Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-08-08
His Revenge

YEARLY, You had better 90. There rs
nothing to be gained by your staying.
You have asked me to marry you. and
Il have given you my answer. You are
ION the point Of losing your temper,
and I have no wish to see how you
look when you are in a rage
Henry Bolam's countenance, even
when most amiable, was hardly lovely
to look upon, and Miss Holbrook's
anxiety to avoid beholding il when dis
figured by vexation was, therefore.
quite natural
you'll have to hear the truth be-
fore 1 clear OUT he said. savagely.
do you think I've been hanging about
ar this hotel for the last six weeks
and spending my hard-earned money
just because I was in love with youE
If so, you're mistaken. Your doll-nke
face means nothing to me-nothing at
all"
II can quite believe it" replied the
girl, calmly. MY bank balance has
been the attraction all along. I i'm
agine."
yes. you're right I may as well
be candid for once. and tell you
straight that I've never been in love
with any woman and never shall be-"
my sex would be reassured if they
knew il" replied Miss Holbrook, quiet
".
'sDon't sheer. You may think this
a laughing matter. but you'll be sorry
yet. You led me on to fancy that you
cared for me, and now"
"StopI I viii not listen to another
word. IT is altogether false to say
that led you on. I allowed you to
force your attentions upon me, be
cause there was no way of evading
them without leaving the hotel. But
/ never cared for you. I am a judge
OF character, Mr.. Bolam, and I read
yours the first time / saw you know
you TO be a cold-blooded fortune hunt
er. You are not the first man belong
ing to that profession who has tried
TO make me his wife. I know the
breed only too well. And now, please
go. and never let me see your face
again
During the next few days Henry Bo-
lam sulked aggressively, and told him
self that he was the most injured man
on earth. He endeavored TO think out
various schemes of vengeance upon
Miss HOlbrook, but none of them
seemed feasible. AT length, however,
fate or chance favored him, and he
saw the opportunity for his supreme
revenge.
He CHANGED to be passing along
Drury lane one night soon after eleven.
On the steps of a building which bore
the legend Beds fourpence and six
pence" he beheld a man clad in rags.
The mans face caused him TO sway
back with little cry of amazement.
Heavens, what a likeness :" he NUT
tered
~And So" said the tramp. slowly.
after Mr.. Bolam had unfoIded to hin
his plan. and he was calmly slipping
Mr.. Bolam's whisky. you want me TO
rig myself out in decent clothes and
go down TO BOurnemouth, where I am
to make love 10 a wealthy young lady
under the name of Denham DruceY'
That's the idea" assented Mr.. Bo-
lam, "and you are the very man to play
the part 10 perfection. You have had
an Oxford education, so you tell me,
and you talk like a gentleman. A
good suit of clothes and some patent
leather boots wiz complete the pic
lture"
And thus was the plot arranged On
the following morning Mr.. Bolam met
his accomplice by appointment, saw
him provided with two suits of clothes
and other neceSsaries.
He saw the man of by the j 10
train 10 the Hampshire town. and then
waited impatiently for his first report
1t came two days later, in the shape
OF a note which bore neither date nor
signature, but simply said:
Have secured seat at the table
d'hote near Miss H and have already
broken the ice. She seems delighted
at making my acquaintance. We have
done nothing but discuss my supposed
novels. and. as I happen TO have read
most OF them at free Libraries. my task
has been comparatively easy. WIN
report further progress later"
During the sixth week that followed
the beginning OF the scheme, the re
ports suddenly ceased. Mr.. Bolam
began to feel uneasy. Why did not
the tramp write? What has happened:
After bottIing up his fears for two
days. ne went TO the telegraph Office
in Covent garden and wired as fol
lows: