The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-04-03
CHAPTER ~.

near McGOwan'S Pass tavern waiting
for Barbara Bradford. Although II
had been my intention to ride thither
/ was amazed to learn on applying at
Two of the stables near the park en-
trance to hire Il horse that the few
they had there either were owned pri-
vately or had been already engaged.
There was nothing for me to do but
TO 20 To my rendezvous on foot. had
almost despaired of Miss Bradford
coming when | spied her canterlng
slowly along the lane, followed at
decorous distance by Il groom. She
was looking right and left and when
she saw he her face frightened but
she de few steps past me with no
sign of recognition. | was wondering
what to make of this new slight when
/ SIZE suddenly refined in and allowed
che groom to come up with her.
James" | heard her say tn the
groom. my head aches. and the rIh-
Ing is making it worse. Take me
horses back To the stable, and | VIII
walk the rest of the way home"
VERY well, Miss Bradford lac said,
touching his cap. as he assisted her
To alight.
She waited until he had vanished
and then FASTENED to the bench where
| was seated. one | had purpoSely Sc
Iected because it was half hidden by
a turn in the road and the branches
a a wide-Spreading tree.
She colored wildly as I rose 10
greet her with outstretched hand.
.Oh. Mr. Nelson" she cried, Il don't
know what you will think of me. ask
ing you to meet me here. | am IN
trouble. must tell someone. ! don't
know what to do"
The only thing 10 do" ! suggested.
ais to begin at the beginning aud tell
me the whole story. I've sisters Of my
own. Just pretend you are one of my
sisters and let me help you"
She looked at me thOughtfully,
studying me as if questioning wheth-
co or not l was to be trusted, and ap-
parently deciding in the affirmative
tOl0 me all dludLlllS Sl'AS-
ITS all about my sister. Claire" she
began. shes five years older than
L. She's lovely girl, but she's-that
is. she used to be-impulsive. roman
tic, and headstrong. She and my
: mother never got along well together
and she was sent away to boarding
school. One winter, it was six year:
ago. mother was in Europe and only
Dad and ! were at home
She sighed sadly. Evidently heI
words were bringing back to her mo
ments of heartache.
ITO make a long story short. Claire
ran away from the school and mar
ried-married q French chauffeur EN-
ployed by a family in the neighbor
hood. She took me into her conf
dence week later. and I-well. / tQl'
dad. There was a terrible time abou
II sill. Dad found out that her hus
band was already married. had wifi
and child right here in this city. HI
had the marriage annulled and man
aged TO keep everything out of the pa
pers. He threatened Claire's husband
with prison and made him go back 4
France. Dad was simply wonderful
No one knew anything about Claire
escapade except ourselves, the prin
cipal of the school. and the judg
down in Nassau county. who orders
l. the marriage annulled. Dad kept moth
: or abroad until after it was all ,ovel
v and to this day she never has hear
h a word about It,"
"Your father must be wOnderfr
u man." said enthusiastically.
r HE was" she said simply. He ha
q been dead two years."
. ooh. I'm so sorry" I cried. di
not know"
e "If Dad were alive he would kno'
p what to do. You see. when he die'
q there was not much money left. We'r
r. really little better than pauper
" We've been living from day to day O
n our tiny capital. and Mother has bee
n working every wire to arrange a goo
match for Claire. l wanted 10
T something. to go out and earn livir
" for myself. but she never would col
81 sent. She insisted I'd be damagir
n Claire's prospects if went into trad
D. as she calls il. and promised her I
g do nothing until after Claire is safe
I married"
a .And is she to be married?" | aske
=. A troubled expression came into h
Re face.
IN "She was to be, but now / dor
G know. She is engaged to marry your
ID Harry d. Thayer. who is worth ]
Y of money, but someone has found o.
rs about her secret.
- "How die they find out? | ask
20 eagerly. | understood now the myst
N rious meeting in the park that h;
" brought me first into touch with Ba
81 bara bradford. Some band of rasca
was trying to blackmail Claire Bra
o. ford. and her sister was trying to sa
1t her.
IF THAT'S the greatest mystery of al
n. exclaimed Miss Bradford. "Befo
IN Dad died he turned over to me all {
10 napers about he annulment of Clair