The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-24
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 1S KY
 PIR,AT IF bIGARPETT p ,l ~ SERVISS,
' (Continued.)
OefRtohf ef FRANK A. rcusaSer Coe,pANv)


 all the zest of her romantic and en- thusiastic nature, Payton announced that his men had arrived. They show ed themselves about the lodge, and presently the aero was removed from its customary place and taken into an inclosure partly roofed over. from which the sounds of hammering now began to be heard. Payton seemed to be very busy here during the daytime, but in the evening he was as attentive and entertaining as ever.
 When this had been going-en for couple of days Payton, with great ami nation, announced that the repairs to the aero had been so successful that he proposed to make Q trial trip.
 q want to be sure of her." he saie. because not for worlds would I run the risk of q second accident with you aboard. So am going to take her out for a trip of considerable length. shall run over to a town in Maine, and, as I have some pressing affairs relative to my Indians to attend to, l may be gone for couple of days. in that time can make sure whether the nero is really in first rate shape. Since this will delay our final departure I thought that perhaps you would like to drop a line 10 your father, assuring him of your health and contentment. Of course he will be anxious about you, and the letter would be an agree able surprise. I could post it, and it would be received at least three days before our return to New York
 As Payton anticipated. the girl ca gerly accepted the proposal and i'm nediately sat down and wrote to her father as follows:
 My Own Dear Papa-I was awfully disappointed over the accident that kept you and the Mitchells away after you had got so near us. It's a dreadful pity that the delightful plan could not be car ried out It was so romantic! But really have enjoyed my part in it, and shall enjoy 1. more since new know that the whole affair had your approval. I and Susan are in good health and spirits and Commodore Brown is so entertaining and so attentive, and I am so glad that you like him and that you think that he has great ability. I have never met young man with more elegant manners or more Intelligent, and then he is an American,
 
 dot hunters. But. must stop, for Mir. Brown is waiting for me. send all love sld hope 70 see. you soon. Your afTec- tionate daughter HELEN F. S-I think that Agnes Mitchell is i'm pertinent, but truly Air. Brown is very interesting. His fa-fier must have been a delightful person. like such devoted natures. One of the Indians is here.
 H. G.
 Miss Grayman felt lonesome when T'Hyson had departed with the Chame- leon, but che thought of the pleasure Ter letter would afford to her father She would have died of modification ald rage if she had known that her messenger was hardly out of, sight be- fofe Iie skillfully opened the envelope an6 reGd the letter, smiling as he saw how completely it answered his wishes. Then he carefully reclosed and sealed it.
 Everything was playing into his hands To obtain this letter had been the object of his forgery. and he could not himself have written 1t more to his mind This was the master card that he had thought of when he had MT. Grayman. on the Chameleon. If he could instilI into the fathers mind the thought that his daughter was begin ming to be deeply interested in the sup posed friend who had carried her of he calculated thae the fear and anxiety thus awakened would make him will ing to come to any terms for her inn- mediate release,
 From his spies in Washington he had learned all he needed to know about the Mitchells. AS soon as Miss Grayman's letter should be in her fa- ther's hands he would be ready for his next stroke.
 No pen can suggest the amazement, perplexity, anger and despair of the millionaire when he received Helens letter bs C ing the postmark Charlotte, N C."
 Payton had gone far out of his way to post the letter in order to give a false idea of the direction ir which his mysterious lodge lay.
 Mfr Grayman had all confidence in his daughter, but he knew her roman tic nat re, and no..- she was evidently comp ely deceived.
 He recalled what Payton had told l-m about Helen's deception concern ing his name and character, and with a sinking heart he remembered the fel- lows handsome face and fascinating speech and bearing. The bare thought of his daughter taking an interest in this unspeakable scoundrel dtCve him wild
 But the next day came the climax. In opening his mai. he found a letter posted at Wheeling, W. Va, which read thus;
 Aero Tacne Chameleon. in the Ar. Air. William Grayman:
 Dear Mir. Grayman-Since I parted from you in Central park after our delightful ride together have made good progress in tho esteem of your daughter Helen. It is a great qualification to me that, backed by tf.e powerful approval Of her father, l And myself persona grata with tsle young hdy. and I know that shall grow rapid ly in her favor. Indeed, 1 am become so bold as to entertain hopes the fulfllment of which would give me 9 place in the world and in society which could never otherwise have expected to occupy. am aware that she has written to you, but what she wrote of course do not :zaow, hut have good reason tc believe that if did know should bave no cause to feel disappointed.
 Now. my dear MT GTaynan, iI may oc- cur to you that the only way in which you