The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-01-25

ThRIl
In some work for Mr.. Otley. every
evening John watched the Otley home.
Nellie apparently saw no visitors, and
did not go any place where she was
likely to meet Burlingame.
One afternoon, however. an incident
transpired that aroused the attention
of John. He saw Nellie meet the
postman ut the gate, receive letter,
thrust 1t hastily into her pocket and
hurry to part of the house lot where
the shrubbery was thickest. John was
resting beyond the hedge, where he
could view her plainly. Nellie read
the letter eagerly. Her face bright
ened, and then, as IL bent on answer-
ing 1t at once, she hurried towards the
house, to go to her room. A white OBJ
ject fitted from her pocket as she
brushed by some bushes. John was
ut the spot as soon as Nellie reached
the house. He rapidly read the mis-
sive, and then, as Nellie reappeared
from the house, dropped the letter and
hastened to covert.
Nellie recovered the letter with
glad smile aud once more disappeared.
Pacing up and down beyond the hedge,
John wore a grave, perplexed look
upon his face.
The letter, as he had suspected, was
from Burlingame. Others had passed
between that individual and Nellie.
and this one was the result of the
secret correspondence. Burlingame
wrote that the only course open was
an elOpeInent. At q certain hour,
near certain place. an automobile
would be waiting for Nellie the next
evening. 1t would speed with her to
the city and land with her at q hotel,
where Burlingame would be awaiting
her. A hasty marriage, a brief hon
eymoon and they would return home
ito be forgiven
''The scoundrelw commented John
holly. "What had I better dor
1t was In his power through com.
plete exposure of Burlingame to pre-.
vent the elopment, but he feared
woman's willful temper. No, he would
unmask the villain in a way that
would drive Nellie forever away from
the man whose false pretensions had
dazzled her.
Nellie arrived at the rendezvous in
lonely country lane, and the NUT.
fled-up chauffeur simply nodded as Il
to indicate that he had explicit or.
ders. There was rapid spin. An
hour later the machine entered dark
street in the great city. The chauf.
feur hurried Nellie into a dimly lit
building, up flight of stairs, pushed
open door, and she stood, puzzled
and trembling, in the presence of a
poorly dressed woman. The apart.
ment bore signs of abject poverty, q
little babe slept in broken-down
cradle. The woman fixed wearied, al
most Indifferent eyes upon her.
"Where isl do not understand"
began Nellie, shrinking back.
"That you meet Mrs. Burlingame in.
stead of Mr.. Burlingame?" demanded
the woman in tone of bitterness.
"Yes, am his wife, and your best and
truest friend has brought you here,
first, to see the neglected vic; and
then the husband, if you still cherish
the thought that Vance Burlingame.
or David Martin, as he really IS, can
be worthy Of any woman's love-"
Nellie Otley, blinded with tears,
fairly staggered from that poor room
after the dismal story of hearts
shipwreck had been recited.
"Oh. take me back home-don't de-
lay, don't deceive me-" she walled.
"Oh. John! John! truest friend, in.
deed, have lost even you!"
II will take you home, Nellie" spoke
the muffled chauffeur, revealing him.
self. "Poor child! think no more of
all this, and forgive me IL l have been
harsh"
"Oh, joint" sobbed Nellie, II have
been wicked. willful girl. never
loved that wretch. 1t was vanity, oh.
stinacy, because l was scolded-what
must you think of met"
''That you are the sweetest, dearest
girl in the world" declared the
staunch. loyal fellow. and Nellie, eager
and trembling and happy. moved up
close to him and Struggled there, con-
tent.