The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-02-16

This seemed to establish an alibi.
Instead of writing threatening note
to the playwright. Mr.. Worthington
simply reported the fact to him that
he had been again Informed Of meet
ing of Mr.. Deane and his daughter
and would like to know If 1t were true.
Deane wrote reply stating that he
had not left his residence at A. on
the day he was reported to have met
Miss Worthington.
A third report Of meeting between
the lovers came to Mr. Worthington.
but not through either of his detec
tives. The lovers were said to have
been seen walking in park near the
center of the city. The person report
ing the meeting was sister of Mr..
Worthington. who. in the event Of his
daughters death or disinheritance,
would inherit the principal part Of his
property. He telephoned at once to
his spy in A., asking If the playwright
was seen in his home on the day and
hour named. The reply came that Mr..
Deane had not been seen there after
10 o'clock i'll the morning, when he
had driven out with his mother.
Since he was reported to have been
seen walking in the park with Mabel
at 3 in the afternoon he would have
had ample time to 60 to the city to
keep an appointment at that hour Mr..
Worthington, who was now moving
more cautiously, wrote Mr.. Deane.
stating the facts and asking for an ex
PLANTATION. Mr.. Deane's reply contain
ed attidavits of three different persons
that they had seen him driving in L.,
a suburb of the city, fifty miles dis
tant, between 3 or 4 o'clock in the
afternoon Of the day in question.
When Mr.. Worthington read these
replies his brow lowered He was
aware that his sister was next Of kin
after his daughter. and he at once sus
pected her of plotting to prevent Ma
bells marriage. The more he Thoughts
seemed to him. He remembered that
If girl set her heart on man and
meets with disappointment she is
very apt not to marry any one else. II
Miss Amelia WorthinGton cou.d secur,
Mabel's disinl.p:i.ance. that would Ec
even better scheme than to prevent
her marriage. If he had been co.vinc.
ed of plot on the part OF his sister
he would have cOnsentt d to his daugh
ters marriage at once. But the mat
ter was merely suspicion.
However, he was not sure but that
some one was acting in opposition 10
Deane and Mabel. and this modified
him considerably. When one evenin"
Mabel asked him to take her to the
theater he consented. 1t was the first
night of a new play. but the old gen
tleman knew nothing about that, All
he did know was that as the play
the audience. including him
self, became very much impressed With
it and finally enthusiastic When the
curtain fell at the end of the third act
shouts were made for the author.
When he appeared Mr.. Worthington
found himself joining in the storm Of
applause. Then. putting on his glasses
and taking another look at the re
cipient, what was his establishment
when he saw in him his would be son
in-law!
Mr.. Deane's play was reported by the
critics in the morning newspapers as
great hit, and the playwright found
himself famous Not only Il living. but
a fortune was assured. From the mo-
ment of Mr.. Worthington's leaving the
playhouse he ceased his opposition to
his daughters match. his change of
mind not only being due to Deanes
success, but to what Worthington sup
posed to be plot on the part of his
sister to get possession of his property
after his death. So one day. after
between him and his daugh.
ter, she left him with his consent to
her marriage.
One day some time after the we'd
ding Mr.. Worthington. who had be-
come quite fond of his son-in-law, ex-
pressed the opinion to him that Miss
Amelia Worthington had laid plot
20 secure his property.
II can't permit any one to suffer I'M
JUSTLY" said Deane. $50 ! must exon
crate your sister from any such sus-
oicion. This involves confession.
..>aen as an actor was studying the
of the stage took double
part, requiring my appearance on the
boards when was not there A dummy
vas constructed that was my exact
win. When you put detectives upon
ne this dummy was placed IN my
'tudy window and aftelward. when l
'rove out with my mother, was car
led wrapped in shawl into the car
iage. | got out at the station and my
mother drove to l.. with the dummy
sitting beside her. while I went to
meet Mabel in the park"