Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-16
wight 1885, by Lppincott Company rights reserved
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.
CHAPTER 1I-According to the agree
ment' Somers Is mysterlously married to
young woman, who is called Frances,
anu anu, oelng lett with her. they fall In love
win each other. Upon her insistence he
Msnts 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
MN away. He is conveyed to the doc
tors office.
CHAPTER III-Somsrs, on his recov.
cry. receives telegram to report to war
once Immediately. He learns Frances
rs rs well. and asks the doctor to tell her
flcnard Somers passes out of her life
70 serve his country His duty done,
Please God. and she needs his arm. he
WI! follow her to the end Of the earth.'
rs visited by Raymond Holbin. the ia
ther OF her child, who has not kept his
promise to marry her. and who bears q
s.riKlng resemblance to Dick Somers
Sne tells OF having, in her desperation.
shot man who she thought was he.
CHAPTER V-Frances' father, John
brookn, makes his will bequeathing her
certain property upon condition that she
marry Holbin, his stepson. just before
ne oies 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 no has done with Louise (the DIV.
ing mans niece); for he Is tho man who
betrayed her by . mock marriage. and
took her abroad"
CaAfIER VI-HoIbln's absence from
ene Brookin funeral IL noticed. He h
busy in the deserted residence Of de-.
ceased unraveling the mystery of the con-
hectlon between the shooting, told him
oy Louise. and the implied charge against
him made by Frances He nnds evidences
OF a rivals presence In Frances room.
and his evil mind fills with suspicion Of
fkrs s:re girl
CHAPTER VII-Holbin decides to ask
Ut. Brodnar II he knows the man who
was shot IN Frances room. The doctor
rs ne nad been shot there. and that
ne suspected Mrs. Brookin (Holbin's
mother) of being the woman who fred
tho shot, which, he declares, missed Ito
mark. A's
CHAPTER vIII-Bafled in attempt to
learn anything from DR.. Brodnar. Hol-
olh turns to Frances. but is again. I'M
successful. However, by a skillful moye.
the man has made a most powerful i'm.
preston upon the woman he hopes to
harry.
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. hut
again fails.
CHAPTER X-Upon this he goes to his
room and al
OF the facts. She summons Dr. Brodnar.
and demands to know the information he
possesses who then denouncsS her liber-
tine son, who comes out of hi1 conceal
ment In the room and attacks the doc
tor with a 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 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 xt-Frances becomes
nurse for the wounded soldiers brought
to Richmond. 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.
CHAPTER XlI-Louisehas an interview
with Eolbin. and later with his mother,
She has come into possession Of evi.
denoe proving common-law marriage.
Mrs. Brookin sees necessity of getting
her finally and forever out of the. syay,
but temporarily yields to all demands,
and agrees upon full reparation,
CHAPTER xIII-Holbin wins the graft.
tude of Frances by offering to escort her
wounded federal now well on tfs road
70 recovery across the lines. He has
learned reason of Frances interest in the
soldier The next day this soldier Is
found dead. shot in the back.