Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-09-26

borough cliff"
Who" queried Flossie. turning pale.
"A gent as I've had one or two chats
with of late. l don't know his name,
but he was stopping here, he told me.
One OF those painter chaps
MIR. Filby? You can't mean it. You
must be mistaken n wild look came
into the girls eyes.
Don't think l am. Perhaps YOU
recognize these a-ticles?"
Going to the back OF the chair upon
which he had been sitting, the man
picked up some objects from the
ground. They We're Il mans coat
and waistcoat of a rather pronounced
check. Startled recognition stood in
Flossie's face.
All. l see you know them miss.
They're the very clothes-a little
stained with paint. you sse-that that
artist fellow was wearing yesterday.
on the cliff. l turne them over. and
there, pinned to the inside pocket. was
this envelope. I'm not much of Il
scholar. but l think it's addressed to
you. miss"
Flossie took the note with trembling
fingers, and finding herself unable t.
stand any longer. subsidized into II
with love for her. Dick Filby must have
committed suicide. AT last she got the
envelope open, and the few brief lines
within confirmed her worst fears.
Dearest Flossie." 1t ran. Forgive
me the step l have ~taken-believe me,
1t was the only n We loved one an
other too ~passionately to be happy
apart for a single moment. and
there was Il life between that would
always have divided us. l can.
not explain. but. dearest. 1 could
never have lived without you, so l have
chosen what they say Is the pleasant
est method of departing from existence.
Treasure the lovely time we had to-
gether. Your broken hearted. Dick"
painting l did at Scarborough as Q
souvenir"
i'lossie read it through twice and at
last the sense began to beat in upon
her brain. She had driven the maj
who loved her into a watery grave.
The coastsuard stood quietly by.
waiting for her TO speak. Finally with
an Apologize little cough. he broke the
silence
SO he has drowned hisself, miss?"
flossie nodded.
II seemed a morbid kind of chap
l thought that when l spoke to him
yesterday. so dissatisfied-li like about
his painting. | suppose it isn't a love
AFFAIR like that young Perkins"
Flossie had recovered sufficiently to
be on the defense.
oh. no: you mustn't hin that. Mr..
f'ilby wasn't very successful as an art
ist.'
Says so in tha note. perhaps"
She must battle the -coastguard's cur
iosity.
NO. This-er- simply leaves a little
picture OF his as ii sift for me. Have
YOU been TO the police station veto"
4 came here first. but ! must go
there straight now
DO ne a favor. You must speak
abou; the clothes. of course. but don't
mention this note! Its quite unimport-
anti"
Tho c~oastguard scratched his head
Il know I'm silly. but I'm
and all that will get about the village.
and | don't want my young man to
know that Eve had a present from this
Mr.. Tilby.''
The c~oastguard. won by her pretty
ooks. promised. and Flossie breathed
afrssh.
You haven't found the body?" sha
asked.
NO, yet, miss, Perhaps this storm
will have swept it miles down the
coast. Well, l must go and tell the po-
He was no sooner gone than Flossie
burst into tears. The affair was ter
iiole. Even If her part in the matter
did rot transpire she would suffer COM
junction of conscience for weeks for
letting him proceed so far.
She went upstairs to the room which
their visitor had occupied. The bed had
not been slept in. Most Of his belong
inGs had been dispatched to London by
train the previous day. Flossie once
more broke down. She would never,
never iiirt again as long as she lived.
That same afternoon Richard Filby
in the flesh arrived at his lodgings in
a man who had lately undergone a ia
tai experience. His cheeks were
bronZed and his step was brisk-in-
deed the first remark which his land
lady made was to compliment him on
his improved appearance.
Thank you. Mrs. Seymour, I've had
a very good time. BY the way. has
my luggage come"
EARLY this morning, sir. by railway
VAN"
That's all right. I'll dine at :. as
usual. Mrs. Seymour"
Filby went up stairs and proceeded
to unpack. The few articles left at the
inn to allay suspicion. could be re-
placed at a very mall cost. while a
breach of promise case might nave
landed him in hundreds.
He smiled as he thought of his clever
and successful ruse.
He pictured the local constab BILE as
Stunning terrific Importance. declining to
give any information whatever. N all
the inha bitants clustering in knots and
discussing the news.
A knock at the door. A maid entered
with a letter. He looked at the enve-
lope and started. Ii bore the Seabor-
ough post mark: 1t was from Flossie
Barnett. He was thoroughly reused
now. Had his trick been discovered?
He tore the letter open feverishly.
The date treasured him. II was written
last night. What on earth had Flossie
to say?