Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-10-12
CHAPTER Xxx -fContipued.,

the time, which greatly disconnected his
host but affected Judith not at all; for
she felt convinced that he had some sub
ject Of mutual interest in view, or he
would not he there.
Now" said Montgomery, after he had
got himself into a more genial mood,
suppose we proceed to business; for |
guess that you begin to think | am not
here altogether for pleasure. much IS
love You But all. l forgot; you are
- pious to transact business on a sun
day"
There are exceptions to all rules, you
know" grinned his host.
That Is 10 say, you don't object TO
business when anything's to be got by
lt--en any day. This is your aiver-
tlsement isn't itI' he went on. with
sudden change of tone, and producing a
newspaper from his pocket.
y look OF eager interest came into
Judith'S face, and her father began to
brighten UP as he answered, Yes"
Very we'll, then; know where to put
M hand upon the lad at this very mo-
ment"
You - cried the listeners both to-
gcther
Il do. But before We go my far
Their. ] have two conditions to make. In
the first place YOU must make clean
breast to me of everything you know
concerning this youth. You must tell
me your motives for hunting him down;
and, lastly, if there is anything to be got
which | am certain there is by the tr0u-
bic you are taking. ! must have my
share"
Protesting that he would speak simply
the bare truth. Mr.. Porter proceeded to
relate the same story that he had told
Silas. suppressing, however, the mention
Of the locket. H knew that if he could
once come face to face with Silas' friends
that locket would be an all-powerful
lever to raise the price of his silence. To
the narrative, however, he added other
Notwithstanding how when he Lad
gone up to the city upon certain busi-
ness OF his own. he had seen the woman
Who had committed the child TO his care
ctming ont Of the Office of Messrs. FoEle
& Quick; how he had followed her and
heard her ask for a ticket for u certain
station in Hertfordshire how he lad
taken a ticket for the same place, and
goi cut upon the same platform.
And her destination was a mansion
called The Willows? put in Mr.. Mont
gomery. You see, / know little" lie
added, in answer to the narrator's aston
isled look; so be cautious"
Her Destinations The Willows"
lie had loitered about the neighborho0d,
in the hope of cleaning some intclli-
gcncc; but all he could learn was that
the woman's name was Madame Befne;
that she was housekeeper and sonfGcn-
tai friend to Mr.. George Morant the
gentleman who resided at THE Will
lows" and that those two, with the
servant. constituted the entire household.
Nevertheless. | had learned quite
enough 10 tell me that Master Sias was
family secret that might turn OIL I'M
common profitable one day." he coEcrd-
ed.
'.Uut how did you contrive to track
this woman without being recognized
Your face, once seen. is not easily for
gotten
We'll. you see, / was very cautious,
and kept at good di, tance behind her
except when | had to press close at
the ticket office. to Ceerhear what place
she asked for. Then | put my handker-
chief up to my face, IS though | had the
toothache And she never once looked
right or left as she walked, but etalked
straight along. with her eyes right be-
fore her. Well that Silas had not bolt
ed more than month when l got let
ter from Fogle X Quick, to say that he
was come into an annuity, and l was to
send him up to their office at once
But | cannot per i've what hold you
have upon this youth. What is the Sc
rious charge you threaten to bring
against himY'
We'll. he carried away suit OF
clothes with him, for one thing" said
Mr. Porter. "The other thing is foI
deserving his wife,"
"Deserting his Wife," echoed Mont
gomery. in loud tone of astonisbmcnt
DO you mean to say b 10 4aarried:'
''ro Judith there.
Montgomery was struck speeches.
with astonishment, and, for a moment
rould only stare with the most bewil-
aered of expressions, which quickly
mcrged into one of intense satisfaction
More food for revenge upon that
woman" was his first thought. We'll
you have astonished me this time.' he
cried. But | should have thought Silas
Farston was the last man in the world
tEat Judith would have selected Rather
n hazardous spec to risk that much or
the fellows probable marketable value
wouldn't for the world make mischief
between man and wife" he said, sneer
irglv. hut can tell you that he is
making up to a girl in the city. He
.nens TO have weakness for colder
hair" he added, CHANGING sarcastically al
Jrdith's red tresses. This girl has the
most- That reminds me No
snch coincidence could never occur Out
OF novel
oh. the depravity Of the human
heart snuifled the Rev. Obadiah Tor
fer forgetting himself for an instant
but the color had again flushed up into
Judith's face, and there was a dangerous
look in her eyes
II met your old f md. Rodwell. the
otber night" said Montgomery sudden
lv locking up. I'VE were talking about
you."
chance shot. but Montgomery perceived
il had told.
After n moments deliberation he said
fvinr his gaze upon her. Il know yoU
arc nretty we'll versed in Rodwells Sc
crets. Do YOU know anything about {
girl with bright golden hair. blue eyes
and fair corlplexion-a relation, | should
fancy. by what he has told me? l se'
you do. by your glances. Well. he has
set me on the hunt for this girl who
ever she is. and | believe l have acct
dentally discovered her. | VIII tell yo1
how. Somehow or other. l have fei
a strange interest in this Silas Carston
Well Of late he has grown wonderfully