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Show -in' Ik'uso ami rati v tlie place ol meeting meet-ing Pearson liaJ .mentioned, and there waited for the carriage. A moment later it drew tip, stopped, and a man sprang out. lie, was at Louise's side in an instant and had his arms about her, and she felt her senses receding when a well-known voice spoke her name. "Oh, l'aul, Paul!" she cried, "is it you?" "It is, darling," Paul replied, "and you are safe, thank Ood," and again and again he strained her to his breast and kissed her. ".See here," cried the old doctor as he came tumbling out of the carriage, "it seems to me like that is a little too one sided. You have no right to monopolize monopo-lize things, Markham, and by your leave I'll take one or two of those kisses." "Take them and welcome, doctor, if Louise is willing, for you saved her for me." "Ah, you blessed old doctor," Louise cried as she flew into his arms. "How much I have to thank you for." "Tut, tnt, child," the old man said, quickly, as he drew his hand across his eyes. "Let's not be foolish. Here, Markham, she's yours; take her and clear out. Here, Louise, come back here. There's another here who wants to see you. Here's your grandfather, lilatchford. And here's Seraggs. Confound Con-found it all! Seraggs is the man for you to thank. It was him that saved you from Pearson; but you mustn't kius Seraggs, for he's bashful." "Am I really free of that man?" Lotv-ise Lotv-ise asked, as she nestled in her grandfather's grand-father's arms and supported his aged head on her shoulder. "l-'ivo of him?" the doctor repeated. "Well, 1 reckon you are. Just let lain, eome hero to-night and we'll make the world free of him, too." "And papa?" "He's all right. We'll attend to that, won't we, Seraggs?" noraut of everything relative to Pearson's Pear-son's conduct to Louise. -They- only knew that Blatellford had been brought to his daughter with a repentant and forgiving for-giving heart, and they had no suspicion of their child's narrow escape from a terrible fate. ''The doctor and Seraggs thought it best to keep that matter secret, se-cret, and accordingly agreed to sav nothing about it. They arranged to carl on the morrow to further confer with lilatchford on matters of business, and then drove away. "This is a nice piece of business for a money lender to be engaged in," remarked re-marked the doctor as they drove back to Magic City. "Von have forfeited your right to yonr occupation, Seraggs; and have disgraced your calling, by showing that you have a heart. I shall report you, sir." "All right, doctor," said Seraggs, "and I'll retaliate by reporting you to the medical profession." "P.eport me? What have I done?" "I shall inform the world that you kept a patient in bed a week under the impression that he had a broken limb when he had pi)ly sustained a slight sprain." Both of those old fellows laughed immensely im-mensely at their witticisms, and kept up their chat and their mirth until they 'cached their destination. They were n great spirits that night, as well they night be, for they had witnessed a world of happiness, and joy is always contagious. They were not only greatly pleased with their work so far, but each had mentally mental-ly resolved to carry it on farther, and this resolution was another well spring of joy to their hearts. rr."liaseom had dc.-i led to take Paul into his practice, which was enough for them both, and Sctingg-t)ai decided to sell Urecn's farm and gc). John s.ittlc.l in business at Magic City. He knew of a good opening for a man of .recti's honesty and ability, q!j he resolved tp get him into it. - . ... HER FATHER'S VIUTOI son, and I know you to be a friend of the girl, and I came to consult you about her. Something has to be done to save her from that scoundrel, and it has to be done promptly. I have been on the watch and I have had another person on guard for me, and between us we have discovered exactly how matters stand. To-night Pearson is going go-ing to take Louise away, and we must prevent him." - "I was sure of that," said Seraggs to the doctor. "I was afraid of it," replied the latter. lat-ter. "I wish to Heaven the confounded scamp had got a leg broken." "Yes," said Seraggs, "or his neck would have been better. I don't see why you didn't attend to that while you were about it, Markham." "But, gentlemen," said Paul, "we have no time to lose; we must act and not talk." "That's so," replied the doctor; "we must act we must do something. Seraggs, what do you suggest?" "I am lost," and Seraggs shook his head, doubtingly. "I don't know what to do. We could save the girl by force, but we .can't do it without putting Green in for it. I wish old lilatchford was here. That would settle the business busi-ness in short order." "Perhaps he will come this evening," the doctor suggested. "Perhaps," 'replied Seraggs, "but I hardly dare hope for such good fortune." for-tune." "Then I'll tell you what," said the doctor; "we'll wait until the train comes in. It will be less than an hour now, and if Blatchford should happen to come we're done with the matter easily enough, and if Blatehtord don't come, by George! we'll proceed against Pearson by force, We'll waylay him. as he goes out to-night and threaten to shoot or hang him if he doesn't leave the country inside of six hours." "We'll do it, doctor!" Seraggs exclaimed, ex-claimed, "and we'll mean business, too. I - can get up a dozen men on live minutes' notice to go with us, and you may bet your boots we'll not be slow-about slow-about giving the deuced scamp a dose of western law and iustice if he don't &ome to time in a hurry." "I'm afraid," said Paul, "that wouldn't save