Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1911-02-09

stalwart bears. mufled as they were
in fur coats. and Rugged and paved.
commingling their lusty "hellos" with
other welcomes all about them.
De Forest had firmly made up his
mind not to mention Elise ingalls,.
Why should he since she had cast him
adrift? But In spite Of this resolution
and their long separation he loved her
none the less devotedly. The drst
Whit of home atmosphere even though
savored with ugly commerce. brought
with 1t food of poignant memories
and tingling realization that he was
near her. He and Bruce had no SOON
er released each other than he looked
steadily at Bruce and asked thousand
questions in the one word:
"Elise?''
Bruce made wide detour of pile
of freight you'll have to attend to
your luggage, suppose" he suggest
ed evasively.
my man will see to that. He usually
does, and there isn't anything to de-
clare Now. let's get uptown. Did
you come down in your carr"
The apathetic manner which had
chung to De Forest all the way across
the Atlantic and up the bay was
dropping from him. The sights and
sounds of his native city seemed to
be bringing him back to renewed in
terest in life.
'It is just outside-right here" an
swered Bruce 81 suppose you want
to go straight out home. Your mother
is overjoyed about your coming. You
were brute. Ed. to stay away from
the dear old lady so long!"
II know it, admitted De Forest.
at was kind of madness that sent
me away and kept me, l suppose. I've
been like half lunatic most of the
time since. But you haven't answered
me about Elsie"
ooh, guess her health is good" he
replied vaguely. Its 9 pity you went
away, Ed You-you might have-I
really don't know, of course, but l
believe if you had stayed you might
have averted some Of the disasters"
Disasters! What on earth are you
talking about?' demanded De Forest.
his foot on the automobile step:
"What has happened?"
"a whole lotto them" replied
Bruce glumly Haven't you heard?"
"Not Il word about her since left
eight months ago. For Gods sake,
what is it, Bruce? Out with it!
What's up! III wager that cub of
Billie is at the bottom Of whatever it
1s!'
cat the bottom, all through and in
at the deathw declared Bruce, with
considerably more tragedy than he
was in the habit Of using. Get into
the carp he exclaimed hurriedly as the
noticed De Forest turn pale.
Whose dead?"
'Mrs Williams died last month from
the worry of it all, and Billie ingalls,
has lit out, leaving Elsie alone and alb
solutely penniless. So Gordon, my
lawyer, tells me-"
De Forest sank back into the ton
neau too overwhelmed to speak-not
that he might not have anticipated
something Of this sort, for it was ex-
actly what he had feared would occur
sooner or later
The Ingalls, estate had been divided
at the majority of Billie, the younger,
and the two heirs were given free rein
to handle their inheritances themselves
or select trustees. Within year and
half Billie had run through his patrf-
mony and was making devastating in
roads into Elise's portion. Ingalls, wild
life was sufficient of itself to call forth
remonstrance from friends and the one
remaining relative, his aunt, Mrs. Will
Iiams. But when Elise stood by him
valiantly, defending him at every point
of attack and giving and giving, thus
enabling him to continue in his way
wardness, De Forest had sought to put
a stop to it all as much for Ingalls,
sake as for any other reason The re-
suit had proved disastrous.
Il promised father and mother that
l would never desert Billie" Elise had
told him defantly, land never shalt"
Then it must be decision between
him and me- De Forest had holly de-
handed
1T will have to be. It's Billie!' she
had replied. pale and with flashing
eyes.
De Forest reused himself suddenly
from his momentary reflections.
You must be exaggerating things,
Bruce" he exclaimed But what has
that devilish youngster been doing?"
''All but got into Jail! If Elise hadn't
sacrificed every last dollar she had to
settle and hush things up he'd be there
now!'
De Forest stared incomprehensively
You don't mean 1t isn't possible he
has finally wormed everything away
from her Oh, the young villain.
'He even got rid of the homestead
and her securities
where is she living?"
''In the worst place Gee! We search
ed and searched. Sister Julie and l,
.,nd ia thor nynn wanted tn hiro dotoo.