Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-07-19

END or september IN the year 1887 l
received the following letter:
Dear Sir: l have been asked to call
on you by a mutual friend, General
CORVALLIS, who accompanied my step
daughter and myself on board the Os-
prey to New York. 1 hope to call to
see you or send a representative
about eleven o'clock today. The gen
eral thinks hat you can give me ad-
vice on a matter of Importance. I am
a Spanish lady. My home is in Brazil.
and I know nothing of New York or Its
customs. l wish to take a house near
New York and to settle down. This
house must be isolated, n In the
midst of large grounds, and must have
extensive cellars or Easements, as my
wish is to furnish a laboratory in or
der to carry IN s~cieLti1c
The general said that as o were a
scientist yourself you would under
stand just what I wanted and be will
ing to advise me.
Yours sincerely,
"STELLA SCAIFFE."
The letter was dated from the Man
ton hotel, and l smiled as l read it. 1t
was so like old General CORVALLIS to
imagine Just because a lady was In
terested in scientific pursuits that l
should at once become interested In
her to the degree of adopting h ole
of a real estate agent and spend valu-
able time chasing around in the en-
deavor to find a house which would
suit her. But 1t so happened that a
cousin Of mine, who was extremely Ill
and under my care in a hospital, was
hard pressed for money and wanted to
rent an old-fashioned and somewhat
gruesome mansion he owned which
was situated in a lonely part Of the
Bronx. 1t occurred to me h a this
house might suit the generals ac-
quaintance and that l could do both
her and my cousin a good turn at the
same time.
At eleven o'clock my servant hand
ed me a card bearing the name, Miss
Muriel Seattle" n a few moments
later a slight. fair-haired English girl
entered the room. She informed me
that she was Mrs. Scaiffe's step-daugh-
ter and that she had come to see me
in reference to the house, which they
were DESTROYS of renting within a
week.
The girl was pretty, and her smile
was wistful and sweet, although with
a tinge of melancholy in it. On the
whole, she impressed me favorably,
and l informed her that, although
such matters were hardly in my line.
1t so CHANGED that there was a house
belonging to a relative of mine,
called The Rosary, and situated in a
somewhat isolated spot in the Bronx,
which imagined would suit her STEP
mother. l also told her that If she
wished l would meet her there at
three o'clock on the following day,
when she could view the interior of
the mansion for herself. To this she
agreed, and at the appointed hour l
presented myself at the gates of The
Rosary. A carriage was waiting, and
as l approached a tall lady with dark
eyes stepped out of it. l saw at a
glance that the young lady had not
accompanied her, ard when h In
troduced herself as Mrs. Seattle we
proceeded to view the house.
The Rosary had been inlet and neg
lected for a considerable time, and the
grounds had a desolate and gloomy ap-
pearance. But the Spanish lady ap-
peared we'll pleased with the interior
as we'll as the exterior Of the place,
and particularly with the numerous
cellars, one Of which she pronounced
exactly fitted for a laboratory.
my brother, Senior Merello, joins us
here next week." she said. He and l
are scientists, DR.. Halifax, and l trust
scientists of no mean order. We have
come here for the purpose Of conduct
ing experiments, and this house Is the
one of all others for us"
Everything went OF without a hitch.
The Rosary passed into the hands of
Mrs. Seattle and those of her brother.
Senior Merello, a tall, dark handsome
man. A week or two passed by, when
n afternoon l was astonished to re-
ceive a visit from Muriel Seattle.
81. have come to see you on a matter
Of vital importance, DR.. Halifax she
said. II cannot linger, for even now
fear / am followed. You are q
bosom friend of Oscar Digby, the IA
nous %discoverer and traveller, for he
told me SO. 1t was on that account
persuaded mother to come to you
about the house"
Certainly l know Digby," respond.
ed Indeed. l may lay claim to being
his greatest friend. Where is he, and
what is he doing?"
HE is on his way to New York"
she replied. Even now he may have
landed. He brings great news, and
the moment he sets foot in this city
he is in danger. He is your friend,
and it Is your duty to save him."
"But what am l to ave him from.
Miss Seattle? You are speaking wild
ly. Don't make such ambiguous state
ments, pray. You must be more ex-
plicit."
She trembled and dropped into a
chair.
II am not brave enough to explain
more fully" she said. Il can only re.
peat that he Is in danger. Tell him
to have nothing to do with Us. If he
mentions our names, pretend that you
know nothing about us. I have grave
reasons for what Isay. When we took
The Rosary l did not know that mat
ters were so awful; indeed, was
800, xhor fhof Nv nfuhv uoo ro-