Richland beacon., 1880-08-21

had all the swaS. All the Captain want
ed for his share was the girl and, while
We were gathering up the articles, he
took her in his arms and walked of.
And where is she now? will give
any amount-my whole fortune-to have
her restored to mel"
"None of us knew where he took her
until tonight. He sent for me to come
and fetch you to him..
"Let us not lose moment, then, the
banker exclaimed, eagerly. 81 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
swercd, 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, look Of almost fiendish tri-
umph lighted mp his face, and he al
| vanced 10 the banker.
"Monsieur Laurin," he said, in cold,
measured tones, "do you recognize me?"
The banker started back, with an ex-
preston of dismay.
"Paul Favarge !! he gasped.
YES" the other answered. paul
Favarge-the clerk, who, to further your
own grasping aims, you consigned to q
fate worse than death, and who swore to
be revenged. The time has come. I
will restore your daughter to you. but it
is upon one condition, and one alone
II you refuse, you and she both die !"
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 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 visible
on the bankers face, but he was silent.
"If you do not decide before I have
counted three you die"
Still the banker was silent
"One-two@"
eyes" the banker almost shrieked,
IL confess it all. You were innocent,
and 1 the guilty one. Are you not sat-
isfied now with your revenge? If you
have any human pity left, let me see my
daughter"
II have none," the other answered,
"but you shall have your wish"
He drew aside the dingy curtain Is he
spoke, and the banker saw pallid form
lying upon q narrow pallet, but 60
wasted and attenuated that in the feat
ures he could hardly recognize those Of
his daughter.
"My God |" he walled, "she is dead.
"Yes, she is dead" the other an.
swered, in the same fiendishly dispas.
sionate tone. "Would you know how
, she met her death9 Upon your soul ID
, the sin, for it was you who made me the
fiend am. She starved to death"
. The unhappy father sank upon the
, floor rs if struck by bullet. "Let YOU
, revenge he complete, and kill me also,
l he walled.
I "No." the other answered With
3 fiendish laugh; "it il I who die. My
+ vengeance would not be complete Il you
1 did not live. Officer" he sdded, turn
ing to the detective, "this man is by hi
: own confession your prisoner; ares
him. My band know of my resolve, and
8 have arranged it all. My mission OF
earth is accomplished now, and life is I'm