Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-26

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ole for himself and one Eor his private
secretary. But since; the evening men
stiHned in the lass chapter il was MT, 70
De found Mr.. Montftrd distinctly re-
menibered having lett IL in his dressing
gown pocket when. he went down TO
supper. He had not thought of 1t again
until some time the next day, and then II
was not TO be found. if9afa lRHnhh 9i1
"What object could any Of us have for
taking the key 10 that nltasty cid place =
Victor asked, a., his father ifretted and
stormed over It, and declared some one
had stolen the missing article 80 ~
Sure enough-what object ?"De Vries
responded, in a careless tone, just lifting
his eyes to Stella Blake's face, and drop
ping them again hastily, as if the glance
had been involuntary, and he was sorry
for it. Hds liedl agtap l8fIsod "a f
1t had the result Of fixing every other
pair of eyes ia the room on her, as he
possibly might have intended. tor he still
watched her from under his lowered lids,
and saw as distinctly as the others the
vivid red flame in her cheekR ,f,ssa II
+" Alfred" Miss ,Montford said, touching
his arm as he was going out, wait q mo-
ment, want to speak with YOU There
was no one, but Fannie lett in the room
beside them, and SO Althea began at
once. , e.t....4slt ,,.aff3,. s.sl.i
II want you to speak TO papa about
this girl. am as sure she took that key
as if I saw her do it, and !, for one, do not
feel safe to have such, q person in the
house."
why, Althea," interposed Fannie,
what have we to fear, even If she has
taken the keyY We've no skeleton lock
ed up there that am aware Of always
thought it a piece Of careful folly locking
the doors at all. What is there among those
old family records that is private ~ tii'
De Vries looked up stealthily. There
was q look on Althea's face which startled
him. Was it possible that she knew or
suspected anything But Fannie, at
least, did not She only looked family
surprised, and perhaps just little an
noyed. 'Lr tI lnh q 195 Z" ldr
Miss Fannie forgets that all her faith.
er's valuable papers are there, as well as
the 'old records she mentions" he said,
politely. as i4 tt.t d.1He
Z I" But what object could she have In
holding the key to them Even if she
purloined them she could not negotiate
them; what use would they ~ she per-
sisted. H h. 4t .sf7.
If You wish strangers to lay their van
dial hands on our ancestral relics and an
cient records, do not" Althea said, firm
~; land you will do me a favor not to
interpose your ridiculous charity in the
matter at all Mr.. De Vries, l think per-
haps this would be q good time to speak to
papa. I think his mighty faith was shaken
. little by that guilty red that dyed her
face. l will leave 1t to you to manage"
Thank you for your confidence, but
convictions may be as to its advisabilty
However. ! will do the best can, " and
taking bis hat from the table he went out,
looking little regretful, as if his tender
heart was pleading against his stern sense
of duty to the interests of his friends.
But once outside a sudden change flashed
over his face. A faint, ,txultant smile
fickered and died on his lips, and curl
GUS yellow CLEAN famed in his eyes.
Mr.. Monttord was In his smoking room
when the door opened and his private sec.
rotary sauntered carelessly In, giving q
little start Of surprise at fading him there.
as much, in fact, as If he had not watched
for half an hour to see him go in there.
I'm rather glad have stumbled upon
you, MOntford," he said, taking out his
cigar case "There's little ma tier l
thought perhaps it was my duty to men
ton o you, as the lads father / don't
suppose you have noticed ity" fsa
Noticed whaty wish DeVries, when
you talk to me you would cOndescend To
say what you mean," he answered, i'm
patiently. "There Is nothing to be
made out Of me by putting on AIRS, and l
don't SEE why you should do It," 10 .t5ift
F" Victor, your promising heir, 10 getting
very much in love with your pretty wait
ing-maid, Miss Stella Blake; is that suf-
ficiently plain TO your comprehension ?"
81 don't believe it!' he answered,
bluntly. ~ BIZ .la.a, .3.{l sd +
b. ".Whyp Isn't she pretty and fascinat-
ing, and all that, and isn't Victor at just
the right age to be bsgulled by a pretty
face, with clever brain back of it? If
he was as old as you or l, and could un.
derstand how deep and clever an intrigue
ing woman can. be, while seeming the
model Of simplicity, as easily as we can
why, Of course he would not be in SO
mucn danger perhaps none"
. !, don't believe a word OF II, and III
ask them, and prove that | am right" he
said, starting up. .,,.-g'{.,...
But this did not suit Mr.. DeVries'
plans-indeed !. might ruin them alto.
gether.
"Stop; listen to reason, Montford," he
said, laying his hand on his arm. "You
should know women better than to fancy
she would admit it, particularly II she
should surmise there was to be opposition
on your part. Perhaps-I hardly think
1t ID, more than fancy, SORT OF bewltch
ment on his part, as yet. Don't you see,
II she should 60 away where he would
not see her, that he would soon forget his
boyish passiOn!"
10! ah! ahi I zee nov. Well, Mr..
Alfred DeVries, II you aren't q clever one
ha ha. l can't help admiring you'll
can't for the life of me-" and Montford
laughed lmmodefAtely. ~ .H8
y Theycllow CLEANS In DeVries' eyes shot
out curious littls scintillations, and dull
red burned IN his swarthy cheek. an
"Take care, Gilbert Montfori r. he
said, in . low intense whisper. "YOu
may have an opportunity for sdmiring
my cleverneas in new light" aIasIai
30, you threaten, do yOaY, Suppose l
should threaten, too, what theni i guess