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

When Beatrice entered the library
next morning, Mr.. Grant (as Mr.. Ches-
ter,s guest was KNOWN was already
there.
He sat writing, but sprang up eagerly
to greet her.
Holding her little hand in his, he
gazed with adocing rapture into the
pale, beautiful face.
my darling!" he exclaimed, II must
not even draw you TO my heart, nor give
you one kiss. / can scarcely dare TO
look at you: yet how / nave hungered
for this moment"
She strove in vain to speak-to an
swer him, but her lips only q~uivered.
and great tears rolled down her cheeks.
Control yourself, my love-" he plead
ed. AT any moment We may be inter-
rupted."
AT any moment, he said; yet, alb
sorbed in each other, neither dreamed
that the dreaded m OF interrupt
ton had already come. Neither saw
the heavy curtain tremble, nor detected
the cleaning eyes which, through its
kAA ACA jus WV SSSN~A~
every look-the keen ears which drank
in every word.
Listen, Beatrice continued Berthe.
but sit here on this arm chair. dean.
while / go back to the desk. There!
We shall be unsupported now, If n
one should enter. Our meeting here
must appear an accident. Once more
We are Hiss Markham and Mr.. Grant.
MI. Grant? 1t was a bold step, dear,
was it not? But when you with Eyes
Of love. did not discover me, I knew
that I was safe from him. / shaved of
my moustache, darkened my skin and
dyed my hair. My beard, OF course, is
false. 1t was all made easier for me
by his suspecting a detective I sent
down to watch Tyrrell to be me. 1t
helps me play my role the better. At
fairs, however, are drawing to a climax.
In regard to the man at the lodge,
Chester will probably to-day discover
his mistake concerning him. / will take
good care. however, that his suspicious
dc not fall on me. In fact. 7 hin that
I may prophesy that he will give me his
confidence and seek my counsel. Not a
bad idea, will it be? To further play
into my hands, he asked me to send
down two men yesterday from the city
detective officers. OF course, / brought
down two in my own service. I almost
wish, darling. you were still In ignor-
ance of 1t all. But, If I escape the next
few hours without detection, we shall, I
believe, bring Randolph Chester to bay.
And detection is well-nigh impossible.
Only one thing troubles me-the loss of
the papers last night. OF that theft
Chester is innocent. Who could have
taken them?"
81 cannot tell. I only felt a hot
breath, reeking with the fumes OF
liquor on my cheek, a rough arm about
my waist: n then, almost without a
struggle. so great was my amaze, that
/ let the papers so. They would have
proved all, BERTHE. I feel-I know II.
1t seemed as If papa's spirit came back
from the grave TO show me the hiding
place. But I found them, only to lose
them!"
And. burying her face in her hands,
the sobs came thick and fast.
Hush. dearl Control yourself. I feel
as If our long night were ended-as IL
the dawn at last were breaking. Ran
dclph Chester yet shall meet his deserts
and you, my dearest, proudly asser,
your rights. Meantime. Beatrice. con-
flde In nc ~one--above all, in Edith Lor.
rimer. She hates you--her lover loves
you-and her very soul is consumed by
Jealous fires. All, my love. they kindled
in my own. when, the other night, I, un-
seen. listened TO his passionate confess
sion-7a confession she, too. overheard,
and which kindled the flames OF hatred
to a longing for revenge. She is bold
and unscrupulous. Should she and Ran