The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-02-17

rest has restored him, can we make
Il by midnight?"
His only response was n slight move
OF lever which sent us whirring and
plunglng ahead at still greater speed.
"Mr Paulson," he spoke up at
length. Il have kept my curiosity and
eagerness tolerably well under con
lrol-don't you think you should tell
me now about the girl on the canvas?
How. when. where ! am TO see herr"
"Oh. the girl?" replied, "Why. you
see, that Is Bretillac's stepdaughter-
and cannot. for the life OF me, un-
derstand what they mean by going on
and leaving Fernandez"
"Estella Moore Is Bretillac's step
daughter!"
Certainly"
well, I'll be-"
Not necessarily" broke in, What
is so strange about that?"
He did not reply; but he did some
thing to that speed lever that caused
the car 10 quit touching the earth en-
tirely-and just naturally take to
flying!
We sped on in silence. Al length I
could restrain myself no longer. and
/ asked
"Mr McGork-are you indeed so
anxious TO see Miss Estella Moore?"
"Anxlous!" he calculated impctu'
ously. For two years have searched
everywhere for that woman without
finding the slightest trace! For two
whole years | have thought Of her
constantly by day-dreamed of her
by night"
"Humph!"
Il met her on the steamer returning
from Europe. She was with her
mother-part of the time. shall
never forget that voyage-the cozy
nooks-the moonlight promenades!
Oh, it was heavenly-but perhaps I
bore you?"
Some" l replied, but go on"
Before we were two days out l was
madly infatuated with her, and she
! believe-reciprocated my affection
Then, two hours before we landed in
New York, we had a quarrel, foolish
lovers quarrel. She said that 1t would
perhaps be best to forget everything
and never see each other again !
agreed with her fully and have spent
the last two years thinking of her,
trying to find her!"
THAT possibly accounts for some
moping l have seen on her part!" |
observed, unguardedly.
do you mean that? Do you really
think she has missed me? Mr. Paul
son-you make me the happiest
man"
Nov, now!" demonstrated, "she
may have been moping about some
thing else entirely. | have observed
that she had not seemed as happy at
times as | should have liked to see
her" Then suddenly the realization
of our errand flashed back to me. |
felt heartily ashamed. This won't do,
McGork," said; this won't do at all;
we are forgetting all about poor Bret
illac!"
mo, haven't forgotten about him, "
he replied easily. Then he added
quickly: Tell me, is she as pretty as
she used to be-"
We did not reach the studio Of Fer
nandez Bretillac by II o'clock. Just
at the city limits we underwent a
number of exasperating delays. 1t
was nearer 1890 before we finally
reached his apartments, and with fear
and dread made our way up the wind
ing stairs to his studio.
We found the door locked-the key
removed from the inside and the key
hole stopped up. We broke in the
door. Reclining peacefully upon low
couch was the form Of Fernandez
Bretillac-he had carried out the at
tempt of his poor, deranged mind! He
was still breathing feebly. | threw
open the windows, then phoned for
a physician, and sent a cab for Es-
tella and her mother. Before any OF
them arrived, Bretillac had returned
to consciousness.
did not witness the meeting of Nc
Cork and Estella Moore. | was busy
at the moment assisting Mrs. Bretil-
lac in caring for her husband. When
did get a chance to glance in their
direction, they were standing close to-
gether. They both looked radiantly
happy, which after all, was only nat
ural-seeing that we had succeeded
so well in saving Fernandez.
In half an hour the artist though
still faint and dizzy, was able to sit up
in a chair and converse with us; and
the ladies', for the first time, ceased
chiding themselves for having gone
away and left him, knowing as they
did. his recurring attacks. Finally he
explained to us why it was he was
late in carrying out his project. 1t
seems that just before turning on the
gas he had attempted to call up. GER
tain number on the phone, TO arrange
some business details. Central" as
it happened, was cross and sleepy,
and kept him waiting, and snapped
him off so short he finally hung up
the receiver in disgust. The delay
unquestionably saved human life.
Bretillac and his wife now attempt
ed to thank me- Estella Joined in
prettily with: 1--WE have so much to
thank you fort"
my friends" / remarked serenely,