The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-10-09
CHAPTER XVI.
Chance Sits H..

~UIT case at his side. Chester Kent
stood On the platform of the
Martindale Center station wait
ing for tn" morning train to Bos-
ton. Before him paced Srdgwick, with
face of storm.
This is Sonrihin- must do for my
SELF" the artist .rriarch. "Chet,
must see her again" pleaded Sedg-
wick. ~ mu"t"-
Exhibit that ,Ar1 an| delicacy
which you di>i,!&.""I ~ Your last meet
ing" broke in K"I,i Curly. Asking
a woman t" marry You on the day Of
her husbands blr.ll!,"
at wasn't he" nd. mis- burial"
"She supposed ii was"
Sedgwick checked his nervous pac-
ing. 'DO you think 50: You believe
she wasn't a party to that CHASTITY
fraud?"
"Certainly not. She attended the
funeral ceremony in good faith. In
my belief the real circumstances Of
Blair's death are as unknown to her as
they are TOTO you"
Assuming always that he is dead.
Your confidence being so sound, It
must be based on something. How did
he come to his death?"
"If l knew that ! shouldn't be going
to Boston to consult an astrOloger.
And YOU
81 am going back to Hedgerow
house." concluded the artist Obsti-
nately.
do you know Room ST. at the
Eyrie:" asked Kent abruptly.
mo. Yes: | do too"
walk up to the hotel. Give this
card to the clerk. Get the key. Go
to that at once. Lie down on
your back with your eyes pen and
think for one hour by the watch. II
at the end of that time you still be-
lieve you're right GO ahead. Will you
do it,
Agreed. It's Il bargain. But it
won't change my mind
"A bargains a bargain. 1t won't
need to-" said Kent cOolly. by that
time. if | have any understanding Of
Mr.. Alexander Blair. he will have put
your lady of mystery on the morning
train which leaves for Boston by one
of the other roads. If not. why. you
nay tax our chance"
''Ticklcd," said Sedgwick. "Well. |
W you too much to 90 back on my
agreement. But see here. Kent. She's
goin= to Boston. You're going t" HuS
ton. You can easily find out where
a., IpI,;,, lr. ~, -, han. fn. ,,N nd
tinU"
%"Iiraven forbid" cried Kent pinusly.
"Why:"
"%IInvrm't | told you that am a
timid creature" and especially about fe-
males: over seventy | like en-, and
under seven | love EN- Between |
Shun en-. ri do anythin" for o but
that. my boy" he concluded as the
train came rlmblin@ in,
''Then I shall have to follow and
look her ur myself. returned his
friend. I'll wire YOU before | come.
GoOdby."
by the way" said Kent. leaning
Out from the car step upon hich he
had swung himself. don't be disturb
ell if YOU miss that drawing which we
bought from Elder bennett at Il bar
gain"
? Miss it: Why. where is it.:
LIN my suit case.
'What's it doing there!
"'Why. you see. if it's a sketch for II
finished portrait by Elliott. us | sus
poet, some Of the art people in Boston
might recognize it. Good luck: | hope
not to see you Soon-toO soon. that is.
Chance and ii deranged railwa!
schedule c"nSpired against the peace
of mind Of the shy and shrinking Kent.
Outside of Boston a few miles is Il
junction and IA crossing. Here Kent's
train was held up by some minor az
cident. Here. too. the train from the
north on the other road stopped for
orders. Thus it was that Kent, step,
ping out to take the air. found himself
looking into an open Pullman window
at a woman's face framed in deepest
black.
= Mrs. Blair!!'
For once in his life Chester Kent's
controlled tongue had broken the leash.
Immediately he would have given q
considerable sum of money to recall
his impulsive exclamation. He was In
an agony Of shyness. But it was too
late. The girlish face turned.
II beg p-p-pardon." suffered the man.
Are you MI. Blair! Im Mrs. Kent"
At this astonishing announcement,
amusement cleaned in the woman's
eyes and gave a delicate up twist to
tho corners of the soft mouth. =
II don't recognize you in your pres
ent attire. Mrs. Kent" she murmured
mo. OF course not. I-I-meant II