The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-10

One day while gazing out OF til,
window, wistfully watching the bird
in their freedom, she Ii startled b.
1.-The apparition 81 her former sweet
lheart who, with reckless disregarC
for propriety, has determined to So,
Ibis loEt love at all hazards and find,
out II the reports Of her unhappines,
are true. Before she' realizes whai
she has done, Kitty has called the lac
Unto her drawing room and has begur
to question him, when they are
Ealarmed by the approach Of the hus'
band and his friend, dissolut,
young English officer Of the army
Concealing Miles behind the curtains
she meets Hardacre and his compan'
ion with calmness born Of months
If suffering. TO his brutal command
to leave the room, she returns but d
look Of scorn and growing hatred
and with toss Of her pretty head,
she sweeps ont Of their presence,
Then with horror stamped upon his
face Miles, who still remains con
cealed behind the draperies, hears a
hendish plot Of Hardacre to rid him
self OF his young wife. Another mar
riage OF vast Importance is his ex.
cuse, so trembling in fear and rage,
young Miles hears every detail OF
the ghastly business,
Leaving his place Of hiding, he
dashes away to acquaint the unhappy
father Of the proposed murder Of his
child. We are next taken to the house
of q brutal scoundrel where Hard
acre completes the final arrangements
for making away with the object of
his hatred. Everything is arranged
in accordance with his wishes, and
the paid assassin and his two confed-
crates are soon on their way to carry
out the grewsome contract. Forcing
their way through window, they
come upon the helpless woman, and
before a scream can leave her tremb-
ling lips, it is smothered in the folds
of heavy cloak that is thrown over
her head. The butler, aroused BY the
unusual noise, hastens 10 her assist
ance, but is set upon and beaten to
insensibility by the murderous rogues
Carrying the now almost lifeless body
of their victim to the banks OF deep
river, where the hendish husband
awaits to make sure OF her certain
death, the three scoundrels are about
to cast her into the dark waters, when
like a thunderbolt from out a clear
sky. a boat shoots out OF the dark
ness and three forms spring lightly
upon the shelving bank. Tis Miles,
with Kitty's father and stout Irish
lad, who have arrived in the nick OF
time. Now ensues as pretty six
handed Irish fight as one could wish
to see. Now one, now another is on
top, till finally with a trick Of his
own, Miles tosses the burly leader OF
the murderous gang over his head,
and sends him houndering into the
murky waters below. Discouraged
by the loss of their captain, the other
two thugs are soon defeated and
tossed in the river after their leader
Through the darkness, Hardacre
mistakes the noise Of battle for the
in disposing Of his wretched
wife, and cropping his way toward the
spot where he supposed his hired
were awaiting him, he runs
nto the arms Of the heroic Miles |
Springing back with a cry Of fear
md surprise, he draws keen edged !
tnife from his bosom and rushes up |
IN his hated enemy. But he reckons
lot of the strong limbed and agile |
IRISH lad, who, forcing him to his |
inees, compels him to seriously |
wound himself with his own weapon,
eaving him to be cared for by his |
,wn weapon, leaving him to be cared
or by his brutal friend, the captain.
Our three heroes with their prec-
Gus burden make their way back to
he little cottage they call home, and
here, after many weeks Of peace and
luiet, and after the law has freed
ler from her unworthy husband,
Gtty O'Conner sends young Miles
0 the seventh heaven Of delight by |.
Iaming the day when he could call
er his own Colleen.