Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-10
CHAPTER VIII,
THE FIGHTING HOPE.

IL RAVEN rang sharply for Mrs.
Isn't Miss Dale better yet?
Hasn't she recovered sufi-
GENTLY at least to remember the COM
bination Of that safe? BY heavens,
woman, she must! There's a letter in
there we must get out and take into
town tonight We've already missed
the last decent train, and now there's
nothing left for US but to take that
laundering motorcar Of Temples and
drive in!' Craven spoke irately. He
was past the limits Of patience.
1--WE been talking to her." said Mrs.
Mason quietly. Il think she is soon
coming down herself"
"Puritans and petticoats!" muttered
Craven after Mrs. Mason's retreating
figure. Il bet there'll be a man at
that typewriter next time" looking
angrily at the empty desk.
Temple came in and looked at it too.
Its my fault" he said. Il should
have sense enough to remember the
combination myself. Poor Miss Dale!
She's all tuckered out We've worked
her too hard"
"She's coming down in a few min
utes, Mrs. Mason has just said" OBJ
served Craven. with slight sneer.
And she did come down. The door
on the other side Of the room opened
and Anna Granger entered. She was
white as alabaster. The full terrible.
ness Of what she had done was tug
ging at her heart and soul.
"Ah, you have slept? You are bet
ter?' cried Temple, rising to greet her.
Then turning to Craven: would you
mind giving orders to the chauffeur to
have the car ready in about an hour?
Wen get there in good enough time"
"Got to 60 in that Internal eighty
horsepower thing, after all. Bet you
anything we strike rock or something
and hear angels wings on our way"
was Craven's comment as he left the
room.
Miss Dale"-Temple fixed her gaze
with whimsical, ineffable smile
the key to my liberty and my good
name lies in my safe yonder. 1t is you
only who can give it to me- I am glad"
He came step nearer and a great
light shone in his eyes. 1T is the prin-
cess Of my enchanted palace who shall
give It to me. That is good"
With one long sobbing that rent it.
self straight from her torn heart. Anna
stepped back
What is it. dear?" he cried. spring
ing toward her. big, wrapping ten
derness in his voice. "YOu know. don't
you? am cleared now. That letter
Is the proof, have been waiting for
bring you honor. sweet: the penknife
isn't all now"
"Oh. wait. wait. just little minute!"
she cried. struggling pitifully for self
mastery.
"Oh. but surely you've guessed it.
Anna. love you with love that
has been waiting a good many years.
want you to be my wife, dear. won't
you? Won't your He was holding
her hands now compellingly. fighting
for her answer in serene. answering
fashion as had ever been his manner
Of fighting for all things that he want
ed much.
But she swept back from him with
gesture. Then the words came with
a rush:
Mr.. Temple. I have deceived you.
I have deceived you from the first.
have been here under false pretcnses.
l am not Miss Dale am married.
! have two children. AMI am
Robert Changers wife!
YES" she went on breathlessly, hav-
ing been awed into silence for q second
BY the look on Temples face. Robert
Changers wife. Now you begin to see
a little. don't you? came here to dis
cover some evidence that would clear
his name. If spying. shadowing, track
ing could do I meant to get it. meant
to vindicate him and to send you to
prison in his place."
o God. why did he look at her like
that? How could she go on? The
panied amazement, the crushed suf-
fering in his face, they were gnawing
at her vitals
But it was idle" she went on, the
sob in her breath cutting like a sword
1--WE failed. l know now that Robert
is guilty. ! know that you are not.
have found that out
"Ah. you needed to be told! He
was speaking more to himself th:n> to