Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-19
carried her. kicking open door At
tho other end With his boots.

IOSSeSSllS Hail OIL MY SdL near oHS
of the high windows smoking dirty
black pipe. Ray scarcely locked at
him until nc had carried his burden
to the lounge and left her there Then
he turned to him with Il muttered apol-
ogy for his abrupt tntralt..
II hope you will pardon the seeming
rudeness-"
Never mind. youn@ster." interrupt
cd the man in Il cultural voice. NO
harm done. We don't stand on cerc
mony in these parts.
This is my uncle. John Gordon"
said Blanche. in her most dulcct ac-
cents. "He has been like a father to
me all my life. love him dearly"
The last was uttered balf in depre
ciation as if she was aware of Rays
distrust and found it necessary to give
Il reason for having II protector so
manifestly uncongenial.
"Ah. yes. to be sure"
"Uncle John she added. in the
next breath. Il was unlucky enough
to sprain my ankle While rambling i'm
the woods. But I ought not to term it
an unlucky accident after all. for it
was the means of making me ac-
quainted with this kind gentleman.
who brought me home. I'm sure YOU
will be as much surprised as I was
20 learn that he is Mr. Braddon."
"Mr. Braddon"' calculated John
Gordon. "Well. I declare. if this amt
curious circumstance! I am delight
ell to see you. sir. delighted.''
Out went his horny hand. which Ray
was compelled to take. and the grip
of those muscular fingers could only
be compared to wise.
"AIr. Braddon has brought the money
that eccentric Mr.. Graham left me-"
said Blanche.
".All of it," questioned her uncle an
evil glitter in his wicked black eyes.
"Every penny" answered Ray.
"Hum! Ten thousand dollars is a
snug little fortune. Won't you shine,
Blanche. when you have so much mon
ey to spend? You'll buy no end of
silks and laces and ribbons, sup
pose:"
GAS if You needed any such furbe-
lows to enhance your beauty MUIR
INJURED Ray. close to her Seashell ear.
She lifted & coquettish glance to his
face.
IAN beautiful, Mr.. Bra.ldon:"
"Incomparable."
Pm afraid you are sad fatterer.
That is wrong to feed Il simple girls
~. A,,1 Il. e.1,@ 1,n,
provingly. You should not do it,
How can 1 help telling YOU what
must be palpable to every ob>erver:'
But I'm not accustomed to compli-
ments."
THAT is strange"
Nearly an hour Wore on. and pre-
sently John Gordon seemed to wax I'M.
easy for some reason or other. He
rose from his chair and began to walk
the floor With hurried, impatient
strides. At last he paused right be-
fore Ray and said. more roughly than
he had yet spoken:
"Where's the plumber. young MANI"
Rays eyes dilated little. seeing
which, Blanche FASTENED to explain.
lie means the money 50 generously
bequeathed by Mr.. Graham. | think
lie finds some difficulty in believing in
it's reality before he has seen it,
"Humph!
She raised warning glance into the
frowning face bending over her. 1t
was necessary; Fay remained as I'M
suspicious as Il child.
II beg your pardon. I was in dam
ger of forgetting my errand entirely
Rising as he spoke from the seat ne
occupied at Blanche's side, he stepped
to the table and produced a large roll
of bank bills from an inner pocket.
which he spread out Gil the rough deal
board.
"Here is the money. II is in one hun
dred dollar notes. Ii YOU will be good
enough to count it"
At this moment. hearing a rrstiing
movement Just behind him. he turned
his head little and saw Blanche not
more than three feet distant; standing
as firmly OH her feet as he stood OIL
his.
The human mind is such a mystery!
Somehow the recollection of the pre-
tended sprain came back to Rays
then like flash, and With il torrent
of the widest suspicious.
You" he gasped. why how"
He got no further in what he was
about to say. There came Il whiZzing
sound in the air, and Il heavy blow,
dealt from behind with bludgeon
welded by John Gordon's muscular
arms felled him, stunned and bleed
ing, to the floor, but not before he
heard voices and scurrying of foot
steps in the passage that led to the out
er room.
When Rays senses returned he was
man in the green riding habit sat be-
side him, deiuging his face and tenn
pies with water.
"Where am ~ he asked family, re-
alizing nothing at first.
Hush! 1 will tell YOU all you wish
to know when you are fully recov-
| ered.'
CHANGING past her, his attention was
arrested by group at the other end
of the room, and lie beheld "John
Gordon and blanche" sitting OH the
floor, With their arms secured behind
them, looking very fierce and crest
fallen, while several men stood near,
as if to guard them.
HWhet 60nS thic rnncOS' ha do