The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-03
name is Spencer Lockwood; my pro-
By e. Ralph.

~NJ $1,000 49,
fession the law.
As a barrister, not altogether briefess
I find It more difficult every year, even II
vacation time. to get away from the BIG
die temple for my annual fortnight holi'
day.
Last year It was a toss-up whether
should be able to go at all, so that 1t was
much to my satisfaction that I found my
self one weekend comfortably settled II
snug quarters at the old fashioned Kings
Head hotel, Overcoombe, Bucks, In the
very heart of the lovely Vale or Ayes
bury.
I congratulated myself upon having
left pleas" plants and all things
legal far behind, for a time at any rate,
absolutely unsuspicious that / was on the
eve of becoming a leading actor In a
stranger criminal drama than l had ever
played in, in my capacity as advocate, at
the Old Bailey.
by Jove!" I said to myself as I sat at
the open window after dinner on the even
ing of my arrival and watched a young
lady, accompanied by an elder one, pass
ing up the main street toward the railway
station, that's the sweetest looking girl
l have seen for many q day! WONDER
who she is? I thought I knew pretty well
everybody. by sight at least, in Over
coonbe. I'll ask Jackson; perhaps he
knows; or. rather, he's sure to know"
AS Overcoombe had been my yearly
place of retreat for the past five or six
years, Jackson, the landlord Of the Kings
Head. knew me well, and would have no
hesitation in enlightening me as to the
identity of the T; stranger.
THAT, sir!" said Jackson. lis Mrs. Rus
sell and her daughter"
"Russell!" I said. Russell! I dom re-
member the name"
Like as not, sir; they've only been
here about six months; since Just after
Christmas"
"They look like quite superior people.
Jackson"
'They are, sir. Mrs. Russell. SO I've
heard, is the widow of a captain in the
navy. and, I should q y Is pretty well
off,"
Where do they live?"
"You know that old brick house. sir. on
the Aylesbury road, half a mile the other
side of the station?"
IT know; the place that was empty for
so long. 'Sandilands' is the name OF it, I
think"
That's 1t. sir! Well. that's where they
live. The old lady's a bit soft-headed, SO
they say hasn't a soul above tea-table
gossip, and is about the worst mother a
young girl could possibly have. according
to my humble opinion"
All this only whctted my curiosity to
know more of the young lady, a desire
which the next day was gratifed through
the good Offices of a mutual friend. who
introduced me to Miss Russell.
She was young; in fact, barely q. She
was good looking. too, but wore, I
thought, a depressed and anxious express
sion. Naturally I concluded that she was
in Ill health, q victim perhaps to the gave
ties OF the London season. Later on I
limited as much to Mrs. Russell. who, as it
seemed to me, with somewhat heartless
indifference deprecated the idea in no
measured terms.
Meta Russell and I became very good
friends, but came 40 nearer to getting at
the reason of her trouble. Her strange
ness or manner haunted me, and yet,
after all, l thought, why should I worry
o 1T? 1t did not concern me. a
But I was not able to satisfy myself so
easily. I was obliged to confess that NV
interest in Meta Russell was stronger
than l had imagined. I was not in love
with her; the idea wa absurd. having
regard to the shortness Of the acuuatnt-
ance. though she peculiarly Interested me.
and l earnestly wished to be of service to
her.
order, was making my way toward the
end OF the week through what was locally
known as the Nut Scrub"
rms was at least a square mile II not
more Of dense hazel bushes, through
which ran a narrow strip OF path.
1 was about half way through this leafy
tangle when I heard voices within a
stones throw Of me.
One OF them was evidently a woman's,
and, for the life of me, I could not shake
on the impression that I knew its owner.
h other was that of an due If
not vulgar, man.
Very we'll. Mrs. Forester" the latter
was saying. I've give you Jacks mes
sage. and you'll only have yourself to
blame If you ont do as he says. Which,
I tell him, is it to be; you to go back
to him, or-what I thinkll suit him lust as
well. OF. perhaps, better-that you send
by me, five hundred pounds before
the end of next week."
"Neither!" replied the woman, in raised,
sol"
You'd best listen to reason" persua-
sively replied he other. Jack Forester
is a dangerous customer to cross. and 7
know as he'll never let you alone, or leave
you, If you don't do one or the other of
them two things"
We'll! you have my last word! I will
40 neither, and n attempt to modest me
in any way will only bring trouble to you
and to him."
Have you any money about you now? 70
mo; and II I had I would not give 1t
you"
"Supposing I were to AXE it! This is a
PietlS Aoiely Spot nODOQy cOulC near you,
I fancy!"
It was Meta Russell without a doubt,
and, unless I was mistaken. in sore strait
from some matchmaking ruffian. That he
addressed her as Mrs. Forester did not
for the ONE appeal to me.
Forcing my a in breakneck fashion.
through the intervening scrub, In the d.
recton of the voices, I came face to face
with Miss Russell and her threatener.
Don't be too sure of that!" I cried. ad-
dressing the latter, a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
fashily-dressed specimen Of the genus
cockney. II nave overheard quite enough
to know that you are i~ntimidating this
lady, and I warn you that If you don't
sheer off ON the instant it viii be the worse
for YOU"
h fellow looked me up and down.. as
II to calculate probabilities, but, tudg-
ing discretion to be the wiser course, with
a 5eertng defiant laugh, disappeared in the
thicket to the right
The immediate strain lifted, Meta Rus
sell all but completely collapsed on the
reaction. and I saw that there was moth
ing for 1t but for me to accompany her