The Ordway new era., 1917-10-05


-The power Of attorney is. Of course,
revocabley aetram suggested mali
ciously.
"If Miss Claiming wishes to revoke
It, tAat can doubtless be attended to
without delay" Donald agreed. "Do
you wish Mr.. Bertram to call in a
stenographer and a notary. Miss Chan
ning2"
Now, as Elaine, Patria could not
make creditable forgery Of the sigma
ture of Patria Channing; the extraor-
dinarily skillful forgerles Appended to
the contracts In Bertram's hands were
the work OF Huroki's able compa-
triots. As Elaine, she dared not at
tempt to sign the name of Patria In
the presence of witnesses.
'No, no." she said hastily rising
mot now, not today. l shall. or
course, revoke the power-tomorrow.
This afternoon 1 haven't time. I'm
already late for an appointment with
my dressmaker."
"Then shall expect a call from you
tomorrow" Bertrum inquired amiably.
"At about what hour"
"I'll telephone" Patria evaded. "1f
you please-Baron Huroki-Senor de
Lima"
When he had courteously shut the
door upon the backs of the discom-
fitted conspirators, Bertram turned to
Parr with a grin of unaffected delight.
Good work." he chuckled.
But Donald did not respond. He
was studying with look Of exaspera-
ton small slip of paper which he
had just unfolded.
"What now?" Bertram asked.
"Read thatw Donald told him
wrathfully. "You didn't notice-none
of the others did-but Patria dropped
her handkerchief and 1 picked it up.
This message was In its folds.
palmed 1t and oh, read the id
thing"
He paced furiously to and fro while
Bertram deciphered the message.
Written in pencil, hastily, it ran with
out date or salutation or signature:
..Huroki insists 1 must marry De Lima
tonight at eight at the Little Church
Around the Corner. I dare not refuse.
What am TO do?
POWDER TOWN.
AS that long summer twilight ebbed
Into dark of night, the softly glowing
windows of the Church of the Trans
signified to q largely indif-
ferent metropolis that a private we'd
ding was being very quietly cele-
brated.
Within. In the radiance that bathed
the altar, Patria Claiming stood on
the left Of Juan de Lima. On either
side waited the best man and matron
Of honor, respectively Baron Hurokl
and Mrs. Fanny Adair.
Patria waited in a state Of nervous
tension In no way perceptible.
She did not doubt her Donald; she
knew that he would find some way to
prevent the consummation Of this i'm
possible affair; she was not afraid.
The organ fell silent. Its sonorous
cadences were replaced by the accents
of the clergyman intoning the mar
riage service. :.
II any man can show Just cause why
they may not lawfully be Joined to-
oether let him now speak, or
else hereafter forever hold his peace!
There was little pause, abruptly
broken by a scurry and scufIle Of feet
confused with n frou-frou Of skirts.
Out Of the shadows that cloaked the
remoter portions Of the church darted
with surprising agility. considering
her bulk-a woman of substantial ma
turity, plump. dark creature Of dis
tinctly Spanish type.
Half q dozen feet from the altar
she uttered one piercing cry:
Juan, my 'usbandi At last. ave
found you! Monster of ingratitude
and infidelity. why did you desert me?"
She thrust him from her at arms
length. shook him mercilessly, then
overcome by tidal wave of quench-
less affection, clasped him, struggling
vainly, once more to her bosom.
Half-suffocated with evaporation,
Huroki went to his confederates as
sistance. But even while disentangling
the unfortunate he bethought him Of
the bride-elect, and looked around for
her.
She was no more there. Nor-hur-
ried search developed-was she any
where within the church. Investiga-