The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-09-04
Gall clothing will be spoiled"

"That is so. Roberts, however, was
a strong cowhide trunk, he tells me,
and would stand a lot OF knocking
about"
Esther caught her breath sharply.
Then you would recognize it," she
said, 'in case 1t were washed up by
the tide?"
"Oh, easily. His initials, r. W., are
burnt into the side. His name Is Rob-
ert Webster" and turning suddenly
round he walked away.
Esther stared after him for a mo-
ment or two in silence. Then
Grayton said, with a laugh, you did
not make much Of him, Miss Mawgan."
mo, not much" she answered, abb
sently.
Hes a singular character. I'm not
quite able to make him out"
Hell need watching"
"Watching?" he questioned, In .
tone Of surprise.
Hes up to no good. He has de-
signs On something or somebody"
What makes you think so?"
Several things. Oh, l wish Clement
were at home. A woman Is SO help
less in a case of this kind"
They had begun to retrace their
steps toward the village, but Grayton
paused abruptly and looked at his
companion.
81 do not quite understand" he
said, hesitatingly. "Is there anything
l can do for you? You have only to ex-
press a wish and I will do my best.
Let me-let me-take your brothers
place." 1t was in his heart to say a
great deal more, but he held himself
in check with a strong hand.
II know l a trust you," she said
looking frankly into his face.
with your life," he answered, i'm
pulsively.
She colored slightly. and then began
to speak o rapidly. There is {
mystery behind that mans move
ments, I'm SURF there is, and it has tt
do with Marion West. Don't ask me
to explain. l don't profess to be log
ical, but l am sur l am right. Tha
man is here for the purpose of getting
possession Of Marion Vests box"
But why Miss Vests box"
81 don't know. That's what we've
got to find out. He admits that he il
on the lookout for a cowhide trunl
| with the initials r. W. burnt on it:
| side. Do you think it likely there
will be two trunks of the same de
scription and with the same initials?'
There's nothing unlikely in that
surely?"
But do you think any man woult
spend weeks and weeks watching The
coast merely for the sake of gettin.
possession of an ordinary trunk tina
belonged to a relative?"
But Miss Vests was an ordinary
trunk"
But it held a silver box which con
tanned important papers,"
"She told you that?"
"She did not know what the paper
were, but she presumed they were i'm
portant. She was strictly charged b.
her dying father concerning the box.
But what can Nevins know abou
it,"
She shook her head and a perplexe(
look came into her eyes.
do you think she has seen Nevin'
and commissioned him to act for her?
"If she has done so, why does h
say it's Robert Webster's box he
looking for?"
"She may not have wished her nam
to be mentioned"
"Oh, that Is all nonsense. Marion
West is not that sort of girl. If sh'
had seen this mar and told him, he /
acting without her knowledge and TO
some Interior purpose of his own"
But what would he be likely t.
gain?"
Il don't know. I've not had time t
think the matter out yet. There's
mystery somewhere. The contents O
that silver box may be valuable t
other people Is they a get hold Q
| them. Marion may not be the unim
portant waif she thinks she Is"
sTo Be ContInued.)