The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-27


CHAPTER XIII.
"T wouldn't speak evil Of a Hebe like
that, if I knew her to be common
bawd; much less would denounce her
were she my welded Wife" exclaimed
the senior Snowden with a show Of
real feeling in his looks as well as his
words.
go, daddy; darn it all. Don't be SEN
timental; we've no time to exult over
the fascinations Of the dragon now.
Women are a lot Of devils, anyhow,
come to torment US and make our lives
desperate"
"LOnzol 'Louzo"
"Tut-tut! You needn't demonstrate,
old man. All the real trouble I've ever
had in my life has been because woman
was at the bottom Of it,"
"My son, if you speak another word
against your wife or mother in my pres
ence, I'll turn you over to the authori-
ties Of the law"
AlOnzo gave vent to another Of those
sinister smiles that his father, as well
as every one else who knew him we'll,
bad learned to look upon with either
dread or disgust.
YOU'RE a pretty specimen Of undying
fealty to the fair sex, old man. Haven't
you complained to me Of my mother
ever since 1 was old enough to be taken
into your confidence at all? Haven't
you always said that all your troubles
and failures in business were caused by
her extravaganza and tyranny ?"
The senior Snowden hung his head.
81 may have been, and doubtless was
unjust, my son; and yet, know your
mother has not been the friend to me
that she could have been.u
"Neither has she been the friend to
me that she should have been, else we
could have wormed our way out OF this
difficulty and the danger that menaces
us now"
"There's no use in repining or fault
finding now, my son. Something must
be done, aud verify the situation is des-
perate. Why didn't you tell me about
your last crime ?''
"Crime, father?'
a note FOR thousand dollars; a
note Of which I knew nothing
till yesterday. You forged my name,
too; and Jared has purchased the pa
perm
go, fatherr'
Alouzo did not smile now; but instead,
a livid pallor overspread his face, and
his lips quivered.
"What did you do with that money,
sir?" was the fathers stern reply.
81 lost it," replied the sou, desper.
ately.
"But ho10 :"
AT play"
"There is no hope for you, then. Your
wife means business, sir. Time was
when women unquestioningly kept the
place assigned them by God and ma
ture. Then they never interfered with
the affairs Of men. But now their noses
must needs be thrust into the financial
dish Of every unlucky husband, and so
the devil is 10 pay"
"Who's abusing women now, old
man p"
"Hush, you dog.
"Old man, you're crazy"
Father and son glared at each other
in their fierce anger, while examinations
and reeriminations were exchanged
with constantly increasing fury.
In their desperation they did not OBJ
serve the approach OF a listener. The
senior Snowden grasped a revolver and
leveled it at his son. The son shrank
covering into a corner.
"If am crazy, you, sir, are to blame
and you shall pay the forfeitu' he ex
claimed, in a voice husky with rage.
Husband would you commit mur
der ?" cried Mrs. Snowden senior, fo
she it was who had been an undiscov
cred listener to their entire converse
tion.
Husband and son drew back appalled,
A1fN uNalu all ehlu MIss Cuuh
den, calmly. "And now, suppose tba
/ know the worst. Your father com
mitted a felony from which he ouI,
saved himself by wronging my daugh
ter, Grace. Aud now, Alouzo has com
mitted another felony, from which hi
father is not able to rescue him. 1 hav,
heard it all. know that I am accuse,
of being the avenging Nemesis who ha
wrought your ruin. But l will steel M
heart TO bear accusations. Let it pass
Only rely on Grace aud me, and we vi
save you"
"But Grace will not assist you, Mrs
Snowdenm exclaimed the senior, sud
denly recovering his equanimity and re
placing the revolver in the safe where i
had lain before he drew it upon his son
"Grace will do right, though th
heavens fall" was the decisive answer
"Father, / don't see that we can d,
ls-ter than TO place ourselves in th
Romen's hands. There's no other al
tentative" said Alonzo, and again tha
sinister smile came back, exhibitin,