tors office.
CHAPTER II1-Somers, on his recov-
cry. receives telegram to report to war
once Immediately. He learns Frances
is well, and asks the doctor to tell her
Richard Somers passes out of her life
to 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 fa-
Their Of her child. who has not kept his
promise to marry her, and who bears q
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 bequeathink her
certain property upon condition that she
marry Holbin, his stepson. Just before
he dies she disillusions his mind of no.
ton that she had been disloyal to him,
and tells him friend has wished her
to say to him: Ask Raymond Holbin
what he has done with Louise (the dy-
Ing mana nfAcAl hA To
betrayed her by q mock marriage, and
took her abroad"
CHAPTER VI-Holbln's absence from
the Brookin funeral IL noticed. He II
busy In the deserted residence of de-.
ceased unraveling the mystery of the con-
nectlon between the shooting, told him
by Louise. and the implied charge against
MIN made by Frances. He finds evidences
OF q rivals presence in Frances ROOM
and his evil mind fills with suspicion Of
TIA a:-A st.l
CHAPTER VI1-Holbin decides to ask
Dr. brodnar II he knows the man who
was shot IN Frances room. The doctor
asserts he had been shot there, and that
ne suspected Mrs. Brookin (Holbin's
mother) Of being the woman who fired
mark.
CHAPTER v1I1-Baffled in attesnpt to
learn anything from DR.. Brodnar, Hol-
bin turns to Frances, but Is again un-
successful. However, by skillful move,
the man has made a most powerful i'm.
preston upon the woman ne 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 clean breast
OF the facts. She summons DR.. Brodnar,
and demands to know the information he
possesses who then dsnouncss her liber-
tine son, who comes out Of his concsal-
ment in the room and attacks the doo-
tor with knife. The Doctor escapes,
sees Frances long enough to tell her
what he knows about Somers asSailant,
and drives away. Misconstruins his mean
Ing. thinking Louise had been Jealous on
account of somers' 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-Franoes becomes a
nurse for the wounded soldiers brought
to Richmond. A wounded federal came
under her care. He has been with Capt.
Somers. who had at the same time been
desperately wounded. Frances love and
trust for Somers returns upon this news
Of him.