The Republican journal., 1914-05-07
A Game of Chance.
Bv DIR. w. H. Winslow.

y efOre the sun BATH" declared Bemis,
ST.. and the happy party laughed joy
ously.
Poor Cutnet! Why did he not come
with your" asked Bemis, ST., at which
remark Dyer chuckled.
"Here am, sir; what is left of me, :"
replied Cutnet, limping into the room
from the hall, where he had tarried in
order not to embarrass the affectiOnale
| meeting. One arm was in sling and one
eye was bandaged.
"Hurrah! We are all here!" cried
Jack, as his father and Wendell and
Alice greeted the late conner affection
ately. c
Your heroic seif-sacritice in your efforts
to rescue Jack and the girls led the
chauffers to them and saved their lives.
Such daring courage is worthy of bat
| tlefield and you deserve hero's medal.
| | thank YOU, my boy. l will never for
get you,'' said Mr.. Bemis earnestly.
Aiice's grateful look was reflected in
resplendent colors through tear drops in
her eyes.
"It is only what any man would have
done under the circumstances, Sir, re-
piled Cutnet quietly.
1--WE knew nothing after we tainted
until we returned to consciousness In the
farmhouse hospital" related Jack, and
| the girls nodded acquiescence.
Miss Patterson enjoyed the reunion
| with gravity occasioned by the loss OF
her mother. Her mourning habliments
gave sweet, serene dignity to her face,
| which was restful and attractive, es-
| pecially to Wendell. He led her to q
| tete-a-tete and listened to her story OF
the ride with Hambright, which differed
little from what Mrs. Dyer had reported.
"Hambright had sinister motives in
| carrying you at twilight to that lonely
spot and almost unknown cave, declared
| Wendell. "He has possession OF your
! bonds and has repeatedly refused to re-
Cornucopia stock and could have trans
ferred it, but we stopped that. If you
were dead, he could keep your invest
ment and no one would know of his en-
| bezzement, or he thinks no person
would; but know now, and he may sus-
pect do. He has probably the possess
sion of securities belonging to others.
! perhaps, to the bank. The first step in
dishonesty leads to many sthers."
| ut is significant he occupies this cave
beneath the mountain. 1t is probable
he goes there frequently, and considers
it safe hiding place from the world.
Why does he wish to disappear from the
abodes of men ? What does he do in
this mysterious grotto ~
Pm sure l do not know. He is Pc
culiar in facial expression and in his ac-
tion."
"The violence of his assault terrified
me- l will never dare again to trust
! myself in his company
"We must be wary and watchful OF
his actions and gather evidence against
him. Meet him guardedly; keep your
adventure with him a secret have
cautioned Mrs. Dyer-and he may betray
himself 1t were better SO. The public
would distort facts and start frightful
scandal. Mum is the word. Here
comes Mr. Bemis.
Bemis chided Wendell for his PARTIAL
ty, sympathized with Miss Patterson
over her affection, and sat in an easy
chair, with Alice upon its arm and her
arms around his neck. The others
gathered around them and they talked
long and earnestly of their miraculous
escape and the mysteries Of the subter-
ranean passage and the wonderful cave.
| ITO BE CONTINUED