The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-11-18
THE HAND
OF FATE
81 r.nE n@t
Copyright. 1920. western Newspaper Union
By AUGUSTUS G. sHERWIN

Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union,
Pretty Rita Fowler shook her finger
in playful warning and censure as
a group of s%choolboys halted, each one
armed with q dozen or more snow
balls. One side of the house roof had
pendant from the caves a glittering
array Of icicles. They formed grilles,
f%estoons, canopies, thick spirals, a tar
get array bringing delight to the. de-
%structive juvenile soul.
It was the Gathering Of flying broken
particles Of the icy pendants against
the panes that brought Rita to the win
dow. Immediately the lads scampered
away, but not until they had bulked
a collective fusillade on the great
hanging bulk which had attached it.
self to the caves trough pipe. and. fed
by constantly CONCEALED drippings. had
acquired a formidable volume.
If Rita's heart had not been bub-
bling over with happiness and JOY, she
would have gone out, have obtained a
clothes pole and disconnected the men,
acing monster Of ice. SO much was
there to do about the home. however,
and so e%ngrossed was she in viewing
the engagement ring on her finger and
in thinking Of its donor, Wade Burton,
that she forgot all else for the time
being. 1t was getting on toward dusk.
and at W O'Clock her mother and
sister would be home, needing a little
snack, after a long, cold walk. Then,
too, an hour later Wade would drop
in to see how the f1ance of "a hours
vas getting along.
Rita hustled about, and when she
went into the cozy living room where
a cheerful fire was blazing in the CRATE
and seated herself on the rug with a
small ]pasteboard box which contained
photographs of dear friends, notes,
letters, b%eribboned mementoes, and n
by n she took them up in half sad,
half smiling r~everie, reviewing the
memories they suggested. Some she
saved. All those that applied to close
boy friends and later suitors Rita cast
into the flames. She shuddered as
she took up a package Of letters on
the top of which was the photograph
Of a sinister-eyed, bold-looking young
man. 1t was labeled Ralph Tru-
dale"
With a nervous movement she thrust
the package out of reach and 1t was
quickly consumed.
Ralph Trudale! The name thrilled
her with somber memories. She had
never liked him, but because he was
the brother of an old girl friend she
had tolerated him. His headstrong, but
unsuccessful wooing had been brief.
He had been arrested for forgery and
sentenced to penal servitude. Only
twice a year had Rita heard from him,
through letters written to her from his
prison cell. They breathed love, but
vengeance. too; and he told her with
emphasis that she should yet be his.
Trying to forget his fierce, unworthy
acquaintance of the past, Rita abruptly
started and glanced at the window.
Outside. his face pressed close to the
pane, was a man. In a flashing In
slant she recognized her old persecu-
tor-an escaped convict-Ralph Tru-
dale!
He vanished as she sprang to her
feet. A great terror possessed her.
She ran to the corner of the room and
snatched up the telephone receiver. No
signal was given, and Rita knew that
the wire outside had been severed. The
next moment Trudale crashed in the
side door and was in the room, and
past him in the yard roadway Rita
made out an automobile with it's
lights lowered.
II have come at a risk, and l must
leave quick" spoke Trudale, his eyes
cleaning with a settled purpose. "And
you 20 with me. A new lover, eh? and
me forgotten? But not out of the race!
Make no noise or resistance. It will be
useless. You are to go with me-you
will be placed with a woman friend at
a distance. Then l give you a week
to consent to a marriage, or l will
kill you, and myself, as we'll. l am
q desperate man, and I mean every word
I say" .. .-.~~ r>. =
The intruder snatched up a cloak
and threw it over the head of the
shrieking, appealing Rita. She was
Frustrated by his threats and her re-
s~istance was weak and futile as he en-
7circled her arms and body with a stout
silken cord. Pr 10. mi &a
Zone minute, and / will be back to
carry you to the automobile" spoke
Trudale rapidly. mo cutlery. or l will
gag you" = ii
Paralyzed with terror, Rita sat in
the chair he had thrust her into. help
less. She noted him glide through the
doorway. Then there was a strange.
tearing sound, a heavy thud, a crash. q
mufled shrek, a groan, and then all
was still as Rita sank into a swoon.
She came back to consciousness to
find her mother and sister and Wade
Burton bending over her. Her bonds
had been released. She struggled wild.
~ to her feet.
00h thaf hnrrihlo man I" she Dant4