Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-09-08

agent of events! Did she indeed sail
with the British ships from Montreal7
Did you find her therein Oregon?"
yes, and lost her there! She started
east last summer, and beat me fairly
In the race. Has she not made known
her presence here? She told me she
was going to Washington"
He shook his head in surprise.
Trouble now, fear! Pakenham has
back his best ally, our worst antagon-
ist."
THAT certainly is strange" said /.
"She had five months the start of me,
and in that time there is no telling
what she has done or undone. Surely,
she is somewhere here, in Washing
ton! She held Texas in her shoes.
tell you she holds Oregon in her
gloves today"
/ started up, my story half untold.
Where are you going?" asked Mr..
Calhoun of me. DR.. Ward looked at
me, smiling. HE does not inquire Of
certain young lady"
II am going to find the Baroness Won
Ritz" said l. l flushed red under my
tan, I doubt not; but / would not ask
word regarding Elizabeth.
Dr. Ward came and laid hand on
my shoulder Republics forget" said
he, "but men from South Carolina do
not. Neither do girls from Maryland.
Do you think so?"
THAT is what I am going to find
out"
"How, then? Are you going to Elm.
hurst as you look now?"
mo. I shall find out many things
by first finding the Baroness Won Ritz"
And before they could make further
protests | was out and away.
[ hurried now to a certain side
street. of which l have made mention.
and knocked confidently at door ]
knew. The neighborhood was asleep
in the warm sun. knocked second
time, and began to doubt, but at last
heard slow footsteps.
There appeared at the crack of the
door the wrinkled visage of the old
serving woman, Threlka I knew that
she would be there in precisely this
way, because there was every reason
in the world why it should not have
been. She paused, scanning me close
ly, then quickly opened the door and
allowed me to step inside, vanishing
as was her wont. l heard another
step in the half-hidden hallway be-
yond, but this was not the step which
awaited; it was that Of man, slow
feeble, hesitating. l started forward
as face appeared at the parted cur
tains. A glad cry welcomed me in
turn. A tall, bent form approached
me, and an arm was thrown about my
shoulder. 1t was my whilom friend,
our ancient scientist, Van Rittenhofen!
I did not pause to ask how he hap
pened to be there. 1t was quite natur
al, since it was wholly impossible. l
made no wonder at the Chinese dog
Chow, or the little Indian maid, who
both came. stared, and silently van
ished. Seeing these, knew that their
strange, protector must also have won
through safe.
Zach Colt! Gesegneter Colt! | see
you again, my friend!" Thus the old
doctor.
But tell me-" interrupted, "whers
is the mistress of this house, the
Baroness Won Ritz?'
He looked at me in his mild way.
You mean my daughter Helena"
Now at last I smiled. His daughter!
This at least was too incredible. He
turned and reached behind him to a
little table. He held up before my
eyes my little blanket clasp of shell.
Then I knew that this last and most
impossible thing also was true, and
that in some way these two had found
each other. But why? What could
he now mean?
Listen now," he began, "and I shall
tell you. I wass In the street one day.
When I walk alone, I do not much no.
tice But now, as I walk, before my
eyes on the street, see what? This
this, the Tab Cook! At first, l SEQ
nothing but it. Then / look up. Be-
fore me ISIS woman, young and beau
tiful. Ach! what should l do but take
her in my arms!"
"It was she; it was"