Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER XVII.
Colonel Bill Hamilton Plays His Lon,

Solonei Sili Hamilton Plays His Lone
Hand.
Young Haldane's first Guty was to
distribute manifestos to the newspa-
pers as far as his copies permitted.
Having discharged his errand, with
the one copy which he had reserved
for himself he headed for home, hit
ting up a tremendous pace as he
raced along the almost deserted
streets
Before he had left to warn Gormly,
he had in a few hasty words given
his sister an inkling of what was
about to happen. He knew that she
would be awaiting the result of his
interview with an anxiety not to be
measured. In short time, therefore.
he placed the confession in her
hands With straining eyes and throb-
bling heart the girl devoured the type
written pages.
Her feelings were a singular com
pound Of varying emotions. For one
thing there was relief that it was no
worse: for another, there was ad-
miration at the boldness and courage
with which the man had grappled with
a desperate situation, the dexterity
and resource with which in perfect
honor and dignity he had extricated
himself from the dilemma In which
the opposition had sought to plunge
him, the magnificent audacity with
which ne had faced the crisis and
dominated the interview; lastly, there
was a keen, terrible pang of jealousy
and bitterness toward that other wom-
an. Il was this last emotion that was
SELF revealing,
Eleanor Haldane knew now that
she loved this man. She realized in
this unveillng of her heart that prob
ably she had loved him all the time;
that the other feelings and emotions
which he had stirred in her heart and
she had sought to characterize by diff
ferent words were now blended into
passion as great as his own.
She sat quite silently, staring at
the paper, reading the lines over and
over again, thinking her thoughts, I'M
til her brother, who had absented him
self for brief space, came back into
the room.
Well" he said. what are you go
ing to do?"
win YOU take note to him to-
night" she asked.
Not now" was the answer. IT'S
too late, begged him TO go to bed
and try to get some rest. He will
need al. his strength tomorrow"
But this night"
Il dor't care what II is, you can't
get it u him tonight. Besides that
isn't the best way"
The girl sat down at her desk,
picked no a pen and drew a sheet of
paper toward her. She OWNED what
was in her brothers mind. She knew
what would be the best way after all
as we'll as he Well. she would do 1t!
"What will father say?" she asked
half obviously.
He viii have enough to do explain
ing his part in this transaction to say
anything about anything else"
You don't think that he"
Il am sorry to say it." answered
young Haldaue gravely; but it was
father who gave me the clue. you
know, and 1 am dead certain that the
whole ring have put the chief of po-
lice M TO his dirty work"
He turned away as he spoke and
hung his head in shame. Eleanor
Haldane had already gone through
the fires, and TO her overwrought soul
It seemed that no further humiliation
could be brought upon her.
Maybe" she said at last, forcing
hersrlf to speak with trembling lips
and sinking heart, "he won't care
aftes-"
Don't be a fool sis!'' said her
brother roughly. yet not unkindly. HE
cares more for you now than any
thiag on earth except his election,
and / don't know but that he would
even let that slide"
"He wouldn't" was the answer.
THAT day at Louise Stewards, father
6nsred me to him If he would not