Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-05-12
Mr.. BoIam's Revenge
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ID uOIuln8 u De xdiuSu Ny your bltS
ing You have asked ME to marry
you. and l have given you my answer:
You are on the point Of losing your
temper, and have no wish to see how
you look when you are In n rage"
Henry Bolam's countenance, even
when most amiable, was hardly lovely
to look upon, and Miss Holbrook's
anxiety to avoid beholding 1t when
disfgured by vexation was, therefore,
quite natural.
You'll have to hear the truth be-
fore l clear out" he said, sayagely.
do you think I've been hanging about
at this hotel for the Inst six weeks
and spending my hard-earned money
just because was In love with You?
II SO, you're mistaken. Your doll
like face means nothing to me-noth-
ing at all.s s3s
81 can quite believe it, replied the;
girl, calmly. my. bank balance has
been the attraction all along, Inn
agine.''
"Yes, you're right. may as well
be candid for once, and tell yon
straight that I've never been in love
with any woman and never shall be- :.
MY sex would be reassured II they
knew it. replied Miss Holbrook, quiet
5ly.
Don't sneer You may think this a
laughing matter. but you'll be sorry
yet You led me on to fancy that you
& cared for me. and now =
stop! will not listen to another
word. 1t is altogether false to say
that led you on. I allowed you to
force your attentions upon me, because.
there was no way Of evading them
without leaving the hotel. But never
cared for you. am a Judge Of char
+ acter. Mr.. Bolam, and read yours
the first time saw you. / know YOU
TO be cold-blooded fortune hunter.
You are not the first man belonging to
that profession who has tried to make
me his wife. Il know the breed only
too well. And now, please so, and new
er let me see face again" s
During tie next rev days Henry
Bolam sulked aggressiyely, and told
. himself that he was the most injured
man on earth. He endeavored to think
out various schemes Of vengeance upon
Miss Holbrook, but none of them seem.
ed feasible. At length, however. fate
or chance favored him, and he saw
the opportunity for his supreme re
yenge.
He CHANGED to be passing along
Drurys Lane one night-soon after ii.
4 On the steps Of building Which bore
the legend Beds fourpence and six
pence" he beheld man clad in rags.
The mans face caused him to sway
back with little cry of amazenent.
Heavens. what a likeness ~ he nut
tered.
And no." said the tramp, slowly,
after Mr.. Bolam had unfoIded to him
his plan, .4you want me to rig my
self ont In decent clothes and go down
to Bournemouth, where i am to make
love to wealthy lady under the name
Of Denham Druce7''
That's the idea" assented Mr.. Bo.
lam, and you are the very man to
play the part to perfection. You have
had an Oxford educntion-so you tell
me-and you talk like gentleman.
A good suit Of clothes and some patent
leather boots will complete thef pic
ture."
The tramp seemed rather pleased at
the prospect, and he nodded delight
eddy.
''I've had some queer offers made to
me since / came down into the gut
ter" he said, but this is the queer
est 1t has the charm OF novelty, ana
It sounds remunerative. You may con-
slider me completely at your service. =
Very. we'll. them cried Mr.. Bolam.
eagerly. you shall go down to Bour-
nemouth Tomorrow morning and
commence your courtship. You Will
report to me from time TO time how
you are progressing, and when at
length she accepts you, as she is al
most certain 10 do. you will wire for
me to come down 10 Bournemouth."
And thus was the plot arranged. On
fire following morning Mr.. Bolnm met
his acconlplice by appointment, saw
him provided witlistwo suits Of clothes
and other necessarics.
He saw the man or by the 12:4O
train to the Hampshire town. and then
waited impatiently for his first report.
1t came two days later. in the shape
Of note which bore neither date nor