Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-08-14


cultivated hardness and worldliness that
had grown into her nature these many
years dropped from her and left her what
she once had been. 1t was like a dream
to sit listening TO Ben's slow, north-coun-
try voice.
Il must go now" she said; "but
shah not say good-by to you, Ben; you
will come TO me, won't you?"
ITO the end of the world" Ben said,
simply "and when l have found the lad
III be more free TO serve you, Liz"
Il pray that you may find the lad"
she said 81 hope l may have oeen The
means, perhaps, of putting you on the
right path. l should like to feel that l
had had some share in giving joy TO that
beautiful girl who loves him. We met
and spoke, Ben, the other day felt bet
ter after that"
Then Sylvia had swept away and had
gone out to her carriage, needless of the
curious eyes that watched her, and Ben
had left the picture gallery, and had gone
out into the streets also, feeling his heart
maze of sorrow and joy, feeling also
thrill of excitement.
He went slowly back to mis- hotel, where
his sad face end bowed head spoke elo-
quently of trouble and suspense.
Sylvia mingled IN with his thought. 1t
seemed so natural, and yet so strange, that
Liz still lived, and that she had need of
him.
Stephens, the discharged valet, had ar
ranged to come to him before evening SO
Ben remained in the hotel, waiting for
this man. The hours crept by, and Ste
phens did not come, but finally note was
brought. 1t was written in pencil, and
signed by Stephens.
stanton is leaving London for the con-
rinent; l am going to follow him. viii
communicate with you at the earliest OPP
portunity. l think this is my best plan.
There is work for you to do. l inclose
you herewith the address of house to
which ! understand Stanton has been in
the habit of going. l don't know wheth-
er there will be anything in this, but ev-
erything is worth trying, especially when
we have to deal with such a scoundrel.
shall give you an account of the money
you advanced to me when we meet again. -
The advent of this letter acted like
magic on Ben. He threaded his way up
to Tottenham Court Road slowly.
The house to which he was going lay
very far out, and more than one person
advised him to reach it by train.
Feeling the wisdom of keeping his
strength as much as possible, Ben resolved
| to take this advice, and it was while he
| was threading his way to the station that
| he suddenly saw a mans face looking out
| at him from hanson upon which was
| piled some luggage. The man was Ger
| old Tenby. Though his eyes rested upon
/ Ben for an instant, there was nothing to
| tell the rich man that this humble looking
| individual was one who was working for
+, justice Gerald Tenby was going to Mill
Cross Court.
When the door had closed upon An
| tonia that afternoon he had stood a mo-
ment hesitatingly. The girls manner had
! chilled him, and her news had startled
| him.
He determined all at once that he would
leave London. Stanton had gone. Their
secret was safe; he preferred not to risk
meeting with Lady Betty.
1t was clear summer night when he
alighted from the train at Mill Cross, and
/ he gave a sigh of relief At least for
few hours, he said to himself, he would
| De Tree from questioning eyes and from
those imaginations of suspicion that made
] life in London so impossible.
| But as he walked down the platform
he found his brows contracted with a
frown, and he felt his heart leap with a
new fear, for woman's figure was stand
ing close by, and as he passed her he felt
that she turned and looked at him stead
| lily.
Certainly Sylvia Castella was the very
last woman in the world whom ne would
have expected to see in such a place. and
instantly all his suspicious and fears were
| loosed again.
What had brought her to Mill Cross
He knew now that she was associated moi
| only with Stanton, but with this man
whose friendship to Hubert Tenby signi.
fed so much.
Why should such woman as this turn
her back upon her life in town and travel
to Mill Cross, unless she was there for
the purpose of following him, and of help
| ing forward tine work of retribution: