Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-01-15
Woman VS.. Woman.
eeSaeNeeSNeAee AeeeNeeNNeNeoee

trace the writing, but a second glance
left no room for doubt.
"The Societies Office, Stellenbosch.
ITO Mrs. de la F.: &c
Have you procured the dispatch
case carried by the officer, j. B., yeta
If so, the bearer of this is to be trust
ed; give 1t to him. If you have NOT Sol:
yet secured it, tell him when to see
you again. 81. x de w.
Muriel drew her breath sharply. She
sat motionless, her brain busy. She
realized at once that she had beer
mistaken for somebody in the pay or
the Beers; a plot was Matching, and
she
At that moment she heard foot
steps hurrying down the pathway. !Shs
thrust the note in the bosom of her
dress. Suppose the messenger had
discovered his mistake, and was re-.
turning? Her heart beat wildly. With
sudden resolve Muriel had made up
her mind. The summer house had an
inner room, to which small doorway
gave admittance. Opening the door she
plunged into the darkness. Holding
her breath, she peered through the
half-open door, not daring to close 1t
for fear Of making noise. A man
entered the summer house. A quick
sigh of relief escaped Muriels lips. 1T
was not the messenger. She glanced
at the mans face; then started back
in horror. She recognized him asa
man she had frequently seen in the
hotel; but his eyes were now blood
shot, his expression wila. his manner
distraught.
John Beresford (for it was he) drew
a revolver from his coat and raised
it against himself
Muriel waited no longer. With "a
little cry she flung open the door AMI
threw herself upon the man. The re-
volver fell from his hand.
"Oh! stop, stop" she cried. "You
can't know what you are doing"
John Beresford stared at her as
though she were a ghost He stood
motionless, his arms hanging Imply by
his side, his wild eyes searching her
own.
Cant I help you?' whispered Mu-
riel, gently, all the sympathy Of her
nature going out toward him. please
let me try"
Help l am beyond help" echoed
the man, struggling with the words.
Leave me, for PHYS sake, Mrs. Molly
neux." There is only one way out Of
this
How do you know my name?"
asked Muricl, in surprise.
"MolyneuX was an old pal of mine,"
answered the other. "He would not
speak to me now."
A sudden inspiration flashed across
Muriel's brain. what is your name?"
she asked
"Tohn Beresford. For PHYS sake
leave me"
1 @Your initials are J. B., then? Haze
you-are the dispatches
"How do you know about that"
said John Beresford, raising his head
with CLEAN of hope in his eyes. "Not
soul but myself and the thief knows
that it was stolen from me within the
last "a hours"
Mrs. de la Fame glided down the
footpath leading toward the summer
house. She was dressed in white. AS
she drew near she caught the sound
of voices, and walked slowly past the
doorway.
She gave little dry cough when
she recognized John Beresford and Mu-
riel Molyneux.
She seemed annoyed to find the sum-
mer house occupied at that moment.
She paced the footpath for a few mo-
ments and then returned to the hotel.
She went 10 the pigeonhole where she
generally found her letters and tele-
grams. 1t was empty. Soon after
midnight she went to the pigeonhole
again. There was a sealed packet
waiting for her. With a sigh of relief
she carried 1t hastily to her room and
read:
1.-THE Societies Office, stellenbach.
'ro Mrs. de la T.:
Have you procured the J. B. docu-
ments yet? If so, the bearer of this is
TO be trusted. Give them to him. If
you have not yet secured them, tell
him when to see you again.
"J. x. de W."
A second note in another handwrit-
ing was lnclosed:
"Madam-Not finding you this even
ing at the appointed place, am leav-
ing this note for you at the hotel. l
shall be there tomorrow evening at
$50 to receive your answer.
~. K. deW.'s Messenger"
Mre de la Fame slept the sleep Of
the just that night
On the following evening she kept
the appointment She was again
dressed in white. Punctual to the mo-
ment she heard a mans footstep on the
path outside, and a tall, bearded man
stood in the doorway.
Mrs. de la Fame, I presume?" He
spoke in deep, gruff voice
She handed him a carefully sealed
packet. saw him place it inside his
breast pocket and waited till he dis
appeared. The next morning she re.
ceived an invitation from Capt. Beres-
ford to dine with him that evening.
Che handed the note to Mr.. de la Fame
and remarked, callously:
what nerve the man has. Surely,
he knows there is nothing for him to
do but shoot himself. He's
ruined silly creature"
BIT. de la Fame laughed harshly.
go that evening cheerful party as
sembled in the private dining room.
Mrs. Molyneux and Mrs. de la Fame
were the only ladies present. but some
half-dozen men made up the party.
With the dessert. John Beresford looked
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