The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-11
The Ordeal
b. ALVAH ]. r

ried life happy, peaceful, completef
The parents of Nina Cliff that was,
Mrs. Warren Sinclair now, had found
no fault with her choice for young
Sinclair. Warren Sinclair had come
to Springfield from the East where,
according to his credentials, he had
been a reliable travelling representative
Of a leading manufacturing house.
'It's love at FIRST sight, so why not
say sol" declared Sinclair In his brisk.
definite way. with the fall I shall
have to make q four months business
trip through the South, and II won't be
dull or lonesome II my wife Is with
me-"
Those were a blissful four months
for the devoted pair. Then Warren sug-
gested that they spend a week at q
quiet summer resort forty miles FROM
the city. locking up the cozy furnished
little fiat they had rented.
Locust Grove boosted but one hotel,
old-fashioned, but immensely home
like and comfortable. The happy cou-
pie nestled down into solid enjoyment
Of the boating. motoring and appetiz-
ing meals, until Warren was called
away for the day to a neighboring.
town on business.
Nina knew scarcely how to put In
the time. She strolled about the
grounds, read, dozed In q hammock
and then came into the office Of the
hotel, which was more like a home sit
ting room than a lobby.
The motherly housekseper was bus
ting about, busting the furniture as
Nina tried to read the local newspa-
per, Just arrived. She failed to get
interested and wandered about, study
ing the ~antiquated prints on the wall.
Finally she came across the time-worn
hotel register, frayed and ink spat-
tered and opened.
"0hw The cry. sharp. sudden. soul
rending escaped her whitened lips. In
voluntarily. Then, clinging to the desk
she swayed to and fro. her eyes nxed
In startled horror upon the entry,
about a year oldi
Warren Sinclair and wife !"
Oh, this was no delusioni There
could never by any coincidence be two
different Warren Sinclairs, and their
wives come to the same hotel. Her
vision blurred and she felt herself sink
ing to the floor. when the kindly house
keeper rushed to her side and sup
ported her.
"Are you Ill, dearf" she questioned
solicitously.
mo. only faint, only overcome"
murmured Nina family. ~Help me to
my room, please"
She was a being Of quick wits and
speedy resolution. She indited a brief
note to her husband, telling him that
she had learned all, and was leaving
never to see him again.
IT am going to the city" she told
the landlady simply, walked to the de-
pot and reached the now desolated lit
tie fiat In the city two hours later.
81 must think-think I" she repeated
over and over. She at length made up
her mind. Yes. she would 70 to her
family. q broken, hopeless creature.
and wear her life away In mourning
over her fatal mistake and her lost
love. She resumed her hat and cloak,
took up the satchel and had just reach
ed the door when q quick knock re-
sounded on its outer panels.
Hello, Warreni I've travelled over
a thousand miles to see you and
Pardon me. madam. I thought 1t was
Mr.. Sinclair"
The tones were roundly ~heartsome.
the man who spoke rotund, jolly faced,
with eyes shining with animation and
excitement.
you wished to see Mr.. Sinclair
Nina nerved herself to say formally.
HE is not here"
'They told me ut the corne drug
store he lived here. This is too badi
and I so hoped to see him, and the
precious darling wife he wrote me
about, and"
"T am Mrs. Sinclair" pronounced
Nina In measured. steely tones.
you will forgive my bad break.
then. won't your pleaded the young
fellow. impetuously as some penitent
school boy. II must say. though. that
Warren has not exaggerated in de-
scribing you as"
"Please do not delay me-" interrupt.
ed Nina. In no mood for compliments.
Fl am going away. You know Mr.. SIM
clairr'
"Know him !" almost shouted her
visitor. "why, I am Harry Evans, the
poor lost derelict he lifted from the
gutter and helped to what I am
Know him7 Hasn't Warren I've told
you about Harry Evansr"
"why, no." stammered Nina.
at was at Beverly" said her visitor.
Il got on = spree. and shot up the
town. The constables were looking for
me and Warren across me. He
hustled me into an automobile. Dor
rowed q woman's dress. and veil and
got me to Locust Grove. He smuggled
me nm through the ladies' entrance and