The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-03-26


an old score to settle between this
man and myself. and the time has now
arrived when he must pay. | have
sworn that you shall rot marry him,
and I intend to keep my vow, SO chase
that dismal look from your pretty face
and place your trust in Judith Ballard.
The faces of the three men seated in
Joe Brawn's private apartment wore
such an aspect of moodfness and
gloom that it was apparent a crisis
had arisen which gave a check to
their enterprise.
Faith, an can We suggest nawthin'
at all, Mr.. Griffin? Sure, the old gen.
tleman helped his own when he start
ed that bit of a fire an allowed them
blackguards to escape; yis, faith!'
Il can only wait until | hear from
my man at Birmingham. This lady,
Judith Ballard, told Mr.. West that
| Miss Brent was in that town, and |
| have not the slightest doubt that he
will be able to trace her"
Sure, an ut's a queer business alto
! gether-aw yis. Who is this good lady,
Miss Ballara? An why should she go
an see Godfrey in the hospital?"
THAT | cannot say" answered God
frey: but she spoke with such conf
dence, and is so evident a friend OF
Mary Brent's, that | am inclined TO
trust her implicitly"
"And another thing" said Griffin;
she spoke of that scoundrel, Jasper
Garlick, and from that l infer that she
is either in league with this gang or
has ONE motive of her own for seek
ing an interview with Mr.. West"
Faith, an l can't understand ut at
all. Why should she ask about me, an
leave word that I was to come as soon
as she sent me a tellygrum-sure,
why?"
Il do not know. She stayed but for
a few minutes, and l gave you her
message exactly as | received It,"
Sure, and what like was she?"
"She was a beautiful woman, about
the same height and figure as Mary
Brent; but the most striking thing
about her was her wonderful hair, Of a
deep reddish-copper color"
"Red-copper color! Faith, an could
It be-but no, it's absurd; sure, yis."
Gould it be what, Mr.. Brawn?"
Jaw, sure, an it's nawthin'. | was
only thinkin' O me little Audrey, my
bonny little lass that was enticed from
her daddy's house by that scAeming
villain Garlick."
And you think"
Faith, no, ut cannot be: if ut Yves
me little lass she'd "a surely come an
seen her daddy, aw, yis, sure"
But it may be your daughter, NJ,
Drawn" said Griffin; you have no
seen her for ONE years, and we cor
not tell what circumstances are keen
ing you apart; at any rate, we have
her promise TO communicate with You
and we must wait until Sc fulfls il
We know that she has cancelled her
engagement, and that looks as if she
was occupying herself with some p.i-
vate business; she would not pay such
a large sum in forfeit for nothing"
Jaw, well, sure, an ] can trust me
little girl, an | know me bonny Au-
drey nd do nawthin' wrong; bat if this
Jasper Garlick an me meets let um
look out, for Joe BrawnTl have no
mercy on him, faith, no."
I'll just go and see If there is any
message from Roop," said Griffin.
He left the room, and returned In a
few minutes with a telegram in his
hand.
Il have just received a message, but
it is not from Roop; it is from Mr..
Dodson, the lawyer, and will no doubt
make a considerable difference in the
future of Miss Brent"
Miss Brent! What does Dodsop
say about herr" inquired Godfrey.
81 will read you the message and
then you will see:
John Brent was yesterday seized
with a paralytic stroke and cannot live
more than a day or two. If you can
find the whereabouts of his daughter
Mary, tell her to come t. me at once.
-" 'Dodson.'"
(Tn ne Continued