Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-02-23
At The Eleventh Hour.
The Story of a Strange Plot for a Fortune.

~ pe' noleSu WIZ you. In lady in the
iicture's got a queer look, tn paints
too wet and sticky-lookin'. am the silk
thread Is plastered on too much-a
good effect. blu too heavy. So, stran4
ger. it's a good job for IL amateur. but
100 raw for a prOfesh."
Inc man returned the bill and shuf-
1ed back to his seat. Jackson stretched
q little and smiled quietly. Cummings
hams face bore Il look of disgust as
he surveyed the bill. jackson. what's
the use of a college education," ha
said ironically. "when you have the
privilege of sitting on q park seat??"
But meanwhile an officer had Watched
the suspicious transaction. He merged
lfom ms place and concealment and
sauntercd with tensioned elaboration
toward the bench: knowing that hiA
signals had been answered and thar
two other officers were likewise ap-
preaching from the rear.
Cunningham saw the officers an.
proach. His eyes twinkled as he called
nm. Mr.. Officer. will you oblige ma
10y taking this roll of bills to the banls
! across the street and ascertain wheth-
er they are genuine?"
II sure will. an before you're pinched
let me tell you that your nerves A No
l.. THESE two gentlemen-friends "a
mine"-he Indicated the two officers
remember that YOU forgot somethins
down the street and fade away durine,
my absence"
Mr.. Cunningham settled himself
comfortably and smiled. The officers
moved nearer, for they respected hia
coolness-so much so thu they sensed,,
some unusual desperate attempt on his
part to escape.
And while the -four waited in silence
the officer returned from the bank. hia
fawning. ~
Il humbly 'polcgize." he blurted. as,
he handed the roll back and watched
the verifying count. The bank saws
they're all right, an'-an' l begs your|
!, pardon"
Man with the Long Name" said,
cks with glowing emphasis. II ac-l
cept your offer. / will be m~anicured.,
curried. groomed and we'll fed by z p.l
M. with this bench as my headauar-l
tiers and my entire command subject
to your orders. / don't quite CATCH
your drift, but you've got my goat"
AT z p. M, so great was the trans
formation in Mr.. Jackson's general ap-l
pearance that Cunningham's face
clouded with displeasure.
You look so good that I'm almost,
afraid the girl won't give you up"
A long ride in a taxicab brought them>
TO a palatial home at the outskirts OIL
the city. "A palm-lincd driveway thread
ed it's meandering course through spa-i
cious grounds, and occasional s~tatuarvl
mcon-shivered and silent broke the
heavenly monotony of it's gorgeous exl
istence. When they alighted at ths
porte-cochere, jackson paused for the
moment ard glanced at the purling
strained.
a Inverted servant ushered them to
an immense drawing room where tam
estried walls softened the glow %
dainty incandescents and the reflected
CLINT of gold and silver adornmenfJ
! And because their. stems yvn,.o b,,pl,Axl 1N,t
sllken rugs, Jackson's dry sob of bids
den anguish sounded strangely foreign
and long. He stood with bowed head
IN profound reverence to memories Of
the past-stood so long that he was not
conscious OF the dainty swish OF per-
TUNED gown that betrayed the falter-
ing step of the girl who stood at tho
rheavy portieres.
jackson, your future wife-MisA
l4enora Jeanette Lawrence" said Can-
bingham. with Earring, discordant
tone, and a cruelty matter-of-fact wave
OF his hand. "Oh, yes, Jackson's giv-
Ell name is Ward"
Jackson urned mechanically and ac.
NncWledger the introduction. He bowed
low as he her name-bowed
low, because for the moment his mus.
cies We're paralyzed and his brain was
benumbed. She stood ~momentarily
ciutchlng the back of a carved divan
to steady her lettering form. Her hand
SLOWLY fuinblingly wandered over her
heaving breast and lowered at her faiH
throat. She tried to speak-but stood
with dropping e instead.
Are the witnesses here and every.
thing all ready?" asked Cunningham
as he busted himself with some legal
papers that lay on the gilt table.
Yes, they're herein the library,
smoking; You-you-please call them.
! should like a with my
intended husband"
ON. I've explained everything. He'll
leave Immediately after the ceremony|
ana forget. So don't get scared and
back out, because everything is ALI
right"
And when he had gone on the err,
n a strange thing happened. With,
a low. sobbing cry she swayed with
lettering step into the sanctuary OIL
Jackson's arms.
"Oh. forgive me. Ward, forgive mel,
They told me you had died-they fur
nlshed me proof-in the Philippines,
Ward-of fever. You won't leave me
again, dear Ward, because I wxlnt YOU!
Il love you! Oh, God"-she fell limp
ly to her knees and stretched her sup
pilcatlng arms to heaven-"I thank YOU
for giving me back my Ward-my-own!
7ear-Ward."
Marion. listen lear GIRL breathed
ackson as he stenderly raised her and.
folded her quivering form to his breast.
We must understand before Cunning
ham returns. For the last two years.
Marion-ever since you refused me.
nave wandered like a forsaken soul,
trying to forget. But, my poor child,
my love is too deep. The only sweet
moments of that two years living hell
were when your face would come to
me in dream. And. Marion, I took to
drink and tried to-to leave you, for
ever. MariOn-hut hoforo 7 GOULD ooo-d