The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-05-02
"a PRETTY - -
- - COMPANION
BY Louiise Bedford.

= BY Louis
AIksks q * s;es X X y A ;< sse$
N CHAPTER XII (Continued.)
I thought you would want to hear
0s story some day" said Clarices And
thsn che told It very simply, as the
Doctor had told it to her. Of the poor
oo5e promise Of amendment of life
and of the act Of bravery which had
orought It to q close.
'Doceor Drake said that whatever
Als He may have been, he died like a
oero." sasd Clarice. her own voice
oeea1iRg q little as she repeated the
SsordA
did no say that? What a good
hind man he is: the best friend l
have ever had. except you. Clarice.
0aid Janetta, smiling through her
tsan
Yoar brothers death seemed SO
0sacefd ~ comparison with that poor
wrsech's whom the Doctor hunted
AeWn," continued Clarice. II often
Woader where Mason is. She went of
0oparsutiy early on the night of the
coabsey. and the police have never
Sesa able to obtain the faintest clue
70 her whereabouts. It was quite clear
6ua the letters she left behind her
chat The man was her lover. and had
ootained all his information from her. F"
'Oh, yes; it was the same voice"
Oa9d Janetta, then started and colored.
She had not meant to betray the fact
that she had overheard Mason talking
to some unknown man In the shrub
6ery. and had warned Mrs. Mortimer
1bout her. The words had slipped from
her.
81 "Wh2t voice?" asked Clarice eagerly.
Aud Sanetta thought 1t best to relate
the story.
"Ah! that makes many things clear
witch found it so hard to explain, -
sstd C1artee. thoughtfully. ct could
never make out why Mrs. Mortimer
seeMed to blame herself so bitterly for
the burglary having happened. quite
accepted her confession Of injustice to
you and declined to take her notice to
leave. ~ you freely forgave her; but /
could not see In what way she could
consider herself responsible for the
robbery. Poor woman! how, terribly
she has suffered; but 1t has done her
good, Janetta. She Is far gentler and
kinder than she was, and she has kept
= dragon watch over the house, appar-
emily. during our absence. think it's
getting chilly. Hadn't we better be
making our way back to the hotel?"
When they got back to their hotel
they found that table d'hote was al
ready served
we will go in as we are" said
Cfarice- And they advanced into the
brilliantly lighted salon and took their
places. Seated exactly opposite them
was Doctor Drake, who regarded them
with smiling eyes.
What, again." said Clarice, with a
mod and a laugh, greeting him as if
they Had only parted the night before.
You must be spending a perfect for
tune in travelling expenses! And look,
Jour occupation is gone!" she said,
with q proud glance at Janetta. "She
does not look as if she needed much
doctoring, does she?"
My visit is entirely for pleasure"
said Doctor Drake laughing. I'm out
for a holiday at last. The world was
before me where to choose, and if I've
taken a fancy like yourselves to visit
Spain. I cannot see why you should
make any objection"
None in the world" retorted Clar-
ice, merrily
When dinner was ended it was but
natural that the doctor should Join
the girls III the hall, and, sitting down
by their side. tell them all the home
news.
we have agreed this afternoon that
re will go back" said Clarice eve
are tired Of wandering, aren't you, Jan
-etta!''
Cor an outburst of welcome from you"
ahe said, smiling at the doctor, who
seemed lost in a fit Of abstractin..
''Et would have found vent before
this. except that your homecoming
will not benefit me much. I'm going
To- leave Northcliff."
The caces of both his listeners grew
tAiank-
How horrid Of you'll" cried Clarice
,oetMiantIy. And the impetuous words
drought pink flush to the doctors
'oafr face. Il suppose it's case of
money"
Yes; It's money and a baronetcy,"
esOpKled the doctor, dryly.
-YoH are Joking"
TIN not I'll go and write my name
In the visitors book this instant if you
.aont believe me. Sir Robert Drake!'
DO look the part?" he went on, with
rather q forced laugh. Two distant
0ale relatives died one after the other,
and I awoke one morning lately to find
0y0elf transformed from a doctor in
. country town into baronetcy and
die fortune"
Then suppose we must congratu-