Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-09
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give them to me. They took good stock
or me when l made the arrangement
for that very purpose. otherwise. any
one could get my letters. l hall feel
better tomorrow.''
Il thought l should never fall in love
again. he said abruptly. But j have
done so. Nora. You urn from me.
Perhaps you have n right to do So" he
said moodiiy, Il thought l was in low
with her four years ago, but l know
now. since L have seen you, that it was
merely Il youthful ~infatuation. Let me
tell You about it,"
When Mrs. Smithers returned she
found that Mr.. Westmoir was gone and
that Nora had tearstained eyes. al
though she declared that she was hap
Ply. Nora was we'll enough to go for
letters on the following day, and she
found one. She carried it home in
triumph, and, once in her room, she
opened it. The contents were in
cipher, which she could not read.
Il mus give it up she sighed aloud
You NEAR the packet. i suppose?
Certainly you nus give it up said q
voice in her ear.
Nora sprang to her feet with a
scream. to find that a tall, strongly
built. yet well-shaped m with
features that We're attractive and strik-
ing. if not beautiful, was standing be-
hind her.
II followed you home" said the wo-
man. with an amused smile. Il guessed
that that advertisement was a trap,
and so L hit upon a plan to outwit the
decoy duck n the master hand that
used it. l am here to get the packet.
IL you don't tell me where the stones
are I'll kill you"
Il haven't got the packet" aid Nora.
drawing herself up h%aughtily. She was
bound to put n bold face on the matter,
but her position was dangerous. Where
was Maurice?
Tell me what happened?' COM
handed the woman with flashing eyes,
and Nora told her.
You dropped it," cried the woman.
Where is that umbrella she demanded
suddenly.
II put it into that cupboard when it was
dry, just as it was. i determined to keep
it until / could see If anything could be
done with It,"
The woman hurried to the cupboard and
took out the damaged umbrella. In a mo-
ment she had taken from the enclosed
framework a little packet with discolored
wrapping. The fateful packet had some
how slipped into the umbrella and had lain
there all the time that Maurice was try
ing to find it. And then Nora remembered
that she had never mentioned that UNI
brella incident to Maurice, or he might
have guessed.
'Ha, hat laughed the woman ironically.
Here 1t is. 1t is"
Nine" cried a strong voice, and the
packet was deftly snatched from her
fingers.
With a shriil cry the woman turned.
Maurice
LAURA"
And the shrinking girl opposite them
knew that the former lovers had mel
again.
so you have come back again to rob
me?' Maurice cried bitterly. Once before
you fooled me and stole from my father
and me. and now"
And now retorted the woman fiercely,
i~nterrupting him and turning his words
against him., you have found consolation
-there".' And she pointed at Nora, who in
stinctively shrank from her and placed
herself by the side of Maurice for prOtec-
ton. He drew her to him with his left
hand. and his arm crcpt round her waist.
You must tell me where the other
stones are" said Maurice decisively. III
you do that you can go free; If not" he
added. as he made a defiant gesture, "yoU
&c to prison."
"Never!" screamed the now Infatuated
woman.
She made a catlike spring toward the
couple, who stood between her and the
door. but she recoiled as Maurice released
Nora and attempted to seize her wrists.
She stood before him with heaving chest
and flashing eyes She wanted to hate him.
to strike him down. yet she could not con.
the love that had manifested itself
after she had lost him. If she had only
been a better woman. Nora saw the ex.
preston in her eyes and comprehended 1t:
placing her hand on Matrices arm, she
spoke gently:
LET her go" she said. .she has been
punished"
All the hardness and fury died out of the
wOman's features: she hesitated for q mo-
ment to take advantage of Maurice's
movement to the side of the room to all
low her a free passage out.
You are right" she sale quietly. "And
I deserve 1t. Make him happy"
She passed through the door and they
never raw her again.