Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-06-11

him the other day, and his only anxl-
ETY. was for the full recovery of his
health. That blow on his head which
the policeman dealt him might have
been disastrous, but we are now as
sured there viii be no permanent Ill
results"
Il want you to take me out to Der
vents this evening. George" said the
girl a little later. as the two friends
parted.
II shall be glad to do So" answered
the other. and | know Mr.. Nelson will
be delighted to see you"
Don't say anything to any one about
It." cautioned the girl. Drive up for
me at the house about Z o'clock"
At the appointed hour that evening
a very handsome, single seated mo
torcar stopped before the Graham
home. and in a few moments George
Caldwell and Joy Graham were speed
ing out of Bronson into the country.
1t was a delightful August evening
and for a good part of the way they
passed through the lovely wooded drive
by the side of the Bronson river. 1t
was not the nearest way to the Der
went farm. but with his high powered
motorcar George Caldwell decided that
the longest way around was the
p~leasantest way there"
AS the two friends whirled along
they c~onversed on topics of interest to
them both; the prosperity of the Cen
trail church under the administration of
DR.. Rutledge, the progress of reform in
Bronson, and the future fortunes of
Reginald Nelson.
1t was the latter topic that evidently
that evening.
What are some of these stories they
are still telling around about Mr.. Nell
sonY' asked Joy.
"They say that he abandoned a wife
In England; that he is a fugitive from
justice and that his record is bad"
81 heard that story about a wife In
England long ago." responded the girl
with disgust. Roland told 1t to me
at first, and | thought there might be
something to it as Mr.. Nelson has been
SO silent about his life in EAgland, but
I persuaded Mrs. Rutledge to ask him,
and she says his look of amazement at
such a charge convinced her of the alb
solute falsity of the SANDER"
'The only excuse there is for these
stories is the fact that Mr.. Nelson has
been so quiet about his English life,
as you just said" ~interposed George
Caldwell, t%houghtfully.
The motorcar was rapidly approach
Ing the Derwent home. Il have not
been out here since the night of our
sleigh ride party" said the girl.
"What a lovely time we had that even
ing. All, there's the homer she ex-
claimed as the car shot round a bend
In the road.
On every side the well titled fields
gave evidence of the prosperity of the
farmers, and an air of peace and con-
tentment brooded over the country
side. ..This was an ideal place for
Mr. Nelson to come" said Joy Ora
ham, with enthusiasm, as the motor
car climbed the little hill that led into
the yard of the Derwent farm.
1t was still early In the evening, and
Mr.. Derwent was attending to the
usual evening chores, while Mrs, Der
went and Vivian were busy in the
house. Reginald Nelson was sitting
alone on the ample porch which ex-
tended across the entire front side of
the home. He had been thinking to
himself about his future plans.
Il am almost well again." he
thought. II must plan for my next
NOV If only l were able l would like
to start a real newspaper of my W
in Bronson. l believe l could win in
spite of McCrea, Graham, Gregory, the
Courier and the very devil himself"
he said to himself confidently.
At the supper that evening Mr.. Der
went had commented on the loss of
patronage which the Courier was sus-
tanning. Il came to Bronson at the
psychological moment" Reginald medi-
tated. Il seem to have been outwitted
In the first skirmish, but 1 will win in
the end, SO help me God!'
There was a look of intenseness and
determination on his face as he gave
himself to these reflections. He was
still pale, but the light had come back
to his eyes, and he was regaining his
strength in a remarkable way. He no
ticed the automobile speeding along the
road and soon recognized 1t as George
Caldwell's. A moment more and the
car stopped in the yard a few feet from
where he sat, and Joy Graham was
shouting to him:
splendid, Mr.. Nelson! Splendid
You are a well man again!"
(To Be Continued.)