The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-01-13

When she knew all he would ask her
love III exchange.
sun there cam. no sound from tSc room
below, and Frank. burnins 10 r"nh'
TRIAL OF hts fate. Was quickly OUTSIDE %,
the door that had so often of late optp'"
to admit him to happiness
lie knocked, and there came no hns"'',
He knocked again, ana ben. HIS ''
closer to the panel.
Was that n sob? Yes, Swiftly Frank
flung open the door. and there, fuii icns."
ON the couch. her face buried among IN"
cushions. lay Ruth, sobbins as tho"s"
her heart would break.
Two strides carried Frank across the
room, and, l~<nceltng by her side, he at
cinptcd to pacity her.
Ruth. Ruth" he cried. 'Wia, Is '"e
matter? Tell me-"
The giri raised her head. and te saw
the utter misery in her eyes. Jhe'. WIN
a dcspatrinG gesture, she motioacu NM
away.
What is the matter, Rmth?" asked
Frank again.
You must 20 away--You must never see
ne any more she moancd.
Frank could hide his love no longer.
One hand stole up and carcssed her haii.
and the other covered her tiny hands SO
lightly claspcd in the agony of her Srlet'
Ruth, little Ruth, tell me. | love You,
he pleaded.
At his words n new fear seemed to add
itself to the misery in her eyes. She starred
ut MIN for what seemed an eternity. Ihen
she whispered. so low that he could haf1-
L. catch the words
"You-love-me?'
Franks hand sought hers AGAIN.
with all my heart he said earnestly.
The girl sprong to her feet.
AZ; no, no, no. she cried. .N@n must Yn5
must never see rac again
No. no. You say Won love ne. Go.
then, You do not know what this means
to me"
standing betor" him with fingers inter
laced appeallngiy. Then hc turned slowly
on hts heel and went from the rpom.
The next day he found on his desk a
long. fat blue envelope.
'Erom Rulh," he cried. and tore it
open. Rapidly be scanned the note that
fcll out.
Good bye ii ran without any greet
ing. II shalt have gone ont of your ittn
when you read these lines, Though lscouid
not tell YOU to your face, yet II is quo
TO YOU to know that ] am an Infamous
creature not worth your lightest thought,
My presence in the house was Il trick,
and my behavior was the carrying oti OF
II trick, To win from you, for my uncle
benefit. the secret of your Invention.
From your talk ] CLEANED but little.
but the little you did tell me has en-
abicd me by the aid of stolen visits to
your room to piece together the whole on
that which you think is known 10 no Quo
save yourself. If YOU doubt me, read the
incloscd notes which. had 7 held to my
bargain and kept faith With my rncic.
would now be in his hands and not IN
yours, their rishtful owner.
''If you would know why I have don"
this thing, say II is because assoctst'"n
with YOU has made mo a little better thait
! was when We first met. Forgive me IL
YOU can, and rest assured that your Sc
orct is as safe now as over IT was. Again.
good bye"
with am INFLAMMATION OF mingled horror
and surprise Frank seized the sheets Of
rotcs and read through them wonaeringlN.
Save for a few unimportant details. KUN
had indeed learned his secret. from \ 10 4.
and the evidence was in his hands.
In his hands. Safe, Ut had been u mar
row cscopc. though, and he would Ger
tainiy settle with lsaacs Cor his Niiliany
Meanwhile he must find Ruth, for all hn
desired was that she should love him as h'
did her. and untii h. could be sure OF that
even the safety OF his invention was as
nothing to him. What did It matter ti3at
she had been the tool of Il thief? She
had rcp.n,cd. and love is very fprSiviuS.
Somehow or Other this note. SO fun of -
girls despair, seemed like a messenger OF
great hone to him.
Frank dashed downstairs. lSaacs must
know where his niece had ncd. lie Sought
him in thn warehouse and the shop. lie
was in neither place.
The cellar door stood open. 'rhcrc was y
chance that The pawnbrok"r might be
there. and downstairs went The seeking,
Impatient lover.
The col,cr staircase led to a passage
which ended at another door. Frank was
Just about 10 open this when lie heard
voices ard paused.
vii YOU toii"' asked Il man g.ufliy. Ii
was Isaacs.
Therc was 10 answe, hut the listener
heard "a mo,allic click aud th> turning OF
81 rusty screw.
Then came tho brutal voice again.
Wi YOU tell mo now?"
Again no answer. and again the click
and squeaking of the steel screw, followed
this time by u low sroan-a wonan's
Sroan.
with a shout Frank burst open tho door
At the far eni of tho diinly-iigltcd Gel
lar he saw Ruth tightly bound TO what ar
peaiod To be Il merchants copying press.
IIcI thumbs were between III" steel plates.
BY her side, holding thc pressure screw.
stood Isaacs.
Frank dashed at him. and. with ono
~ clean bow. sen, him spinning into u cor
ner, where he fell and lay.
Quick as thought he gave the screw 4
mighty twist and released lhc tension.
9 Their he tenderly unbound the ~faiatins girl
IA and CARED her to her room.
Luckily he had visited the cellar in time,
~ and. though tho pam must have been ter
rible, he could see tina, the girl had not
hcen seriously injured by the fond who,
49, had he not been stoppcd, woniJ doubt
- less hay" manned hnr for life. or perhaps
killer in his madioncd en.leavor To wiring
~ from hcg the secret she had determined
=. to lHold.
o. As Frank laid les gently down he kissct
y, her l:rs. and tlicn her closed cHes. Slowls
~ She opened them.
My darling. my darling. wh, did yol
lc do tlliS thing for me- he cried.