The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-10-12
AoubkeCk, l|e L0|F|Qne|.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author Of Jack Robbins Of America" ia the
China Sea-" Two Gentlemen Of
Hawaii" 'On a Falss
Charge" Etc.
o.,,r,sA., 1895, by ROBERT sou...'. serA
CHAPTER xlV.-(continued.)

4NSW 1OlN. ..TH.- .#u...
At my suggestion, Nita had engaged
a maid, and as she was an elderly
sour-visaged female, she served ever
purpose of chaperon as well as of pre-
serving appearances.
Once in New York I sought thu
major. l found him at the club and hi
nearly fell in a heap ON the floor whe1
he beheld me.
by Gad!" he exclaimed. rushing tt
w%ringing by hands, tears stream
ing down his face and his whole frame
trembling. Dick! Wilberton, old fel
low, how did you do it? We hear6
you were dead, you know"
Heard l was dead, en-? Well, Tn
a lively dead man, major. I've go,
what l went after, and more, too
Had all sorts Of adventures and mar
row escapes. Brought back Maubi
lleck. whose name is Henry Thorlane
and Nita Barlotti, whose name is Alice
~Graviscourt."
No! Cad! Is it so? Have you got
the proof?"
Proof enough. We must see Charles
Sigmotta at once. l need another BIT
of testimony from him, and then well
tackle Graviscourt and knock him
out"
showed the major the locket and
pin and read to him the statements Of
Antonio Sigmotta and Dambo.
You returned just in time" said
the major, grimly. THE wedding is
now surely OF the way. l have learned
since you left the true i~nwardness OF
Broushton's preference for Gravis,
court. 1t seems that Broughton's
means are much more limited than we
have supposed, and he has from time
time borrowed money from Gravis.
court, giving him a mortgage on his
house as security. He has gone to the
wall financially, and G~raviscourt
his claim to Edith, promising
to cancel all debts the day
she becomes his bride. She held out
firmly until the news came that you
died in Sardinia of some fever, and
the poor girl gave up the fight
and consented to be a sacrifice to save
her father. But you are in time, boy
you are in time. Edith loves you,
and you only. Do up Graviscourt and
field is yours"
What about Nita"" l asked. "She
is now at the anne hotel as Thorlane
and l, but it doesn't look just"
Not at all, boy; not at all. My sis.
ter, Mrs. Dabner, is just the one. She
will be glad to receive her as a guest,
OF course, her wedding must be
my sisters home. / will see Nellie
at once"
True to his promise, the major saw
MS sister, and she readily assented to
his plan. That evening Nita was es-
to Mrs. Dabner's house, where
she remained until she became Mrs.
Thorlane.
When l left the club, ! was hurry
.ng through the street, when 10! |
saw Edith Broughton coming toward
me, with a couple of small packages
n her arms. And she was alone. My
Heath had freed her from all danger,
n Broughton's eyes, and she was now
allowed to go shopping alone. 1 looked
about me hurriedly, and saw a door.
way that was somewhat dark and Sc.
l waited near it. and when
came UP l seized her, whisked
her into that doorway, and proceeded
10 hug and kiss her in a fashion that
partially recompensed me for the long
of waiting l had undergone. At
she was frightened nearly out of
her wits, but when she realized who
It was that had her fast. the darling
put her arms around my neck and met
me fairly half way, dropping her bun
lies in her excitement.
Dick! Darling Dick!'' she cried.
They told me you were dead Kisses.
Il don't look very dead, do l,
larling?' More kisses. 81 have come
back to take you away from that fel.
Graviscourt. and no nonsense
about it now, either. I've learned
since l left New York, and
you will be my wife now If | have to
Graviscourt and your respected
parents to get you!"
oh, Dick, darling, what an escape
I've had! If you'd been a little later
Id have married him to save papa.
Oh! think of it, Dick"
Don't do it. Think of me. You
are sure you love me?"
"Oh, Dick" reproachful1ly.
| kissed her again. Her face was
suffused with bushes. Her hat was
awry. She was half laughing and
half crying in her happiness.
Some one will see us, Dick she
finally. "Do call a carriage and
take me home"
So called a carriage, and, putting
my future wife into it, | clambered in
her and set her down at her own
Then lighted a cigar and, or
the driver, to take me to the
hotel, lay back on the cushions, the
most exquisitely happy, contented and
egotisticallly satisfied individual 6n
the universe.
On the day following that upon
which we arrived in New York, a
party of three wendell our way tc
number 300 Mulberry street, and upor
presentation OF our names were ush
cred into the presence OF Superintend
ent Byrnes of the metropolitan Pc
lice. Els grim face softened with 8
smile when he saw us, and he held Out
a braWny hand that nearly crushed