The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-01-16

assurance In her manner that bespoke
ages Of conquest and not an instant
OF defeat The elder vas an sristo-
cratic woman past middle age
Who is she?" demanded an eager
young man from Richmond.
Two girls from Baltimore were Wis
IDLY excited. Said one:
Il didn't know they had returned
to this country, did you. Nell!
They've been living abroad for sey-
eral years. Goodness. how that girl
has blossomed out. I'd never have
known her II she hadn't been with
her mother"
DO you think she's SO very pretty?"
inquired the other.
She's . dream" cried the Rich
mond young man. But who is she?"
Roberta Grand She's Baltimore
girl and"
What name did you say!" asked
the tall young man beside the IRE
place.
she was a dreadfully stupid girl
at Miss Ralston's." proclaimed Miss
Baltimore
The master OF Jenison hall inter
rupted again.
"Grand' Are there many Grands
in Baltimore?"
Her father IL Colonel Robert
Grand. He's the great race horse
man." said one of the Baltimore girls.
Colonel Bob Grand!"
Yes. or course he and Mrs. Grand
don't live together They were d.
vorced about five years ago. 1t seems
that he ran of with an actress-to
London. they say. | remember that
he bought house in London for the
woman, and he never even fought the
divorce. He treated Mrs. Grand
shamefully. I know that much. Fa.
ther says he is a terrible man"
David Jenison was very pale and
very still
who was this actress?" asked
some one. He went very cold.
Il don't know. Some one you never
heard of-just a common. ordinary ac-
tress, us l remember"
Jenison abruptly strobe out upon
the porch. leaving the others to puz-
zle themselves over his unexpected
detection.
In the five years that had passed
since his brief but ever green ex-
perience with the circus he had not
come upon "a single trace OF Mary
Braddock and Christine Detectives
in his employ followed the circus for
several weeks, keenly alert to dis
cover anything that might put them
on the track Others shadowed the
old pursuer, went to New York and.
REINFORCED by agency men. watched
the home of Albert T. Portman But
they had disappeared SO completely
that every effort to unearth them
proved futile. David was in college
the following winter when he heard.
through Dick Cronk. that Colonel
Grand had sold out the circus to P. T.
Barnum, with whose enterprises 1t
WAS speedily amalgamated. AS the
concern was sold at private sale, by
actual generalization. Mary Braddock's 8
interests were undefended There was
talk among the circus people. how
ever. that Grand. after certain judg-
ments had been satisfied. advertised
throughout the country for Mrs. Brad
dock, stating that he held in his pos
longing to her Whether this tempt
ing bait found her In such dire dis
tress that she could not remain in
hiding while it was being offered. no
one seemed to know.
Young Jenison's story was so well
known that wherever he Jared he was
hailed as a hero. In his own sunny
land he was a hero prince with as
many retainers and loyal subjects as
ever bent knee to an eastern medieval
potentate. He was the richest planter
in all Virginia. Rich also in fair looks
as we'll as in worldly possessions, the
owner Of distinctive charm of man
ner, combined with the poise of good
breeding. certain interesting reti-
cence and wonderfully impelling
smile. he was more than . hero to
the young and little short Of an idol
to the old.
Countless assaults had been made
against his heart. Every vile known
to beauty had been employed in q
hundred sieges But the Jack Snipe
of eighteen was still the lonely Jack
snipe at twenty-three: his heart was
sheathed in a love that harked back
to q rough, picturesque development
and was strong by virtue of its memo
| ries.
| At no time In all these spreading
years had Christine Braddock's flower
face and girlish figure faded from his
vision. On this misty night in early
juno, while others were thinking Of
him, he was thinking Of her and the
promise made flve years before. In
fve years. they both had said. The
term Of probation was drawing to an
end. He was waiting now for the re-
| demption of that promise.
Once. and once only. had he heard
S-o,. thoOn and than IN thn vro.<