John Green from Mills' vengeance." "Yes, it would," promptly replied the old doctor. '"It wouldn't take us long "I guess we'll be prettv apt to." "That's what we will. But here, confound it all, we're keeping Blatchford Blatch-ford waiting here while we're running on like a pack of fools, and hx wants to sec his daughter. Come, let's go on to the house." So talking away as excitedly and happy as a boy over a new toy, the I good old doctor led the way to the house, while Seraggs and Blatchford came after him, aud Paul and Louisa followed a little farther behind, arm in arm, as happy as ever two young souls CHAPTER XXVII. LIE CONCLUSION. The flight of Peavsnii was discovered by Seraggs at an early hour the next morning, and a little later upon making a visit to the bank he learned of his embezzlement em-bezzlement of ISlatehford's money, lie immediately telegraphed in various directions di-rections hoping to apprehend fho ra.-,.;al, but it proved all in vain. Pearson made good his escape. L'pon returning to Green's as agreed, Seraggs and the doctor found lilatchford lilatch-ford in ti critical condition, The excitement ex-citement of the last few days, together with the meDtal suffering it had brought him, had been too much for him. and now they found him weak aud UYSm tailing. Dr. Bascom examined the old man closely, and though he made no report re-port on the ease his face became grave and thoughtful, and tltpse who saw it felt sure that there was something serjr ons in his patient's ailment. Seraggs would have avoided telling what he had discovered that morning, but Blatchford insisted on hearing everything about Pearson, and asked sfl many questions regarding him that Seraggs was eventually forced to reveal all he knew. The old man groaned and gnashed his teeth, and for a long time said nothing. At last, raising himself in bed, he spoke, looking steadily at his daughter. "Mary," he said, "I have come to you at last, but I have corqe as a pauper. I come empty handed, and with nothing but my poor loye to give you. That which I have slaved for, and which of right was yours, jias been stolen front me by the one j took to my heart in your stead. I turned you from my door and took Harry Pearson in. I left you to starve while I lavished money on him. And now he has robbed me and yours to shelter rnj head. My punishment punish-ment is great, but it is pot more tlln I deserve." - ' For tnree or ionrSpr-mrfiTr'1 hearted old mart lingered on, growing weaker hour by hour in spite of all Dr. Bascom could do, and at last it became apparent that death would soon claim him. The Greens exerted themselves to the utmost to make his last hours as pleasant as possible, but sent. 1 ' 1 1 ' to serve .vims wnn a aose oi tne same kind of medicine if he got to cutting around too much." "That's what it wouldn't," said Seraggs. "Tiie country wouldn't be any the worse off if it was rid of both of them." "Xot a bit," said the doctor. "So we'll wait for the train, and if Blatchford Blatch-ford don't come we'll take the matter in our own hands." CHAPTER XXV L THE SERPEST IS THWAIITETJ. As Pearson rode into town on his return re-turn from Green's, he saw the train from the cast approaching, and he also saw Seraggs and Doctor Bascom walking walk-ing down in the direction of the depot. He did not attach any importance to the fact of these men being together, but when a moment later they were joined by Paul Markham, he began to suspicion that something was wrong, and he was seized with fear. "They're plotting against me," he mused, "and like as not old Seraggs has telegraphed for Blatchford, and they are going to the train to meet him. By George, I believe that old doctor is in 'Seraggs' employ, and his keeping me in bed all those clays was a put up job to gain time on me. I was a fool not to know that. k wu, tt .iir.iu is coming I've got to be gomg. This town ain't big enough to holct us both." " With that Pearson quickly dismounted dismount-ed and running down through the stable turned down an alley and crossed the railroad track just before the train passed. Taking a position on the opposite side from the depot he watched the passengers as they left the cars. First a traveling man came ont, then a woman and two children, and it seemed that that was all, and Pearson began to congratulate con-gratulate himself again. But his congratulations con-gratulations were short lived, for directly di-rectly another passenger emerged, and Pearson knew only too well who it was. There was no mistaking Blatchford, although he was so aged and bent and so woefully changed from what he had been when Pearson saw him last. "Curse the luck," Pearson muttered, "and old Seraggs and Bascom. The jig is up for me. I've got to fly from here, and I've lost Louise; but I've got Blateh-ford's Blateh-ford's money." So saying he slipped on board the train as it moved out, and was whirled away from Magic City forever. Blatchford was conducted without delay de-lay to Seraggs' ottjee where everything was explained to him. He listened quietly to the whole story, but as Serasrgs revealed to him the sufferings of John Green's family and the villainy , "GOD HI.FSS TOU BOTH." were. When they approached the door the old doctor stopped, saying: "We must be careful not to excite Mrs. Green, so if you folks will wail outside here just a minute I'll go in and break the news to her." "For God's sake don't be long, then," Blatchford pleaded. "I have been too tons? aw.w from my oli.ild 1 - t must see her qmeklv." "All right, all right,""" replied the doctor as he butlsd away. L't'lln-.t -lose a second." Coming into the room he tried to hide his joy and assume a grave air, but the