The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-02
The Mystery Man
and Little Dot
By MILDRED GOODRlDGE

When Robert trandAl ana MS .
pretty wife adopted little Dot, an .
orphan child thrown on the world
without friend or relative, good
old Doctor Bruss. the minister. told
them that II blessing would surely
come 10 them.
A high stone wall separated the
humble Crandall homestead from
the grand Thornc mansion n"Ni
door. the home of an afflicted an'
lonely reClusc.
Reuben Thorne was the mystery
Of Brocton. He was known as the
man -i'h tie gray mask. Ii"
llTc' entirely alone. once a week
man came from the village to set
the place in order. Thorue passed
most Of his time reading. He never
left the Wuled-in grounds unit! AZ
ter dusk. Then he wore Il gray
sill: mask that completely covered
bis face.
Those who met him. even when
darkness partially uhscured his
Sfrangeness of appearance. wer"
startled. Nervous Wnmen watched
him rs they would boyle. Chl-
dren shrank from him. Then The
story came out that his face was II
mass Of distiguring scars. II was
told that in another part Of the
country. handsome. young. rich, he
had loved beautiful girl. 4 dark
beauty whom he had never en-.
cournged but who was mad after
his love. In fit az Jealous rage
hun@ Il bottle II corrosive liquid In
Lis face and then CroWned herself.
one evening Mrs. Cr3ndali sent
little Dot over To the place with n
dish OF the first strawberries from
their own home garden.
A sharp scream caused Mrs
crandall To rush 10 the street Il
minute or two after Dot had START.
Ell on her errand.
''Oh. my darling! my d1rling"
she screamed, as she saw amid a
cloud OF dust great touring car
and an excited crowd gathering.
She Is Sufe." called out T. voice
suddenly, and the speaker and some
others drew back as there emerged
from amid the confusion the
masked man.
He carried little Dot in his arms.
She was white with fright. but
smilin. up at him, murmuring low
ingly.
ooh, you good man-to come just
rs ! was being ruined overt"
A little lad followed with the dis,,
filled with dust and berries. Then
there We're explanations. The auto.
mobile had borne down unexpected.
~. the masked man CHANGED to be
ut his garden gate. He shrank
from the staring crowd. without a
word. placed Dot In the arms Of he,
adopted mother and disappeared
followed by the ardent thanks OF
Mrs Crandall
The next day Dot insisted that
she must go and see her friend. a;
she recognized debt Of gratitude
TO the stranger.
That was the beginning Of rare
companionship between the lorabl'
little Dot and the lonely world
weary recluse. All through The
golden month OF June, hour afte
hour. the strangely matched twain
would wander over the garden
Then one day Dot came home il
tears.
He is going away" she sobbed
and | shall be SO lonely
At the barred gate that evcl,'h
Mr.. Thorne met Mr.. Crandall nm
told him that business would cal
him away for a month to a dis
tant city. He expressed his graf
tude for the company OF the littl
child who had brought 80 niue
sunshine into his drenry life.
1t was a joyful evening when DC
saw light once more in the sol
tary old house. She could scarcel
sleep. so anxious was she to RI
gain her old friend. The barred gat
was kept locked. however. Fo
fully week the recluse was NJ
seen about the grounds. At dus
one evening he passed the hous
Dot ran out impetuously TO gree
him.
She returned with a white. frigh
ened face. She was trembling an
amid great terror She gasped out
"Oh, papa! Oh. mamma 1t ism
Mr.. Thorne!
"What is that. my childi" II
quired Mrs. Crandall quickly.
No, the clothing was the sam
the mask was the same. but OF
she knew: the grulr voice, the tout
Of the hand. And then suspicit
awoke in the mind OF her audito
and then investigation.
"A little child shall lead them
and the quick instinct OF the pr
cocious Dots mind did not
astray. 1t was true-an impost
was personating Mr.. Thorne, dra,
ing checks in his name. settil
ready to sell the property and d
camp.
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