The Irish standard., 1901-10-26
CHAPTER NV.

Locked within his own room, Ray
mond Holbin drew from his pocket the
packet of papers taken by him from
the murdered man with the official
order for which he had committed the
crime. The order read: 'Pass the
bearer, Thomas Riley, paroled prison
er, through the lines" sit will not
do Louise much good, anyway" he
said. 'even were disposed to give it
to her" The name Martha Somers"
upon the sealed packet attracted his
attention. and he recognized in Della
ware address beneath the home of
Richard Somers. He remembered then
the dead soldiers description of the
battle in which he was wounded, and
guessed that the packet contained the
papers given to him to deliver. Holbin
would hardly have troubled himself to
wade through score cffarewell pages
from soldier to his mother, and would
have promptly destroyed the whole
collection. but that the remaining en-
velope. addressed to Richard Somers,
lay before him, and upon it his eye
caught the Brook. crest.
'This is very different" he said to
himself with interest. LET us see
what Frances has to say to the fellow"
He broke the seal and read:
II send you back, we'll and free, the
man who saved your life; found him
srievously wounded-a prisoner. 1t is all
| that have been able to do in return for
your kindness to me, stranger, and for
he wound N mn, Thfulr
me not indicate when l say that the
sweetest memory my heart carries Is in
the memory of your face beneath the
match that night ard of the words
Frances, my wife, which you have en-
graved in your locket, and over which I
it can never matter much. for a sea of blood
rolls between us. Good night. God be
with you till we meet--in Heaven.
FRANCES"
Holbin sat gazing blankly upon the
lines. His head was in awhirl.
"Her husband! her husband!
Pshaw!" he exclaimed with an uneasy
laugh, springing to his feet and begin
| ming to walk the floor, "this comes of
the damnable work out yonder to-day;
my nerves are simply unstrung." He
took bottle from his dresser. poured
out stiff drink, and tossed it off with
one gulp. Then he went back to his
table and, picking up the letter, read
| aloud: wound received in my house
-"your face beneath the lighted
match" AS he stood thus the letter
slipped from his hand. "Louise!" he
whispered, "the Fan whom Louise
shot!" Not in all the vicissitudes OF
his wild career had Holbin received
such shock of surprise. His mind
dazed and bewildered, could not ar.
range deduction beyond the discov.
cry that Richard Somers was the man
around whom SO much of mystery had
gathered, and that Frances referred tc
him in the tender word husband" He
laid his hand upon the bell-cord ant
hesitated; then his wicked smile came
back again as he pulled it.
"Tell your mistress shall be glad il
she will favor me with her presence
here" he said to William. When, q
few minutes later. Mrs. Broolin came
into the room he failed to hear her.
what is it, Raymond?" she asked
He reused himself and spoke rapidly
"Frances got her wounded soldier a
pass through our lines. and to please
her carried him to the front. After
he left me found these papers in the
buggy where he had dropped them
The fellows captain is Richard
Somers."
| Richard Somers!"
"And now. madam. read the note
from Frances to him and let me con.
graduate you upon"
She read it rapidly, and when he,
amazed face was lifted he added:
| "Your son-in-law."
II do not understand! What does
it mean?"
"Answer that question for me. moth
er; my head has ceased to be of any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however, the
woman who you lead me to believe gave
you her promise to marry me some lay
is already in point of law Richard
Somer's wife and has forfeited he1
right to any part of her fathers es
tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold
congratulate you!" His manner be
| traved an intense excitement and hit