Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-02
CHAPTER XIII.


Icvn spirits.
In fifteen minutes Mr.. stockton, Bran
and / rode up the avenue to Fairview.
Several servants FASTENED out.
rs your master At homer" demanded Mr..
Stockton.
mo, sah," answered one OF them, He
amt been home since yistiddy fo'noon."
All. he hasn't? Is your mistress INF"
"Yas, sab Miss Kitty's here, but All
don't guess she's dressed yit"
mr.. Bram," said the lawyer. "I'll have
TO ask you to go in and make sure our
man isn't here. on your honor, IL you
please-On your honor" Bran nodded. And
be careful he doesn't pistol you from q
closet" cautioned the lawyer. II dare say
he doesn't love you just now"
Tossing his reins to a darkey. Bran ran
into the house. From the room in the Gee
ond story / so well rendered presently q
joyful cry.
Damn his effrontery" I muttered, Mr..
Stockton gave me a quizzical glance.
Bran ran out He isn't here" he de-
clared. I'm sure of It,"
Where can he be?"
May be at Bat Merry's," suggested
Bran. IF his legs smashed. It would be
too far for him to try for Mary Peder-
sens"
Very likely-very likely. We won't need
YOU any more, Mr. Bran. Tell everything
everything. mind to her" He nodded to-
ward the house. Make q clean breast of
It, Mr.. Bran. Then IL you please. get her
to ride over to Morvan within an hour
and break the news Of Mr.. Daytons sui
eide to Miss Ferriss. She's her friend
she II do 1t best. Let her break the news"
Very well, SIR"
60 and sin no more, Bramfield, IL
may say So"
I'm have a try for it. Mr.. Stockton. Hal.
I'll have a try"
Now. go along" said the lawyer. II dare
say you'll have to explain to your wife
why you didn't keep your engagement with
her last night"
His wife!' 1 fairly shouted.
'Eh? What! Yes, his wife" The lawyer
chuckled. That's the bit Of gossip
promised to tell you when got back from
Trenton. DR.. Garrett married them the
day Baker and Sue were married. Miss
Katharine-Mrs. Bran now--was at church
with Miss Dayton-didnt you see herr
They were married Immediately afterward
in tho rectory. Miss Ferriss was brides
maid. and 1 was witness-Mrs. Garrett and
I. Bran swore me to secrecy"
Bran, why didn't you tell ms9' sx-
claimed.
well, by Cad Henry, IL was a secret,
aye seer Lawrence would have raised the
very deuce, IL he'd known It, He wanted
a rich husband for Kltty-not a poor rip
like me. Wed cared for each other iona
time. 1 sounded Lawrence On the thing
once-he was ready to fight me on the
spot. No, no. we stood It as long as we
could, and then We stole away and got
married. We had 70 keep It q secret"
I've had ghastly suspicious about you
and your wife," ! said. IT was doing you
gross injustice"
did you know something about TT" He
gazed at me and perhaps guessed what
had seen. He flushed. but laughed good
naturally. well, well, Hal, didn't know
anyone was about. No, by Gadv He
stopped, and sighed heavily. Poor little
Kitty! the worst IL coming for US now"
magnanimous idea flashed into my
mind-I had almost come to believe 1 was
. really Henry Morvan.
The worst isn't coming, Bram," / said.
mot II / have anything to do with It,"
And you have" said Mr.. Stockton, and
you have"
We took the crossway to the postroad,
and moved down It toward the village. MY
brain was In q whirl--dsAd men and climb
ing lovers. the hideous faces OF Pine Owls,
and the wistful mouth OF Ferriss Dayton
danced before my minds eye.
was too far gone in my desperate game
to retreat. Mr.. Stockton" said between
gallops. why can't buy up Arnold's
mortgages2 I'd like to give Fairview to
Bran and his wlfs-and let them make a
new start in life"
you can. Henry. you can! The idea does
you credit. l can lay hold OF every one OF
those mortgages at q days notice."
Then we'll do It,"
III Arnold isn't at Merry's." said the
lawyer during the next breathing space,
there's only one other place TO try-and
that's not the old swede's cabin either"
II know-at Lefty Miller's cottGge-be-
hind u.s."
Exactly 1t would be like his mean soul
TO 90 crawling TO her when he was In
trouble. What"
At the tavern We tied our horses to the
rails, and walked quickly into the public
room. The place was empty OF loungers.
Only Merry himself, smaller and paler-
faced than usual, hustled from behind the
bar.
Good morning. gentlemen. Good morn
ing, Squire Moryan. Good morning, SQUIRE
Stockton. A beautiful day for the time
Of year. You're riding early this morning,
gentlemen. VIII the Gloucester Hunt be
down this way today? What can / serve
you this morning. gentlemen? I've just
got In key OF oak-storsd Kentucky-or
II you haven't had breakfast yet, some
NAst oysters or couple OF quails
would"
The lawyer had been watching him mar
rowly. Merry" he interrupted without
ceremony which is Mr. Arnolda roomg''
The landlord shrank A II ne had raca,vad
blow. sir" he stammered, II don't
know what-Mr. ArnoIdY / haven't seen
him for two OF three days. I'm sure. Hs
isn't here. sir"
Cro Re Continued.l