Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-10-01

bungalow. 1t was to culmi-
nate at st. Philips church in
Sydney on the Saturday morn
Ing. The license was bought. The
bridegroom carried the ring In his
pocket. Everything was ready but
best man. And here another peculiar
lty stood out. There was no best man
to be had. AS In London 50 in New
South Wales. This baronet's son and
heir, this man of blood and means aud
literary feats, was unbeioved III spite
of ALL Claire and her aunt had been
absolutely the only guests at the bun
galow in all Toms time there. Nor
was it because Daintree had never
made friend in the settlement. 1t
was because he had never kept one In
any quarter Of the globe.
Meanwhile the ladies' came to Rose
bay no more. The happy man went to
them instead and would stop till mid
night, to gallop home by starlight and
pour out his happiness to Tom until
the harbor turned from jet to polished
steel; and twice the steel was silver.
and once the silver was flaming gold
before the poet would hold his peace.
1t was long week, but the nights
went quicker than the days. Daintree.
had never been better companion
than In those long, confidential, star
lit talks. They were not exclusively
on the one subject. Tom learned at
last how the murder had affected the
party at Avenue Lodge. and one whole
night and day he never closed an eye
for thinking of two men III two new
and startling lights. They were the
living man Harding and tile dead man
Blaydes. The first haunted Tom the
longer. Why had he insisted on drag
ging Daintree to the trial2
The days were heightened by Peggy
in the kitchen, with her kind, uninjured
looks and the unfaillng, friendly, amia-
BILE word that made him feel the mean
est of men. The girl could be an angel
when she had him, with all his cold
ness, to herself. He never suspected
what she had been from the Sunday
night to the Monday afternoon. And
now they We're both under notice to
leave.
"If only you two would make up
your minds to marry!H said Daintree
to Tom: II have you both on my mind.
but could provide for the two of
you at one stroke as married couple.
1t has long been my wish to start Il
model farm up country, and you and
Peggy would certainly make model
managers But Tom shook his head
more decidedly than he had shaken 1t
while the little R0samund was prick
ing her way across the chart.
On the Friday, the same breeze hold
| ing good all the week, Daintree decided
to sail round to Sydney Instead of driv-
ing. He had a solid check to cash for
the wedding trip. and the Point Piper
| road was no route for pocketfnl of
money and a life at its very highest
value. Tom asked If Nat Sullivan
was still in Sydney and was told that
he had drunk himself PROSTATE at the
Pulteney, whereupon Tom volunteered
for the voyage, and SO escaped Peggy
FOR one AFTERNOON. To make safety
| douhly safe, however, they ran into
Farm cove, and Tom and tho dog were
| to wait in the Domain while Daintree
went to the bank md called ut the
| hotel,
1t was then 3 o'clock, and Daintree
was to 10 at least two hours gone. hui
lie returned in less than one, hringln:
Claire With him for q sail, TOMS sur
4 prise at seeing her was less than tha1
of tho girl at sight OF him. Tho indis
nation was altogether on her side ans
sufficiently percepiblc In spite Of
Claire's efforts to conceal M inappro
pirate displeusure. Daintree did no
see it, but what they all three Elisse;
Twas the furtive figure which emerge.
from the trees as the boat put OF.
Claire was given the tiller and toli
simply to obey orders, Daintree too.
the sheet. and Tom was put into TIL
bows to be out of the way. The sal
made convenient screen. Italso Pre-
vented Tom from knowing in the lens
what happened. AS Il matter of fact
they We're just taking the wind-whicl
4 was by this time fresher than ever
when Daintree's attention was divert
ed by an apparitlon at the water
edge. 1t was the man who had follow
ed him through the Domain, and g
rapt was the gaze with which Dalntre