The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-02-08

Trail, while Pyne found himself insag.
lining that which caused his heart to
beat more rapidly than even the fight
for life In the saloon of the Chinook.
"She went out, sir, about an hour
ago, and'-
"Has she not returnedT
"No, sir. A policemen has just called
to say that she was taken i'll and is
! now being cared for at Mr.. Brands
| house."
| Uncle and nephew glared at each
other as men do when they call the
| gods to witness that no madden words
could be spoken. Before the waiter
they perforce restrained themselves.
But Pyne shouted
where is the policeman
HE is down below, sir. Shall l
bring him up?"
! Sergeant jenkins, however, was too
loyal in his friendship to Brand to tell
them exactly how 1t came about that
| Mrs. Vansittart was sheltered in La
| burnum cottage. He admitted that he
directed the lady to the house in the
first instance and that Mr.. Brand told
him subsequently to convey the stated
message to the hotel.
Nevertheless he was the richer for a
sovereign as he went out.
Mr.. Trail helped himself to whisky
and soda.
Here's to the reconciliation of
Brand and his wife,"'he said, with Il
! lighter tone and more cheerful manner
than he would have deemed possible
five minutes earlier.
Pyne followed his example.
Say, uncle" he cried, heres
| queer item When l first met Con
stance l spoke of Mrs. Vansittart, and
l called her my prospective step-aunt."
"A very silly name too
Constance seemed to think that, or.
its feminine equivalent. She corrected
me, You mean your flancee's aunt,
she said"
"Oh, did she?"
eyes. and here's to her being my
fiancee's mother
A." +"
With the morning came doubt. A
maid who was given charge of the two
children told Pyne that Mrs. Vansit-
tart had been greatly upset the pre-
vious evening. The girl was sure that
the lady had passed nearly an hour in
tears kneeling by the side, of the bed.
Then, having regained control of her
self to some extent, she rang for the
maid and asked at what time the first
train left for London next day. She
ordered her breakfast at an hour which
seemed to indicate her intention to de-
part by that train, said that she would
leave instructions with Mr.. Pyne con-
corning the children, and gave the maid
| two letters which she had written.
These were to be delivered at o'clock.
What was to be done with the letters?
AS they were addressed to Pyne and
his uncle respectively, he soon settled
that point.
His letter read:
Dear Mr.. Pyne-I am leaving for Lon
| don quite early, so 1 will not see you
| again in PenZance. / have supplied the
| little girls with all the garments they will
| need during the next few days. If, on in
| quiry, you ascertain that they have no
! relatives anxious, not merely willing, to
L
| pleased to assume that responsibility. In
that event, kindly write me, care of my
bankers. Yours very sincerely,
E. VANSITTART.
The communication to his uncle was
equally brief Mr.. Trail read it to
| him. 1t ran:
Dear Mr. Traill-I cannot marry you.
Please forgive me. 1 did not realize when
| you honored me with your proposal that
| an insuperable obstacle existed That is all
"a lame explanation, but complete so far
| as 1t goes. A woman who has wrecked
her life finds 1t hard to choose her words.
Your sincere friend, E. VANSITTART.
They discussed these curt notes dur
ing breakfast
II do not like their tone," said Mr..
Trail gravely. "They impress me as
| the hurried resolutions of woman
driven to extremeties. Were it not for
her request about the children / should
think what you thought last night,
up"
II must have telephoned my ideas to
you mighty quick" was the retort
"My dear boy, even at this moment
we don't know what she intended to
do. Why did she go out? What Is the
nature of her sudden illness? How
comes it that she Is at Brands houses"
81 may be mistaken, but think we
will be given answers to all your ques-
tons in due time. Nothing really seri-
Gus can be amiss or we should have
heard of it from Brand himself. Now,
| will you remain on guard here while 1
go out with Elsie and Mamie? The
one thing that matters in their little
lives this morning is that shall hurry
up and go doll hunting with them
II will hold the fort until you return.
You will not be long?"
Perhaps half an hour. While / am
out 1 will make some inquiries as to
the condition Of our other friends of
the Chinook"
by the way, many Of them must be
destitute. 1t Is my desire, Charlie, to
pay the expenses of any such to their
destination and equip them properly
for the journey"
| "You are a first rater uncle, but It'll
make your arm tired IL you o. K the
bill all the time. Now, here's fair
offer. Let me go halves"
"Be Off, you rascal! You are keeping
two ladies waiting"