Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1915-12-24

his feet, Clyde Rawson seized her
swaying form.
Miss Denison-Lura!" he cried in
coherently, what has happened? l
was asleep. / fancied / heard an ex-
| plosion-"
| YES" faltered Lura, withdrawing
/ from his clasp "Oh, Mr.. Rawsoni
you must go away from here. Some
| one just now tried to kill you. A
| dark-faced, tall man with a head of
crisp curly hair He fired at you. L
got in front of you. The bullet must
have struck the hard wooded tennis
racket. 1t rebounded to my cheek"
You risked your life-for mel"
voiced Clyde, his tones trembling
with vivid emotion. Poor, dear
| cheek! 1t is marred! You might
| have been killed-for me! Oh, my
friend, my more than friend!
He had clasped her in his arms
| with fervor that made her helpless.
Gently, reverently his lips swept the
abrased cheek. Then he held her at
arms length, his eyes met her own
fairly scintillating with the overpow-
ering emotions that filled his grateful,
loyal soul.
Listen to me, Miss Denison-Lura,"
he spoke, you have described man
whom l know. For only one reason
would he seek my life. The existence
of that reason must at once explore.
Please let me see you safely to the
hotel"
In moment he was the calm, cour.
teous gentleman he ever presented
He spoke no other word He only lift.
ed his hat politely as they reached the
hotel. Half an hour later, in her room
Lura was handed a large envelope,
sealed. A note accompanied it and il
read:
81 am handing you my will. If any.
thing happens to me, and really have
anything, it is left to you to battle an
evil genius who seeks my. death.
expect to return tomorrow. l must
see you then, at all hazards"
What strange circumstance was
this! Lura was fluttering, amazed,
mystified. When she went from her
room again she wore tiny patch of
adhesive plaster over the spot on her
cheek The bullet had barely grazed
it, but had left visible abrasion on
the skin Her friends rallied her as to
her beauty spot" but Lura made no
explanation.
Her fair cheek tingled whenever she
thought of Clyde Rawson, with joy
and pride because she had saved his
life, with longing hope because the
memory Of that kiss at least presaged
heartfelt gratitude and devotion.
She was in the garden of the hotel
that next evening, wondering when
he would return at all, when form
came hurrying towards the garden
bench where she was resting.
It was Clyde Rawson, bright brisk,
eager light spirited. He sat down be-
side her. He caught both her hands
and looked her in the eyes. His
friendly frankness disarmed her. She
could not resist the magnetism of his
presence.
Il have come with great news, with
strange news" he said at once. MY
one thought was of you-of you, who
saved my life at the risk of your own"
His assailant had been his renegade
cousin. AS Clyde had suspected, the
motive had been to put him out of the
way as the heir to the property of
Mr.. Griffith that the cousin and his
friends might inherit.
81 am rich now, Lura," he told her.
Il have given it out that in case of
my death the disposition of my prop
erty is left to the woman l love, the
woman to whom l have fastened to
ask her to become my WIFE"
"You mean-you mean" futtered
Lura, poor little humble mel"
who else?" questioned Clyde
"only you would have known that long
ago, but / was SO poor. But now
and he kissed the beauty spot" that
was a reminder of the unalterable de
votion of noble soul.