The Washington times., 1903-08-02

hav to tell you what thot would not
hav to tell anybody in | am led
TO beleev that miss Nellie peterson tol1
you she intended TO marry me- Such IS
not the case.
The fact is. the poor girl is insane
not dangerous. but bOpius. Her name
is not nellie Peterson. but Miss Gwen
Minnesota, but from New york. She
broke away from her people while tray
cling.
| do not live on Eighteenth street as
she told you but at 1875 South Dewberry
street.
I'm going to take her to her brother
in Indianapolis tomorrow. You'd best
crop the whole matter until l get hack.
Then I will give you the whole story.
Yours CLAUDE MARTINDALE.
p S. I would come around and see
you. but my people and myself are N
charge OF the girl at a hotel and / am
afraid to leave her.
The newspaper man called q cab.
ITO 1886 South Dewberry Street" he
said to the driver.
4 do not think there is such num-
Der, sir The street does not run into
the 1905"
We'll. drive out there and see" said
the newspaper man.
Sure enough. the street ended with
1924 Beyond was unbroken woodland.
He made inquiry at the last house
for Claude Martindale. His heart leap
ed with JOY when members of the fam
lily said they knew him. and directed
him to the number in Eighteenth Street
Eelie had given.
Claude Martindale was at home, and
in bed.
where is Nellie:" demanded the
newspaper man when he appeared in his
nightrobe. rubbing his eyes sleepily.
How should ! know
Aren't you going TO marry her 10
morrow
Good heavens. no."
Did you write this?" The visitor
handed him the note.
Martindale took the sheets and pain
fully made his way through them. nc
gave a low whistle. Il never saw it be-
fore. but l think that il was written by
Nellie-either her or her partner"
NOW" said the newspaper man. she
has given a great story to me in which
you figure prominently We were about
TO use it in the morning. She said you
were 10 be married and TO go to In
dianapolis tomorrow. Perhaps you will
oblige me with the truth about this pc
culiar case
The young glassblower was eviden ~
uneasy over the prospect OF figuring "a
the story.
II can't afford to appear in print with
that woman he said The fact is, |
know very little about this Peterson
girl. l believe she is distantly related
10 our family. and ii is true that she
came from Kalamazoo. Did you over hear
Of Red Fairweather. the g-eat con
man? The papers had n lot about n
smooth game he worked out West. He
had woman helper. Nellie's the girl.
They have been travelling pretty quietly.
They fell out on their way to New York
and Red deserted her here-stranded.
She had to go to work. or starve. She
called here once. but the family did not
warm up | understand she and Red
have made up and he is coming back
here for her
That's all l knew about her." Mar
tindale concluded. You can make the
most Of 1t. but please count me out.
I'm not hunting notoriety."
There was no runaway heiress wedding
story in tie Sunday paper.
The newspaper man was down early
next morning. anxious for DEVELOPMENTS.
AS ne drew near to the principal hotel
he espied couple OF rather striking ap-
pearance on the way to a cab in front
II lacked but few minutes of time for
a train east
The mans silk tile covered a wealth of
hair of bright auburn. His face was clean
shaver. and his eyes we're beady and
shifty.
There was something familiar about
the woman. although completely bundled
In a costly wrap, and heavily yelled
The newspaper man peered closely I'M
Of the impudence of his act. II
was Nellie. She sought to avoid the in
truder. but he held out his hand. She
hesitated and then took it, As she turned
a splendid diamond brooch flashed at her
throat.
y trust you are not going TO the asy-
um," said The newspaper man dryly.
She locked puzzled for moment. and |
hen remembering the note. said with |
laugh and naughty grimace:
i had to do that to keep you from |
ising that Sunday feature Indian
ipolis News.