The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-08-13

ed for his share was the girl and, while
we we're gathering up the articles, he
took her in his arms and walked of.
"And where is she now? / Twill give
any amount-my whole fortune-to have
her restored to me
"None Of us knew where he took her
until tonight. He sent for me to come
and fetch you to him. Z
"Let us not lose moment, then" the
banker exclaimed. eagerly. II am
ready this instant"
The detective came from his hiding
place behind the curtain.
II will accompany you," he said.
"Ah ! /" said the man, coolly survey
ing him, you're detective. But it
don't matter. The Captain said he
wasn't particular if the whole force
came.
LEAD the way, then. We are ready"
the officer answered
The man led the way out Of the house
and along the streets for distance Of
nearly half mile, until at length they
reached one Of the lowest quarters Of
the town, down by the river. Knocking
at the door Of an old, half-ruinous house,
whose rear windows overlooked the
stream, the guide gave some password
to an old woman who answered the door,
and then led the way up several flights
Of stairs, that creaked and groaned at
every step, as if they would fall beneath
their feet. Arrived at the top floor, the
man knocked three times on door at
the head Of the stairway. A voice an
swered, bidding them enter, and, doing
SO. they found themselves in a small,
low-ceilinged room, one corner of which
was partitioned off by dingy curtain,
and before the fireless CRATE man was
standing with folded arms. As they
entered, o look of almost iiendish tri-
umph lighted up his face, and he ad
vanced to the banker.
Monsieur Laurin, he said, in cold,
measured tones, edo you recognize meP
The banker started back, with an ex-
preston Of dismay.
paul Favarge he gasped,
Eyes" the other answered, Paul
Favarge-the clerk, who, to further your
own grasping aims, you consigned to .
fate worse than death, and who swore to
be revenged. The time has come. !
will restore your daughter to you, but it
is upon one condition, and one alone.
If you refuse, you and she both die Z
He waved his hand as he spoke, and,
before they were aware Of it, man
stood, one on each side of the banker
and the detective, with a pistol leveled
at their heads.
"You see you are in my power, said
the other. "The condition that I re.
quire of you is that you confess you
fabricated the story that sent me to the
galleys, that you might secure the money
yourself" !"
An agony OF irresolution was visibl,
on the bankers face, but he was silent
"If you do not decide before l hay'
counted three you die.
Still the banker was silent.
One-two-"
eyes" the banker almost shrieked
IT confess it all. You were innocent
and the guilty one. Are you not sat
isfied now with your revenge? If yo
! have any human pity left, let me see m
daughter"
II have none" the other answered
. "but you shall have your wish.
/, He drew aside the dingy curtain as h
spoke, and the banker saw pallid forr
! lying upon narrow pallet, but 8
n wasted and attenuated that in the feai
4 ures he could hardly recognize those {
S his daughter.
my God r. he walled, "she is dead.
: Eyes, she is Dead" the other al
n swered, in the same fiendishly dispal
sionate tone. "Would you know no
9 she met her death9 Upon your soul
e the sin, for it was you who made me Il
+ fiend / am. She starved to death. :
r The unhappy father sank upon Il
e floor rs if struck by bullet. "Let yol
Ie revenge be complete, and kill me also
h he walled.
d "No," the other answered with
le fendish laugh; cit is I who die. N
sr vengeance would not be complete if "
d did not live. Officer" he added, tur
ing to the detective, " this man is by b
b. own confession your prisoner; arre
him. My band know Of my resolve, al
,s have arranged it all. My mission ,
earth is accomplished now, and life is u
10 endurable to me. !"