Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-10-20

Rse.l
THE GIRL EAGERLY ACCEPTED THE PRO
POSAL.
shan run over to a town in Maine,
and. as I have some pressing affairs
relative to my Indians to attend to.
may be gone for a couple of days. In
that tine can make sure whether the
aero u really In FIRST rate shape. Since
this will delay our final departure I
thought that perhaps you would like
to drop c line to your father. assuring
him Of your health and contentment
OF course be will be anxious about
you. and the letter would be an agree
able surprise ! could post 1t. and 1t
would bc received at least three days
! before our return to New York."
Az Payton anticipated. the girl ca
gerry accepted the proposal and i'm.
mediately sat down and wrote to her
father 40 follows:
Ny own Dear Papa-I was awfully
disappointed over tho accident that kept
you and the MitcheIls away after you
had got % near ua It's Q dreadful pity
that the delightful plan could not 20 car.
rted out II was 20 romantici But really
! have enjoyed my part in It. and shall
enjoy Il more since | now know that the
whole affair had your approval 1 and
Susan are In good health and spirits. and
Commodore Brown u 90 entertaining and
20 attentive. and ! am 30 glad that you
IKE him and that you think that no has
great ability. ] have never met q young
| man With moro elegant manners or more
Intelligent. and then no u an American,
| ana you know how ] detest those foreign
| dot hunterA But I must stop. for Mr.
Brown u waiting for me. ! send oil love
I ana hope to see you soon Your affec-
tionate daughter. HELEN.
p. 81 think that Agnes Mitchell u I'm.
pertinent. but truly Mr.. Brown u very
interesting His father must have been
delightful person ! like such devoted
| naturesl One OF the Indians 10 here.
H.
Miss Grayman felt lonesome when
Payton had departed with the Chame-
leon. but she thought Of the pleasure
her letter would afford to her father.
She would have died Of modification
and ruge II she had known that her
messenger was hardly out of sight be-
fore he skillfully opened the envelope
and read the letter. smiling as he saw
how completely 1t answered his wishes.
Then he carefully reclosed and sealed
t.
Everything was playing into bis
lands. To obtain this letter had been
the object of his forgery. and he could
not himself have written 1t more to his
mind. This was the master card that
he had thought OF when he had Mr..
Grayman on the Chameleon. IL he
could instill Into the fathers mind the
thought that his daughter was begin
Ding to be deeply interested In the sup
posed FRIEND who had carried her Oh
he calculated thai the far and anxiety
thus awakened wound cake him will.
ing to come TO any terms for her i'm
mediate release
From his spies In Washington be
had learned all he needed TO know
about the M!tcbeIlS As soon US Miss
Crayman's letter should be In her ia
TIERS hands be would be ready for his
next stroke.
No pen can suggest the amazement.
perplexfty. anger and despair OF the
Millionaire when he received Helens
letter bearing the postmark Charlotte.
N. c."
Payion had gone far ont OF his waS
to post the letter in order to give a
false Idea Of the direction In which his
mysterious lodge lay.
Mr.. GraymaD had all confidence IN
bis daughter. but be knew her roman
tic nature. and now she was evidently
cor pletely deceived.
He recalled what Payton had told
him about Helen's deception concern.
ing bis name and character. and with
q sinking hrart be remembered the fsl-
lows handsome face and fascinating
speech and bearing. The bare thought
Of bis daughter taking an interest In
this unspeakable scoundrel drove him
Wild.
But the next day came the climax.
In opening bis mail be found q letter
posted at Wheeling. W. Va. which
read thus:
Aero Yacht Chameleon. In the Air.
Mr.. william Grayman:
Dear Mr.. 0rayman-eince I parted from
you In Central park after our delightful
ride together ! have made good progress
In the esteem Of your daughter Helen. II
u great qualification to me that. backed
By the powerful approval OF her father. ]
M A. -
lady. and know that shall grow rapid
y in her favor. Indeed. ! am become 20
bold ~ to entertain hopes the fulfllment
OF which would give me q place In the
world and In society which l could never
otherwise have expectad to occupy. I am
aware that she has written to you, but
what she wrote Of course l do not know,
but have good reason to believe that Il
] did know should have no cause to feel
disappointed.
Now. my dear Mr.. 0rayman. It may 90
cur to you that the only Why In which you
can arrest the current u BY keeping your
agreement and arranging for the payment
OF the ten millions. Only that sum could
compensate me for the defeat Of hopes 20
brilliant ] trust that you will turn this
matter over in your mind with your Gus.
tomary excellence OF Judgment / shall
call you up and name q place Of meeting
where We can quietly complete the trans
action and effect the transfer. Very re-
spectfully yours,
ALFONSO PAXTON.
It e best to draw the curtain on
Nj. Grayman's sanctum after he had
read this letter.
Ito be Continued