The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-10-01

l first discovered the remarkable secret
that has so puzzled and thwarted and
baff1ed man for centuries, I confided to
my daughter Esther's keeping a lump
of gold like the one which you now see,
regularly each day. NV aim has been
to accumulate the sum of fifty thousand
dollars. Tonight asked her for the
gold, knowing, by calculation, that l
had at least made the desired amount.
Her reply was. that it had been dis
posed of in q manner such as she could
not explain to me-. Do you understand
,sow why 1 have turned this deceitful
thief from my doors?'
"She may have lost it." faltered;''
cor perhaps it may have been stolen
by others from her keeping"
81 forced her to acknowledge that
neither such cause was the real one.
She has disposed of the money-so
much compelled her to tell me, and
more do not care to learn. The pur-
pose with which have labored so un-
tiringly during the past five years has
been utterly thwarted and nullihed by
one whom trusted with the sincerest
faith!''
"It is all very strange and bewilder-
ing" l said; 1.-THE fact of your having
made this gold seems almost like some
incident Of q fairy tale. think, sir,
Crowded you do not object) will
again visit this apartment after hav-
ing spoken with your daughter. There
may be some means of recovering this
money"
cit is recoverable at least, she
told me-" A ring Of intense sadness
accompanied the old mans words. He
bent over the great crucible from which
faint, blush smoke was rising, and re-
manned in this STOPPING posture for
several moments. Then, suddenly
turning toward me, he spoke again with
a countenance that expressed the fierc-
est determination-the strongest power
of will in every one of its shriveled
ineaments: .as
''But I will collect the gold once
more-the fifty thousand dollars-be-
fore I die! l am not to be baff1ed thus
by a miserable, thieving girl. l will
work night and day, as have begun
now to work, until my lost fortune is
restored. You may tell her this; and
tell her. also, never to darken these
doors with her presence againr'
A fierceness sounded in his tones that
I now heard for the first time. Sad
dened and bewilGered, I slowly turned
and left the apartment. On going up
stairs to my own, l found Esther Dillon
awake, seated in an attitude of extreme
detection upon the lounge.
81 have been visiting your father"
I said. simply, and with touch of
sternness in my voice. HE has told
me his reason for behaving toward you
as he has done.'
She started at my words, and her ex-
quisite, truthful eyes sought my face
eagerly.
aP6ysiognomy is all q lie," mental
~ remarked, just then. "This deceit
full, dishonest girl has the face of an
angel"
treating me with such crueltyr' Esther
Dillon said, TREMENDOUSLY. Then, after
several moments of reflection, she went
on: You are more courageous than 1
am. I see courage in your face. You
could tell him, perhaps; l dare not"
"What can you possibly mean?" I
asked. "That you have hidden this
gold somewhere? That
"No, no. Listen. l mean that my
father ,sever made gold. When l saw
that he was running both brain and
body, five years ago, in trying to dis
cover an impossible art, 1 managed,
with great difficulty, to hoard enough
money from my savings to buy the
lump of gold which he possibly showed
you tonight. Each day I dropped it
into the crucible. It has saved his life
thus far, for he was dying when my
scheme was first thought Of. He be-
lieves himself maker of gold. Until
tonight, when he asked me for his i'm
aginary savings, he believed himself
the possessor of q gradual increasing
fortune. l have not dared to reveal the
truth, fearing its effect upon his en-
feebled brain. God knows how I have
suffered, dreading this day-the day
when he would require of me what he
has for five years imagined that he was
constantly committing to my charge.
Have you the courage to tell him all?
Heaven help me, have notr'
Almost before she finished speaking,
I had hurried forward, and thrown my
arms about her neck.
"Noble girl!'' murmured, kissing
her pale forehead, fondly. f" Forgive
me for even q moment thinking you
guilty! Yes, I will break the truth to
your father. Remain here while l 90
and do so. 1t is better that
he should know at Oncan