Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-07-29
CHAPTER XIV.
IN PRISON.

KY Juu came 10 the conclusion
that the man who gave him such a
pumme!ing in the dark must be Mr..
Mason.
How he came to think Mr.. Mason
was In Woodstock at the Tine of the
midnight assault he could not himself
have told.
But the ugly old man had the grudge
laid up and had determined to make
some one pay the penalty. Conse-
quently on coming to the conclusion
that the letter which he stole from the
table of Mr.. Boyd was likely written
by Nellie Reming ton, he set out to find
her and discover his enemy.
BY mountaineering Richard Mar
THIN the street, whom nc instantly
recognized, he logged him and Henry
Mason into the hotel and there heard
oil chat passed between the two
Tine wild idea siezed him that IIenT:
Mason was his assailant, IN spite IF
the fact that he had never seen the
man in the village.
eff he didn't do it, don't believe
ever shall find out who did," he grum.
bled to himself, land so III make sure
somebody gets in trouble for it,"
lie followed Henry Mason to Bel
mont, tracked him to the factory, and
hung about all day.
He did not dare venture into the
Office, and thus by giving his suspected
enemy latitude, he lost track Of him.
The junior Mason had been gone
some time when, hanging about outside
the office, Judson saw the senior Ma
son enter it.
He put his ear to the door and list
ened to hear the voice of his presumed
But he could distinguish two voices
only, neither of which seemed to be
that of young Henry Mason.
He did, however, hear high words.
Eager to hear them distinctly, he
turned the knob, and opened the door
Gle is rascally thief, Mr.. Valen-
tine" was the first utterance he
heard. "Were l not aware of his
former strange proceedings, l should,
possibly, have suspected that you had
been tampering with the books, but
such know is not the case. l recog-
nize Henry's hand in the whole trans
action. He has tricked me before, and
forgave and forgot. This time shall
do neither. He shall be punished. Oh,
that only had some one here to direct
me to his present abode, I'd soon have
him brought up with . round turn.
Do you not know where he lives?"
81 do not, sir" the old book keeper
had replied, with q ready lie.
"I'd give $25 for the information"
exclaimed the head of the firm.
Then Ugly Jud. had pushed open the
door and boldly entered.
81 can show you just where to find
Mr.. Mason any time you want him, !"
And by midnight the unhappy young
partner of the Belmont factory firm
The first day Of Ii his Imprisonment Prise
visited him, but, on the second day. day,
while he was plunged in the depths Of
despair, the door Of his cell opened and
the jailer entered accompanied by .
lady in sober black, whose face was
concealed by heavy veil.
"a lady to see you. sir" said the
jailer, and Immediately retired.
As soon as the jailer was gone, the
lady raised her veil and disclosed the
pale features of Mrs. Henry Mason,
Jr.
"Nellie /" exclaimed the bowed man
huskily, II did not expect to see
"No," replied the worse than wild.
owed woman, u judge that you have
scarcely anticipated . visit from me.
But have come alone to see you that
l might ask you . few questions which
l demand that you answer truthfully
or l shall never look upon your face
'Don't speak like that, Nellie-don't
speak like that" moaned the man.
But she paid no attention to his grief,
and went ON, in . cold, pitiless tone.
Henry Mason, desire to know il
You stole the money from the man who
adopted you-who took you from the
gutter-I desire to know if you stole
that money for the sake of putting on
an appearance of wealth, which you
did not possess, that you might gain
my consent to marry you. Did you
think me SO base IS to sell myself to
you for few dollars?"
ION my soul, did inot!" exclaimed
Henry Mason, vehemently,, raising
himself on his low cot and seeking her
face.
th :Mn Sy;,a ss;gP, did you steal your ia
'Because-bscause l had gambled
away my own and was hard pressed. -
,"H you loved me, IS you claim you
do, why did you not wait until you
could retrieve your fortune by honest
toil?''
"Because feared-I feared'' Che a.
most Kissed the words) "you might
Ct away ~ from rom me- ~, and that would have
"Pshaw-follyl Henry Mason il
you really loved, you would rather
have died than bring shame and dis
grace upon me, both Of which you have
done. You saw that craved money,
and. while you dared not offer me in.
suit because Of the high recommenda-
time believed that l thought nothing
Of womanhood, but everything Of
wealth. While you were not altogether
wrong Is to my motive in marrying
you, you drew an inference which I
can now see to be An insult to my wo-
manhood. Know, then, that Ihaye
cast aside everything which belongs
to you. and that am now with nv
parents, for whom shall work until
die. Not one dollars worth of your
lii-gotten wealth is now in my posses.
SON. and with the disappesrance of
tnat which belongs to you so disap.
e penrs, IKE ;t ncrrid phantom, all my
I'M Inc prisoner sprsng to sitting pos.
What do you meanp" he cried.
~ mean. sir, that this is the last
time eve. We shall meet. There is reason
20 oelieve thst Mr.: Mason will deal
gently as he can with you now that his
temper has cooled, but, whatever the the
result Of the trial, we can never again
i've und T the same roof"
Henry Msson's face turned whittier
"Oh, God I" he gro.ned, ".m to
suffer SO! NellieeNellie. YOU do not
k knoT what you are doing-you are
,.Heart!' exclaimed his wife, with
oltterness-'.heart! Yes, you have
Say no more, I beg!" cried tho
prisoner. 81 cannot listen. An, how
bitter you are, and love Won go.
lie rose from his couch and fell
rovelling, at her feet, clutching the
h mem OF her dress in his trembling
Nellie, darling. sne.k Int ora hind