Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-05-17
A Ruse.
COriginal.l


AFTER my own fashion. shall take
good deal Of trouble and subject
myself to some risk, besides mourning
the lasting enmity of my best friend
In case Of failure
"Then don't try"
"And let you fall into the tolls Of
an adventures? Do you call that
friendshipT'
"Does friendship require one to ira
duce pure and noble woman?'
Enough Of this. l am going to take
steps to show you that this pure and
noble woman is fooling you"
Bisbee, the last speaker, was about
to leave, when billiard, the other,
stopped him. "You do not have my
consent to this proceeding, but if you
will give me your plan I will execute
It myself"
"You shall act with me. Virginia
Lambert is now receiving the atten-
tons Of a man named Connor-Frank
Connor. He'-
II will go at once, and if I find"-
Nonsense! Either he knows what
she is or he doesn't If he knows, he
will not give her away. If he doesn't,
he will consider you fool to suppose
abe loves you instead Of him.
"What is your plan?"
II have not yet made it. I will go
home and think one out You shall
hear from me as soon as I have done
60"
every we'll. 1 have great confidence
In your ingenuity"
II take chances-that is, in plans laid
for myself"
"Take the same chances for me-"
The next day Bisbee told his friend
that he had formed plan, but it could
not be put in practice till Conner
should go out Of town for a day or
two; but, since he made frequent trips
here and there, they should not have
long to wait. Ten days later Bisbee
announced his plan and that the time
was ripe. Conner had gone away for
overnight. "You go to his rooms; I
will go to his Office" he added.
An hour later billiard appeared at
Connor's rooms and, producing forg-
ed search warrant, proceeded to go
through what papers he could find
there. He found nothing Of CORE
spondence between Mr.. Conner and
Miss Lambert.
I'm a fool and a knave," he said to
himself, Ito resort to such despicable
means. I shall wash my hands Of the
: business
Going to his rooms, he waited till
Bisbee came in.
"Well," billiard asked, "what luck?'
LET me tell you what I have done.
! I went to Connor's Office and demand
ed to see him at once. OF course they
! told me what knew-that he was out
Of town. 1 told the clerks that he was
under suspicion Of embezzlement and
assumed as detective to take posses
sion Of the Office.
"'When will Connor return?' I de-
handed
"'Likely some time during the day.
"'You are deceivi14g me. He will moi
return till tomorrow. Why do yor
say he will be here today?'
"'Because there is a telegram FOL
him. If he were to remain away over
night, it would not have been SEN
here
"'Does he not receive kilograms o.
business nature?
"'Seldom. They are usually Of pri
vate nature.
"'Open the telegram
1.-THE clerk tore off the envelope ant
banded me the dispatch. It read:
"Be at the gardens at tonight.
v. L."
1T is a lie!' exclaimed billiard
"You are deceiving me-"
1--WE will go to the gardens and se
for ourselves"
There was an open air concert at tn
gardens, the guests strolling about
pagoda where the orchestra played
The lights were few, but very bright
Consequently there were brilliant spot
interspersed with dark ones. The tw
friends passed back and forth with tn
throng, keeping their eyes open tn
while. Presently they espied coupl
sitting on a bench in recess betwee
} exuberant foliage. They stood wit
! an electric light pouring its rays full
upon them. The lady in the case turn
ed her face to hide it, but she was to
late. The two men advanced, and Hi
9 lard cried in voice Of agony:
'Virginia!'
Her companion arose and, steppin
forward, exclaimed Indignantly:
! "Gentlemen, what means this intrr
} sion?"
1T may be an intrusion" billiard r,
piled, "but it is justified. The lady 20
IRE escorting was to have married m
within few weeks"
The woman gave billiard a beseecl
d ing look, while his friend Bisbee too
him by the arm and tried to lead hill
; away. But he would not go. Raising
y walking stick he held in his hand, b
> brought it down on Connor's skull
," C0nnOr rpnlie1 in kind crowd gait