The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-11-10
that his men had arrived. They snow.

4
presently the aero was removed from
its customary place and taken into an
Enclosure partly rooted 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 mad been going on for a
couple OF days Payton. with great ami.
nation. announced that the repairs to
The aero had been So successful that
he proposed To make trial trip.
II want To be- sure OF her." he said.
| because nor for worlds would l run
| the risk OF II second accident with you
aboard So am going To take her out
TOR n trip OF considerable length.
| shall run over To town In Maine,
| ana. as have some pressing affairs
| relative To my Indians To attend to,
may he gone for couple of days. In
| that time ! can make sure whether the
aero Is really IN tirst rate shape Since
| this will delay our final departure |
| Thought that perhaps you would like
10 drop line to 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. could post 1t. and 1t
would be received ut least three days
before our return 10 New York"
AS Payton anticipated. the girl en-.
gerly accepted the proposal and i'm.
mediately sat down and wrote to her
father as follows:
My Own Dear Papa was awfully
disappointed over the accident that kept
you and the Muchells away after you
mad got so near US. It's a dreadful pity
that the delightful plan could not be car
ried out. II was so romanticl But really
have enjoyed my part in It. and l shall
enjoy II more since 1 now know that the
whole affair had your approval. | and
Susan are In good health and spirits. and
Commodore Brown Is so entertaining and
so attentive. and am so glad that you
ike him and that you think that he has
great ability. ! have never met a young
man with more elegant manners or more
intelligent. and then he Is an American.
and you know how 1 detest those foreign
dot hunters. But | must STOP for Mr.
Brown Is waiting for me 1 send all love
and nope TO see you soon. Your affec-
tionate daughter, HELEN
ST. think that Agnes Mitchell is I'm
pertinent. but truly Mr.. Brown 10 very
interesting His father must have been
delightful person ! like such devoted
natures, One OF the Indians Is here.
II. G.
Miss Grayman felt lonesome when
Payton had departed with the Chame.
icon. bur she Thought of the pleasure
her letter would afford to her father.
She would have died Of modification
and rage II she had known that her
messenger wns hardly out Of sight be-
fore he skillfully opened the envelope
and read the letter smiling as be saw
how completely Unanswered his wishes.
Then he carefully reclosed and sealed
-
Everything was playing into his
hands To obtain this letter had been
'he object of his forgery, and he could
not himself have written It more to his
mind This was the master card that
ne had thought OF when he had Mr..
Grayman on the Chameleon. II he
"ould instill into the fathers mind the
thought that his daughter was begin
ming to be deeply interested In the sup
posed friend who mad carried her OF
he calculated that the fear and anxiety
thus awakened would make him will
ing to come 10 any terms for her I'm
mediate relense.
From his spies In Washington he
had learned all he needed to know
about the Mitcheils. AS soon as Miss
Grayman's letter should be In her IA
theirs hands he would be ready for his
next stroke.
No pen can suggest the amazement,
perplexity., anger and despair Of the
Millionaire when be received Helen's
letter bearing the postmark charlotte.
N. c."
Payton had gone far out Of his way
to post the letter in order to give
false idea Of the direction in which his
mysterious lodge lay.
Mr.. Grayman had all confidence In
his daughter. but he knew her roman
tic nature. and now she was evidently
completely deceived.
He recalled what Payton had told
him 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 unspeukable scoundrel drove him
wild
But the next day came the climax.
In opening his mail he found letter
posted at Wheeling. w. Va. which
read thus:
Aero Yacht Chameleon. In the Air.
Mr.. William Grayman:
Dear Mr.. Grayman-Since I parted from
you In Central park after our delightful
ride together 1 have made good progress
In the esteem OF your daughter Helen. IL
is a great qualification to me that. backed
by the powerful approval Of her father.
find myself persona grata with the young
lady and know that | shall grow rapid
ly I'm her favor Indeed. | am become so
bold as to entertain hopes the fufillmeni
or which would give me a place In the
world and In society which l could never
otherwise have expected to occupy. 1 am
aware that she has written to you. but
what she wrote OF course / do not know.
but | have good reason to believe that n
did know | should have no cause TO feet