Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-09-03

self on your couch; but walt. ! will
bring you q glass Of wine"
The valet obeyed, and in q few mo-
ments the maid returned, bearing in
her hand a glass-a glass into which
she had emptied a small white powder
before filling 1t with the red fluid. The
man emptied 1t at a draught.
1T tasted bitter he said, as he
handed back the glass.
Nonsense" she replied.
But even as he spoke his head fell
back on the pillow, and his eyes closed
in sleep.
a. few moments she stood watching
him, until his calm, measured breath
ing told her that his slumber was deep.
"Sleep on" she said. an evil smile
playing about her lips. Poor, weak
fool! 1t is for you to sleep, for me to
work! You will not tell me your pre-
cious secret, Ell? Then Marie will dis
cover 1t for herself"
With these words she crossed the
room, first taking from the pocket CT
his coat, which he had hung across a
chair-a small bunch of keys. and APP
plying them, one by one, to the lock OF
a well worn desk, until n fitted, and
she then opened the lid. For half an
hour she made careful search among
the papers. Nothing rewarded her eff
forts. A few bills, a few notes from
herself, some memoranda, were all
that she discovered.
"He knows something" she NUT
| tered aloud. There must be some
written evidence of 1t. Where does he
keep it,"
Carefully restoring everything In its
place, she again locked the desk and
returned the keys. after which she ex-
amined every pocket, even the lining
OF his coat. All in vain.
A bafiied look swept over her face.
Had. she administered the drug for
nothing? Did he In reality know moth
ing more of Barbara Bretton's early
life than she knew herself? There was
one chance left.
She bent over the sleeping mar and
laid her hand softly on his heart. Was
it imagination only which brought that
rosy flush of hope to her cheeks, and
made her own heart beat in mad
bounds? She felt something like a
sheet of paper.
He slept heavily, On. Softly, skill
fully. she slipped her fingers beneath
the linen.
Yes. the drug had served Its pur-
pose. She felt q paper In his touch;
but 1t was sewed TO his shirt. Nothing
daunted. she severed the stitches, and
in another instant had dragged it forth
to the light Of day.
It was yellow with age, and but a
single sheet, resembling parchment.
Her whole frame trenlbled. She could
scarcely unfold 1t. Feline had kept
his secret well.
AT last 1t lay open to her inspection,
but her eyes dwelt on 1t long before
her mind could grasp fits meaning, for
the written words attested to the mar
riage OF Barbara Breton with Gerald
Lysle. In the little chapel at st. Ger
main.
1t was Barbara Bretton's marriage
certificate, duly attested. Surely she
herself did % know OF it's existence.
Could 1t be that she and all the world
we're mistaken, and that she had In re-
ality been Sir Gerald Lysle's welded
wife? And why had Feline kept this
secret sc zealously?
"Ah!" a quick thought flashed across
Marie's mind. IF this be true, her hold
over Travis Meredith is gone. She
cannot be the wife OF two men at once.
Yes, my ~lady--yesl My turn Is COM
Ing. The wheel grinds slowly, but it
brushes, none the less"
sThen. with dest fingers, she re-
stored the paper to its place. sewing
1t as before. s. that 1t might be held
secure-Feline's regular breathing
serving as an accompaniment to her
work.
1t was barely completed when mad
ame's bell rang violently. Marie, COM
posing her face into the usual expres-
sion. FASTENED to answer 1t.
MARIE" commenced Barbara, her
manner betokening much agitation as
the maid entered the room. "Dr. Hayes
left me two hours ago. promising to
return In q very few minutes. Some
premonition tells me he mas met Mr..
Lennox. 1t may be that he was seen
issuing from my house. Send Feline
to me. / must ascertain the truth"
Feline, madame, is sleeping. He
was quite i'll, and / composed for him a
soothing draught- Will YOU have him
ioused?"
mo. let him sleep. But I must in
some way end this suspense"
Perhaps / can serve you, madame.
II so. command me.
GO, then, to DIR. Hayes rooms, and
ascertain If he has been there. and
at what hour he left them"
Marie courtesied and withdrew.
Ten minutes later, her face entirely
hidden by a veil. she emerged from the
street door and walked rapidly away.
AT last she STONED before a house