Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-10-26
CHAPTER ".
THE MOST FIENDIsH PLOT OF ALL.

THE MOST FIENDISH PLOT OF ALL.
The summer slipped away, and
September was drawing to close.
One morning late in the month,
Colonel Nichols sat in his Office, idly
drumming on his desk with his fingers,
an expression of satisfaction on his
features.
He had been prosecuting Mrs. Les
ter with his attentions. which she had
disdainfully repulsed He had also
conceived vehement desire to ayenge
himself on her daughter Amy, who,
believing that Ally had been sent off
by Colonel Nichols, ard been con-
stant thorn in his side for months.
"Well," he muttered, with long
drawn breath, Il finished closing up
my affairs yesterday. What is to
be my next move? | can leave Nor
folk at any time. 1t might not be
bad idea to take Mrs. Lester and
Amy to my Cape Henry house. Peo-
pie begin to look coldly on me here,
and they look on Mrs. Lester as an in
jured saintl'
He frowned darkly, as if unpleas-
ant memories were recurring to him.
At this moment there sounded a
heavy tread in the outer Office. The
clerks had all been discharged within
the month, and there was no business
doing. Nichols therefore, did not stir
from his seat. nor trouble himself to
inquire the business of the intruder.
The heavy tread approached the in
ner Office, the door was opened, and
a man looked in.
Nichols saw him, and sprang to his
feet in astonishment.
captain Salesr' he calculated.
at can't be possible Come in! Come
right in nl''
The man entered, closing the door
behind him. III
1t was indeed captain Sales, of the
ship Cyclone-the same man who had
so inhumanly set David Lester adrift
in the South Pacific, in the very teeth,
as he had supposed, of terrific tenn
pest. Iw
The two men-fitting companions
shook hands heartily. o
"When did you arrive, Captain 2"
demanded Nichols. proffering chair.
"This is surprise! l wasn't expec-
ting you this month p
Il suppose not" said Sales, seating
himself. Il ran into the Roads this
very morning, and cast anchor, not an
hour ago. l concluded you didn't see
me, since you didn't come of. We
had a gale all the way home that
blew US right along. Never made
better voyage out and In"
Nichols went to closet cupboard,
and brought out a bottle of brandy
aud tumbler.
"Have drink" he said, filling the
glass. allow about your trading
business Seems to me you didn't
stay long enough to do we'll"
"Well, | havn't done so well as
usual, Colonel, that's fact" replied
Sales, between swallows of liquor.
@But I've something of more impor-
tance to you than thousand dollars
more or less, Colonel
"And what is that" demanded Mich
OILS.
Sales tossed off the remainder of the
brandy, and set the glass down heayi-
ly as he responded;
ats a piece of news that will come
hard to you, Colonel. David Lester
is alive"
"Aliver'
Nichols reeled as if bullet had
entered his heart. His complexion
turned livid.
"Aliver' he repeated, in a shrill,
cutting whisper. aHe has come back?
He is in Norfolk"
He looked around him wildly, as if
seeking an avenue of escape.
"No, Colonel, he is not here. He
boarded US just after calm in the
South Pacific. l saw him face to
face, heard him tell how the vessel he
went out in had been lost in cyclone,
AID how he alone remained alive to
tell the tale"
aAnd you brought him back 7" cried
Nichols, in that shrill, incisive whis-
per, putting his livid, scared face close
to that of Sales, and fairly startling
the latter by the glance of evil mean
ing that shot from his bloodshot eyes.
"You let him ive-you, who will lose
by his life and gain by his death (