The Morning herald., 1878-11-27
CHAPTER XI.


CHAPTER XI
THE CONTENTS OF TOM BLACKS ENvELoPE--
CLARK KEEPS HIS pRoMIsE-HIs TERRIBLE
REVELATION.
Not till late the next morning was Cecil
alone in the most secluded part of the house
"a room on the top floor.
The strange incident of the burglars ad-
monition, and the daring of the man, were
of nature to call up all her widest i'm
aginings. -s-..--.-..,..,..---.
With trembling hands, she opened the
dirty envelope.
A smaller sealed envelope, and note,
were it's contents, the latter miserable
scrawl, and revealing woful lack of intel
ligence. 1t read: . a..r~ VI
keep up you're kurridge an don't be
shared Of Clark--evry dog has his day an
hisn will soon be out Burn this but keep
the other as it is., If you fnde out ennything,
don't let ennybuddy know it till You heer
from you're ~ 4 UNKNOWN FRIEND"
No address. Yet evidence that it was
certainly meant for herself because OF the
mention of her enemy's name. -i'.
How surprised would Jared Clark have
been, could he have read those lines. The
defenseless, weak girl. seemed to have found
q champion at the beginning Of the battle.
But would professional thief interest
himself? Was it trick? If not, how much
did he know, and whence came his knowl-
edge of her doings? ''-
She examined the other envelope.
Would it be wise to open 1t. in violation
of his request that she should not? Perhaps
it contained the magic Key that would un-
lock the long-kept secret. e. 10.
No; the midnight visitor had trusted her;
she would wait. ' a..
Clara Coles, frightened into extreme eau
ton by the loss she had been SO near sus-
tanning was in her chamber arranging Tor
the protection of her personal property
from further depreciation. -...
After concealing the sealed note, Cecil
ioined her for the purpose Of informing her
that Mr. Eldridge was to call to negotiate
for the purchase of property-what class
she did not state.
"But, my dear, your lawyer" said Clara,
her ewes twinkling. Doesn't he generally
attend to such affairs2"
I'D rather fix this myself" returned
Cecil. "Mr. Eldridge is so affable that l,
having this piece Of property to dispose OF,
proposed his calling to talk the matter over
Nv LAWYER is out of town, and could not,
were he at hand, dispose of it, as it is the
same I wished to persuade Mr.. Clark to take.
II ia an incubus of which he knows little.
Mr.. Clark would have bought it, but am
not going to hunt him up"
"What woman you are! said Clara.
''Dont let love get mixed with business,
Mrs. Burrill is looking jealously to Mr.. Ed
ridge for her second husband.
.sShe need have no fear OF me; shall die
an old maid. Go on with your work, Clara;
put away everything valuable, or, now that
| the burglars know the place, they may re-
turn with an accomplice from the police
force, to make sure of getting it.
"You have poor opinion of our city ex-
ecutives, my dear.
mismanaQers and maladminlstrators, VINO
corrupt and ruin? The least important
offices, when held by vicious men, can be
made instruments to drag down the highest,
and defeat justice, or vice-uersd.
"Where do you get such ideas FROM my
little philosopher?
From what I read in the newspapers.
Ia there not sufficient in single issue TO
convince the youngest school-boy, OF the
degradation of the city government
This discourse was interrupted by ring
at the hall bell ss' v wv,
It was the expected visitor.
! Cecil received him in the reception room,
leaving tho door ajar.
His genteel mannerisms were instan.tne-
ously trodden under by the impatient gl'l,
"Mr Clark, Eldridge, or whatever appel
latiye YOU this morning rejoice in, she SAID,
cuttingly, 'sdon't stand there smlrklng ana
smiling like Iago You must remember
Shakspere's epigrammatic line:
"A man may smile and smile.and be a villain
and 90 on with your story" =.
"You are losing your good breeding, MISS
Clayton" retorted Clark. "Your late Ia
She interrupted him with gesture.
"Please do not unnecessarily drag, into
1.-The conversation my fathers name" she
| said, haughtily. Sand let us understand
each other at the start I hold secret OF
vours-you hold facts of great value TO me.
One ia to be bartered for the other. For
YOU I have less respect than tor the most
wretched beggar-you are welcome mere ,:ce
, only because I did not wish to place my ine
in your hands by meeting you elsewhere.
, Therefore, do not waste. time IN actlng Inc
gentleman when you are in reality scoun-
drel, nor pretend friendship when you are
. filed with hatred"
Clark ensconced himself in the luxurious
-. 80 az, aoav chair replyinQ, - :