The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-10-09

.6lT 0f 1.-the v1ctimT" /. al4r,
fs"Of A~straea? That's all know
about her. I don't even know her last
IalfH0es"
why Astraeaf"
She seemed to think I knew all about
her without being told"
"And you played up to that belief?"
"Well. of course, 1 did,"
Yes. you naturally would. But II
you had NJ name to write to how could
you answer the letters?"'
Through personal advertisements.
She had made out a code. She was a
smart one in some ways. I can tell
you" .~E
"Have you any of the letters here?"
"Only the last one."
Bring it to me-"
Obediently as an inundated child,
the astrologer left the room. presently
returning with a plain sheet of paper
with handwriting on one side.
With dropping head and chin,
a-twitch the master of stars stood
studying Mrs. Blair and Kent while
they read the letter together. 1t was,
il two handwritings, the date. address
DMl body of the letter being in a clear
running character. while the signature.
".Astraea," was in very fine, minute.
detached lettering. The note read:
All is now ready. You are but to carry
out our arrangements implicitly. The
place is known to you. There can be no
I;HAc,,Itv in 1-n,,r fr1inu II Al tUn hours
after shutdown of July the 5th We shall be
there. Our ship will be in waiting. All
will be as before. Fail me not. Your re-
ward shall be greater than you dream.
ASTRAEA.
Kent folded and p%Ocketed the letter.
Had you ever been to this place be-
fOre?" Kent asked Of JaX.
"En."
Then how did You expect to find
~"
"Sle sent me Il nap. | lost it-that
ni~'t."
What about the Ship?"
Il wish you'd tell Ele. There wasn't
any ship that | could soc"
And the reference to all being as it
was before?"
you've got ME again there. In
most every letter there was some
thing about things | didn't under
stand. She seemed to think we used
to know each other. Maybe we did.
Hundreds of EN- come to me. l can't
remember 'em all. Sometimes she
called me Hermann. My name amt
Hermann. Right up to the time l saw
her on the heights l was afraid she
was taking me for somebody else and
that the whole game would be queer
ed as soon as we came face to face"
What did she say when she saw
you?"
"Why. she seemed just as tickled to
set eyes on me as if l were her Her
mann twice over"
Exactly" replied Kent. with salts
faction.
swell. how do you account for
that?"
Passing over the query. the other
proceeded: Nov, as l understand 1t.
you put yourself in my hands unre-
servedly."
what else can l do?" cried Preston
Jax.
Nothing that would be so wise. So
do not try. shall want you to come
to Martindale Center on call. Pack
up and be ready. Come, Mrs. Blair.
Remember. JaX. fair play. and we
shall pull you through yet"
In the taxi Marjorie Blair turned to
Kent. You are a very wonderful
person. she said-Kent shook his
~head-"and. | think. a very kind one"
Kent shook his head again, BE kind
to me and leave me to so home alone"
Kent stopped the cab, stepped out
and raised his hat. She leaned toward
him.
Just a moment" she said. Per
haps | ought not to ask, but it is too
strong for ME. Will you tell me who
the woman was?"
Kent fell back Il step, his eyes wild
ening.
You don't see it yet?' he asked.
Not a glimmer of ~light-unless she
was some some unacknowledged
member of the family"
NO; not that"
And you can't tell me who she
was?"
Yes. but moi just now. Try to be
patient for a little, Mrs. Blair"
Every we'll. Your judgment is best,
doubtless. OF course you know whose
hand wrote the body of that letter."
Yes; try not to think of it," advised
Kent. 1T isn't nearly so ugly as 1t.
seems"
She looked at him with her straight.
fearless. wistful glance.
THAT it should have been my hus-
band who gave the thing most pre-
cious to me to another woman. But
why did he write the letter to Preston
Jax for her to sign?"
Chester Kent shook his head.