great happiness that filled his kind old heart to overflowing surged up to the surface and showed itself in his eyes and face in spite of him. John and Mary both saw at once that the doctor was overjoyed, but they never dreamed of its cause bearing any relation to them, so they said nothing. The doctor approached Mary's side, saying: "Well, how is my patient to-night?" "Some better than when you were last here," Mary replied. "Hum, glad to hear -it. Guess your father will "be glad to know it, too. Don't you think so?" "I don't know, doctor. He seems to have forgotten me entirely." "Xo, he hasn't, though. I've heard from him since I was here." "Have you? What did you hear?" Mary cried eagerly. "Uh, not much. He lovesyou, though, as well as he ever did, and I think we'll jet him out here before long." "Oh, doctor, do you think so, indeed?" "Yes, I do. In fact I know it." "When will he come?" "Why, pretty soon, I expect. Next week or to-morrow, or he might come to-night." -: THE E'D DREW SEAB. their kindness and unselfish attentions augmented rather thnn diminiai'e i.iS "Oh, doctor, he's here now. I know-he know-he is from your looks. Where is he?. Let me see him quick." At that moment the door opened and the old man entered. He tottered across the floor and with the words, "My child." sank on his knees by the bedside and laid his head close by his daughter's and in silence wept. The doctor motioned them all from the room, and with noiseless step they obeyed him, leaving father and child alone together. It was a pitiable sight to see the once proud, cold old man, now kneeling in deep contrition at the side of the one he had so deeply wronged, and it was a beautiful thing to see how readily the wronged child's heart went out in forgiveness and love to the aged parent forgetting in a moment mo-ment all her sufferings, and ail his neglect neg-lect and coldness. It was a sight that touched every one present, and even Seraggs, who was considered adamantine adaman-tine at heart, was seen to withdraw a little to one side and mop his eyes vigorously vig-orously several times. After awhile they all went back into the room to find the father and daughter daugh-ter more calm and collected, and after John had welcomed Blatchford and they had shaken hands and buried the past, the doctor said: "Well, Seraggs, we have done all the barm we can, so we may as well go. 1 expect our room would be more valuable valu-able than our company." "You must not go, doctor," cried Mary, "until I have thanked you for what you have done." "Pshaw, pshaw, Mrs. Green, I haven't of Harry Pearson, the old man s race grew ashy and his gray head dropped tow on his breast, while ever and anon a heartrending groan escaped him. It Was a minute or two after Seraggs finished fin-ished his hurried account before the old man moved or spoke, but at last he raised his head and cried: "Mv God', my God! how I have siuned. My child dying of want, and the viper I have warmed to my breast betraying my child's child to ruin. This is more than I can stand, men; I cannot can-not bear it another instant. Show me this scoundrel, and I'll put a bullet through his black, villainous heart. Come, I must see him." It was all Seraggs and fthe doctor could do to get the old man quieted down, but at last they succeeded in inducing him to listen to reason, and Seraggs unfolded his plan of procedure. "Pearson is going to Green's to-night after the girl, and we must arrange to get there before him. We can never see him here, for he will be in hiding, but we can head him off there. For fear he may get there before us and miss us on the road, I will have men on the watch for him at the depot with instructions in-structions to detain him if he comes back there. In that way everything will be safe, and we'll catch him somewhere some-where in the round." " a This proposition was readily agreed to by all, and then Seraggs continued: "We want to get away from here without attracting attention, so while Dr. Bascom conducts Mr. Blatchford to his house to await us, Paul and I will secure a carriage and drive out that wnv From the doctor's house we will done anything. It was Seraggs who brought this about." "It wasn't," said Seraggs, "it was Bascom." Bas-com." "Come, Seraggs, you know better than that. It was you who bent the telegram." "Well, it was you who did the rest. It was you who managed the broken limb, and without that what would the balance have amounted to?" "Well, we won't quarrel," said the doctor. "So you may thank whom you please, Mrs. Green. Now we'll leave you, promising to call again to-morrow. Good night." "Good night, and Qod bless you," replied re-plied Green, rising and taking the doctor's doc-tor's hand. "Apd you, too, Seraggs. God bless you both." John and Mary had not been informed in-formed of the full import of Blatch-ford's Blatch-ford's coming, and they were totally ig- proeeed to Green's. Now, let's get out of here and begin to move." Within a surprisingly short time Seraggs had completed all his arrangements, arrange-ments, arid with his companions wasl moving rapidly in the direction of John Green's place. It lacked but a few minutes of eight o'clock when the carriage rolled down the long slope in front of the cabin, and Louise from "her position-t the window hearing the rumble of tho vehicle and tha clatter of the horses' feet, felt that the most trying moment of her life was at hand. She had no other thought than that Pearson was coming, and at this near approach of the climax of her sacrifice, she found herself unable to bear up longer. Iler fortitude forsook her and she laid her head down on the window sill and , wept. But quickly recovering she left |
