Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-06-30
CHAPTER XVII.

the dawn. She did not trouble TO
wake the groom, but saddled and
bridled the horse herself. She mounted
and rode quietly into the street. She
did not glance at Warrington's house
while approaching or passing 1t, but
once she had left it in the rear she
turned quickly, flushing as If she had
caught herself In some weakness.
She dropped the reins on the neck
Of the horse and took a letter from
the pocket Of her riding coa How
many times had she read it? How
many times had fury and rage and
despair flashed from her eyes as she
read it? She hated him; she hated
her. There was neither honesty nor
goodness in the world; those who
preached 1t lied. Yes, yes! There was
one. John, dear, noble John, he at any
rate was honest.
"Oh, / was so happy, and now I am
SO m~iserable!" murmured the girl.
She read the letter again, through
blurred vision. 1t was horrible.
"One who takes q deep interest In
your future welfare finds it q duty
to warn you against Richard Warning
ton, for whom 1t is being said you nave
developed a strong sentiment. 1t Is
well known that he drank deeply at
one time anu lived tie ne &c = de-
bauchee. Beware OF the woman also,
whom o call sister. The writer does
not offer anything detrimental to her
married life, but 1T is known that she
was practically Warrington's mistress
before she married your splendid
brother. She was seen frequently to
enter his apartments at night, and the
writer can furnish abundant proof that
she was seen to leave his apartments
one morning. This is not penned with
malice. 1t is simply that the writer
knows and admires you and cannot
stand passively by and see you hu-
inflated by the attentions Of a man
AS for your sisterinlaw, l have no
desire to NEEDLE. Confront both her
and Warrington, II the truth of the
above statement Is doubted by you"
Upon these last words depended
Patty's attitude. 1t must be true. Who
ever had written this abominable let
ter could write plain English, despite
the disguised hand. Patty recognized
that 1t was disguised.
The tears dried quickly: the heat of
her renewed rage burned them UP. She
set about to do some thing she had not
thought Of doing Notwithstanding.
She held the note paper to the sun.
manufacturer was easily observable.
Nee did not write on that brand. So
much gained. Then she recalled q
French play In which a perfume had
convinced a person Of theft. She held
the envelope to her nose; nothing, not
even tobacco. She tried the letter it
self. All, here was something tangible:
Who among her friends used heliotrope
on her handk erchief? She would 20
over her Invitations and visitors cards:
she would play detective.
She took the turn of the road which
presently brought her in the vicinity
- 49, 49,
ruins. The courtyard walls were all
down, the building itself was totally
empty OF ore or machinery. Benning-
ton had disposed Of these to Pennsyi-
vanian concerns. Patty rode UP In time
to see half q dozen urchins throwing
stones at the few window panes that
were still unbroken.
= Patty'S eyes, moist and shining OF
a sudden, roved over the grim ruins.
The end OF the strike had been a nine
days wonder, for 1t proved that there
had actually been no strike at all, since
the owner had simply closed down the
shops, torn down a few walls, sold the
machinery and ore, and Cancelled all his
business obligations.
She trotted rapidly into town. By
this time men were on the way to work.
Many OF them turned their heads TO
stare at her. There was only one wom-
an in town who sat a horse like this |
one, ana IL could be no less q person |
than Patty Bennington. All the men
recognized her instantly. Many
touched their hats from mere force Of
habit.
There was one man. however. who
glared eyilly at her from the curb. She
recognized him in spite OF his discol-
ored face, the result OF a long, unin- |
terrupted debauch. 1t was Bodies. AS
he caught her eye he smiled evilly and
leered at her.
Wait, my beauty: wait. I'll kill
that brother of yours one OF these fine |
days, damn him!' Bolles gave one more |
look at the swiftly moving figure on the
horse, and shuffied away toward Nc
Quade's Office, to await the arrival of
that gentleman. Bolles needed money. |
and he knew where to get It.
AS she reached the foot OF williams
street Patty glanced up the hill. AL
had just entered. warning
tons. She recognized both man and |
horse. II was Warrington. She knew |
at once that he had ridden out her ia
vorite route. perhaps in the hope OF
seeing her. Her heart frightened |
strangely as she walked her horse up
the hill.
Patty ran up stairs for d bath and 4