Gunnison news-champion., 1920-03-26
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II Sidney Blair had entered tie
gloomy. oid-fashioned city mansion
bearing the name on Its door plate
ALTON Morse" with an ardent heart
and high hopes. He sat nov In its
library confronted by ifs owner. whose
grim. forbidding face chilled him,
whose disclosures were discoueeFtinx.
Two months previous while Visiting
his sister Al . seminary. he had met
Lucia Sterling. The acquaintanceship
had blossomed into mutual friendly In
serest and. on his part at least. into
1 genuine love. She had told him that
she lived with Mr. Morse. that her
parents were both dead and that the
attorney. because her fnther had been
q former client. had practically adopt.
ed her. Lucia had consented to his
calling on her when she left school
and she had told Mr.. Morse Of the ex.
pected visitor.
Blair had been ushered into the r.
brary Of the house when he sent In
his card. and sinister faced, Its occu-
pant had received him coldly.
Il know who you are. and Of your
family. said Mr.. Morse. II also fancy
! know the object Of your call. 1t 10
Miss Sterling"
Yes" replied Blair. 81 hope she Is
we'll"
she IL far from that" replied the
lawyer gravely. "Do not be alarmed,
sir. Il u mental. rather than physical
ailment. Miss Sterling has received
some disclosures relative to her past,
or rather that Of her parents. that
have been considerable Of q shock.
She knows Of your intention to call
and has authorized me to see you In
her stead"
= do not understand" began Blair
10 perplexed way.
can say only that. considering
your high social standing and illus
trfous family name. Il Ii better that
your acquaintance with Miss Sterling
should terminate utterly"
"You insinuate some mystery which,
no matter what II may involve. could
not In any way affect the regard
feel for Miss Sterling" spoke Blair
stanchly. "Mr. Morse, ] must insist
on having Q decision from her lips
alone"
Alton Morse arose with q peculiar
expression on his fnce. 81 Will convey
your message to my ward" he said
ic;ly. "or rather my dead friends
daughter" and left the room. He re-
turned shortly bearing Q folded scrap
Of paper.
"lliss Sterling declines to see you,"
he reported. This u her only and
hnal word. and Blair bowed his head
in despair ~ he read: "Mr. Morse
must speak for me. thank you for
oil your courtesy and regard, but we
must never meet again."
Without another word Blair left the
house. Dusk had come down, but as
he slowly passed the garden space he
glanced back. One upper window at
the side Of the house showed a light.
Blair proceeded on his way. but 20
mystlfied by the strange incident
that after he had turned the next cor
uer he reversed and confronted the
stranger.
He was . man over nifty, bearded
and bronzed, and wore a great blazing
diamond In his tie and another Of un-
usual size on one finger. Two men
crossed the street. evidently attracted
BY these signs Of opulence. When
within twenty feet Of the corner they
suddenly sprung upon him.
Blair hastened to the rescue. He
drove one Of the men PROSTATE with
. vigorous blow. The other had q pis.
tol aimed at the stranger. Blair
struck up his hand. but himself felt
stinging contact In one arm. Az
the men dispersed the victim seized
Blair By the hand with the words:
"You have saved my life, young
man. Whyl what is this bioodL You
are woundedr
'Only . slight scratch" declared
Blair negligently. but the other hailed
cab. solicitously attended his res
cuer. and. arriving at his hotel at once
sent for q surgeon.
The latter dressed q slight flesh
wound. and the stranger secured q
room for Blair connecting with his
own. When Blair awoke In the morn.
ing he noticed his host with startled
eyes gazing at some articles he had
placed on q stand.
~What is this-where did you get
itr' he inquired. holding up photo
graph Of Lucia Sterling.
A strange emotion was manifest In
the mans face as Blair's story came
out. His face hardened az he mutter-
ed the name Of Alton Morse. "Come
with me-" be spoke. "if you feel able.
There Is something you have an In
terest In"
An hour later they faced Alton
Morse. pale. cringing. In terror. With
In the hour Blair knew that the stran.
ger Of the gardep was Robert Sterlins.