The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-03-04
COPYRIGHT, 1900. BYR. y. FENrO b 90.

r IT y ~ y r. ~
The title Is Spanish, not much, l take
1t, like their castles. But she's an
amazing fine woman. tall and hand
some. Reckon that's won her her
duke. She was on the boards once
some Boston variety show. The dukes
like a bit of dried root and black as
sarsaparilla."
"And this millionaireT
"WoOd. You have heard of him. Is
that so? The young English captain
who got all the Mcknight millions.
needn't show him you; guess you know
him by sightY
How was to answer this most en-
barrassng question: Was it put quite
innocently? Had this man any sus-
picion? l looked into his little pale
blue eyes, but they never faltered, and
replied that like the rest Of the
world, had heard the story.
He's no great shakes, you'll say,
not for British officer. Don't fit his
fortune quite. It's good deal to live
up to-"
When the train ran into Southamp-
ton and we left 1t for the wharf where
lay the little tender that was to con-
vey us to the big liner, Mr.. Rossiter
(my new friends name) showed us the
people he had named. We were crowd
ed now into narrow space, and sat
almost In each others pockets. 1t was
easy to make out every one, and soon
learned all wanted to know.
First. there was the arch lmpostor,
the villain who was masquerading as
my dear Willie Wood. saw short,
thickset, vulgar looking man, very
much overdressed, smoking long
cigar, holding his head high, as though
arrogance and hauteur were in his
part He was not alone; his two COM
panions, the only persons to whom he
TERRA sagrada, as-my friend whisper
cd me.
l confess l stared at them with all
my eyes, my heart beating tumultuous-
". If I only knew what they did!
They had been with Wlllie-were the
last to see him, probably, in the Vic
toria dock. sS.y'e g.; s,s4s ssss,.' f..
The man, small man, thin, twisted,
snakelike, ana venomous, was no
doubt the ringleader, one Of the prime
movers In the plot. AS looked at
his dark. sallow face, heavy, brooding,
with dull, savage, bloodshot eyes, I
trembled to think I might have to
measure strength with him-that I,
weak, helpless woman, might be called
upon to unmask him, and bring him to
account. What chance should l have
alone against these INSCRIPTIONS, MUIR
derous, coldly deliberate villains?
got some little comfort, however,
from my examination of the woman.
Duchess or no duchess, accomplce and
confederate or hapless tool, willing or
constrained, I knew that within her
poor means she had been kind to
Willie, and would have helped him If
she could. She was not wholly bad, l
felt sure. A handsome woman, I'M
doubtedly; very tall, with fine figure
and q beautiful face, although with a
sad, worn, anxious eXpressiOn-the
face of one who had known some
trouble. Was she vexed harassed,
tortured perchance, by past that
was irrevocable at present hateful and
intOlerable, which she was power
less to mend2 There could be but lit
tie sympathy between her and her hus-
band. They hardly spoke to each
other; when they did, the man seemed
to snarl, and If she answered at all, it
was only in sullen monosyllables.
When the false Willie Wood addressed
her, which he did from time to time
with an air of easy familiarity, she
disdained to reply at all. 1t was clear
the consplrators were not happy
family.
While I sat looking intently at these
people and engrossed with very serious
thoughts, was disturbed by Fan
shave, my maid, who came up and
said, In very fretful. disappointed
tone: rss
"Please, Miss Frida, I'm Worried to
death with this tlresome dog. What
ever made you bring him Is more than
l can say. can do nothing with him."
slsaas ITO BE CoNTlNuED)