The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-10-17

single one OF our Fellow passengers IL
was quietly arranged that we should
all proceed in the morning by spe-
cial stage in charge of Hughes 10
Monmouth station at the northern
end of the park there to make report
to the cavalry colonel In command
This plan admitted Of a few hours
sleep of which We FASTENED to take ad-
vantage.
| And now, Lady Snively," began
Clarke. when we were comfortably
slowed away in the stage the next
morning. perhaps you can tell us
your story and We can advise you a.
! to the future"
Please do not call me Lady Snive-
ly. answered the brave little woman.
THAT name was my undoing and
henccforth 1 am content to be plain
Alice Hathaway. The story Is brief
and II it would only prove a warning
to all foolish American girls I would
feel that | have not lived it in vain.
My father died when I was Is. He
was one of the organizers of the Uni
ted States Zinc Corporation, but be-
fore his death he had converted all OF
his stock into bonds. / was an only
child and | suddenly found myself in
the possession of the bonds which
yon have now. That was two years
ago. | was young and foolish and my
ideas of life had been gained from
reading fiction, not the best, / be-
lieye. When real lord in the person
OF Lord Snively met me and asked my
hand in marriage was innocent
enough to believe l was making a
great match.
I'VE went first to London. The
world and the future looked lovely for
time, but the dream was soon dis
PEELED. Suspicion began to gnaw upon
my happiness when. instead of pro-
ceeding at once to his ancestral castle
in Surrey as he had promised. we sud-
denly packed in an hour and made a
hurried return to the United States.
On the passage home I found in his
luggage newspaper clipping that set
me thinking all the harder. 1t was
the story of some villain in England
who, under various names. was sus-
pected OF marrying a number of wom-
en-. securing possession of their
wealth and then numbering them"
j. Frederick Bannister was it not?"
interrupted Clarke. do you know. |
Sexton, rather suspected from the
first it was him. He was a sort OF |
English Johann Hoch and went under |
a number of aliases"
"Yes, Bannister was one of the |
names used and the description In the |
paper fitted him so perfectly that !
struggle as might against the awful
thought l could not get it out of my |
mind. He knew of my wealth and
knew the safe deposit company with
which it was kept / determined to
draw it out secretly and place it else
where. had secured the papers when.
with the suddenness that marked all /
his movements. he told me we were
going to the Yellowstone. had no
opportunity to place the bonds any
where, SO closely did he watch me.
am now convinced he knew I had
them on my person for our journey
was constant series of quarrels over
the question of my placing all my for
tune in his hands that he might re-
ieem from mortgage his ancestral es-
.ates.
During one of these quarrels. about
he time we reached Chicago, III
charged him directly with the clipping
had found in his luggage. His first
ook of terror and anger told me the
shaft had struck and then he became
he same inscrutable, oily villain as
before. But l knew the truth and I
NEW that upon my wits alone rested
he safety of my fortune and my life.
when you gentlemen entered the
rain studied you closely. Then
earned Mr.. Clarke's name and 1t was
It once familiar to me because Mrs.
Richard King, whom / know quite
veil. had told. me of your wonderful
york and how you had rescued her
md her husband from the wiles Of q
worker of black magic. knew could
rust YOU
"You received the note slipped
through the crack in the wall, Mr..
,larke, directing the disposition of nv
ortune in case of my death!"
Yes. received II all right" an
wered Clarke. But now have the
appiness to be able to restore 1t to
Is rightfuI owner living"
We found the commandant at Nam
Mouth most reasonable man. He
Tas fully satisfied with our story. ex-
citing only the promise, readily given,
assure you, that we would keep him
dvised of our whereabouts In case
overs above him should wish to IN. I
uire more closely into the matter. ,
he stage company also treated a.
18th marked consideration In insisting
hat We should resume our interrupted ,
r.