River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-31

very Internationally worth a mo
ment's thought. But now
And here, the other demon sprang
erect and grappled with him before
the first one had let go his hold. Os-
valid and Challoner! There is more
than Fate's caprice in Challoners in
terest in a man he never saw. Had he
found the connecting link? Had 1t
been-could it have been Edith? The
preposterous is sometimes true;
conild it be true In this case?
He recalled the letters read to him
; as hers in that room of his in Brook
lyn. He had hardly noted them them
he was so sure of their being for
geries, gotten up by the police to mis-
lead him. Could they have been real.
the illusions of her mind, the breath
ings of her heart, directed to an ac-
tual o. B.. and that o. B., his brother?
Oswald had been east, Oswald had
even been in the Berkshires before
himself. Oswald Why it was Os-
valid who had suggested that he
should go there-go where she still
was. Why this second coincidence, If
there were no tie-if the Challoners
and Oswald were as far apart as they
seemed and as conventionalities would
naturally place them. Oswald was a
sentimentalist, but very reserved
about his sentimentalities. If these
suppositions were true, he had had a
sentimentalists motive for what he
did. AS Orlando realized this, he rose
from his seat, aghast at the possibili-
ties confronting him from this line of
thought. Should he contemplate them?
Risk his reason by dwelling on sup
position which might have no founda-
ton in fact? No. His brain was too
full-his purposes too important for
any unnecessary strain to be put upon
his faculties. No thinkingi Investigate
ing first Mr. Challoner should be
able to settle this question. He would
see him. Even at this late hour he
ought to be able to find him in one of
the rooms below; and, by the force Of
an irresistible demand. learn in a mo-
ment whether he had to do with a
mere chimera of his own overweight
fancy, or with fact which would call
interplay all the resources of an hith-
erto unconquered and undaunted ma
ture.
There was a wood-fire burning In
the sitting-room that night, and around
it was grouped number of men with
their papers and pipes. Mr.. Brother
son, entering, naturally looked that
way for the man he was in search Of,
and was disappointed not to find him
there; but on casting his chances else
where, he was relieved to see him
standing in one of the windows over
looking the street His back was to
the room and he seemed to be lost in
fit of abstraction.
Orlando was, as / have said, an extra
ordinary specimen of manly vigor in
body and in mind, and his presence in
any company always attracted atten
ton and reused, if it never satisfied
curiosity. Conversation accordingly
ceased as he strobe up to Mr.. Challon-
er's side, so that his words were quite
audible as he addressed that gentle
man with somewhat curt:
May / beg of you a few minutes
further conversation? / will not de-
tain you long"
The gray head turned, and the many
eyes watching showed surprise at the
expression of dislike and repulsion
with which this New York gentleman
met the request thus emphatically
urged. But his answer was courteous
enough If Mr.. Brotherson knew
place where they would be left undis-
turbed, he would listen to him II he
would be very brief.
For reply, the other pointed to
small room quite unoccupied which
opened out of the one in which they
then stood Mr. Challoner bowed and
in another moment the door closed up
on them, to the infinite disappoint-
ment of the men about the hearth.
What do you wish to ask?" was
Mr.. Challoner's immediate inquiry.
ITO BE CONTINUED)