The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-07-06

----'' Y es, here is the address, =, futtered
the other lady. AID then her woT.ls
ended in sharp cry. She had placed
a card with writing on it upon the
table. AS she did so her eye fell UPON
the letter Rodney had just addressed.
She turned white and faint She seized
the arm of her compsb ion. swaying
weakly. as though about 90 faint
"Oh, Ethel she gasped, some new
mystery! Quick! get me away from
here" - a e
Il am not began Rodney in dis
claimer, but the two visitors had
hastened from the room. He was at
loss to understand the motive of the
strange call. The fact that the super
scription on the envelope on the table
had caused the elder woman distress
was palpable. He tried to study 1t
out as he placed the letter in his
pocket. Then he hurried into the hall
intent on overtaking the two women.
but they had evidently already left
the floor on the elevator
i
thought. There was. curtained al.
cove at bay window at one angle of
the room. Turning off the light, Rod
ney seated himself there and looked
down at the street. Perhaps he might
see the two women leave the hotel.
The face of the younger one had inn
pressed itself indelibly upon his men,
DRY. Suddenly he was aroused. Two
men had entered the room. The cleo
trio light was switched on.
mo word at the Office of the hotel"
spoke one.
"Oh, well, we shall still hear from
them by morning." returned the other.
Here are the papers, and he ex-
tended a package. M.
And then the men INDUCED in a
brief, but enlightening conversation.
Rodney Blair had led a6quiet, unevent-
full life. The disclosures of the two
men fairly Mortified him. They were
professional blackmailers. They had
discovered some scandal against the
dead husband of the elderly woman
who had called with her niece. They
had come to the town to demand all
the poor woman had for a return of
the discriminating documents.
1t was then that Rodney realized
that he had been shown to the wrong
room by the bellboy. The villainy
of the two conspirators stirred him up
intensely. They parted without dis
covering him. One of the men placed
the package and some other belong
ings under pillow of the bed, put
cut the light and retired for the night.
1t was a breathless experience that
Rodney Blair went through before
midnight, so foreign to the usual hum.
drum system of his life that he was
burglar, fugitive and hero, all in one,
according to story-book process. He
was resolute to protect a defenseless
woman, however. He regained his
own room, the precious packet in his
possession, grandly exultant. II
More so, when he sought out Mrs.
Mary Winslow the next day and gave
her the papers that prevented blot
being placed upon the name of one
dead, who had not been to her good
husband, but whose name she felt it
disloyal not to protect.
And then Rodney Blair made dis
covery-why the sight of letter di-
rected to his uncle had SO startled the
woman. He made second within the
two ensuing weeks that he loved her
pretty niece, Alice Durant.
Il have found what you sent me
after, uncle" he announced, reappear-
ing on the home scene one day.
Found wife, have you?" chuckled
the old man. "All right, let me see
who she is and I'll give you my bless
ing"
So they made the journey together.
And then there came to Abel Drake
the surprise of his life, as his nephew
had foreseen.
For Mary Winslow was his boyhood
love- 1t was natural that the old-time
counting should be renewed. 1t was
inevitable that it all eventuated in