The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-12-08

OrdlQ.
Mr.. Alfred Devries was leisurely el
joying his after-dinner cigar in the lit
octagonal smoking-room, so prettily VI
holstered in green leather and blac
walnut, with carpet of soft grass-gree
and golden-brown. and silk curtains {
the same shade of green, with ban
of golden-brown at the margin. and th
paper of cool grey ground with narro'
stripes of green and gold at wide intel
walls.
Mr.. DeVries was deep in thought, an
not particularly pleasant thought if on
might Judge by the expression of hi
face. Handsome and attractive As MI
Devries was universally conceded to be
there was an expression on his coun
tenance just at this time that made it al
solntely repeilant- expression G
avarice, hatred, craft, and bitter. cruel
relentless determination. He starte,
when the door opened. as if the win
dows to his soul had been let down I'm
aware. and he feared some one nigh
get a glimpse therein.
"Ah. Moutford." he said. carelesslv
passing his hand over his face an,
yawnlng. "happy to have your compa
ny. though I believe l was asleep whel
you opened the door, 49,
"Well, you can 60 to sleep again j
you wish. after you have given me tn,
key TO the office room-yonr KEY"
''What do you want of it?" DeVr.e
asked, sharply.
ITO oren the door-what do you
tnink?"
"Yes, but wha. do you want to oper
the door for?'' he persisted.
TO go in, you foolr' Montford
cried. angry. Il would like to know
whose house this is, sir?''
Il should like 10 know whose II
would have been If il had not been for
me?-or rather the money, it represents
not yours. Gilbert Moptford, very
plainly" was the tauntih9 reply. "
Look here, Alf.u Montford said.
coming close to him. "that is an old
joke ofyours. and it is getting stale.
have got tired of it, and I think YOU
must be. I've got a pretty decent
memory, if | am not so devil sh bright
as you are, and l remember that you
came to me frst-you offered to do the
work You throw in my teeth. now, and
have done hundred times since Won
begged the job-aye, begged itr'
lyon were very willing TO give il t.
me, if remember" sneered DeVries.
"Yes, after you tempted me. You
know never should have thought of il
You know Just how shrewdly YOU laid
the bait, counting on my necessities to
help you-ah, you are clever. ALI, SO
clever! but please don't remind me of it
too often. Ireckon YOU We made good
enough tn 'ng out of i'll do. Now
want that key. I'm not gong to be
shut out % any room i'm this house; I'll
have dozen keys made to the lock. if
there's no other way"
Il will 60 up with you." Deyr:es
said. rising. - s-.-.-
Il am not gong now. want the
key so l can go when / please was
the dogged answer, land l wW have
it."
Il know very well whose work this
"Alf DeVries," interrupted Mont
ford, a passionate fire lighting his dull.
blue eyes, :. l tell you that want that
KEY! Give it to me, or in less than an
hour | VIII have a man here to take off
The locks from both doors-mind We.
from both"
With a muttered oath DeVries drew
he key from an inner brea>t pocket
md tos ed il toward him. As he did 50
fell TO the floor with dull
ing. He stopped hastily to recover it,
out not until Montford saw what it was.
md exclaimed:
MY lost key. And you tried to
make me believe she had it. You hypo-
,rite, you-you sneak, YOU"
A sudden hand was placed over his
mouth.
"SiIence, you fool, if you don't want
ne to throttle you-' DeVries said, in a
ow, intense voice.
There was something in his glittering,
eyes and ploodless face
hat frightened all the buster out of
Gilbert Montford in one instant. and
eft him weak and trembling. He
dipped out from under his hand and
Sunk out of the room.
III wonder if he looked like that
he stopped abruptly,
md looked about him with faint shud-
Ter. But, nonsense, what makes me
imagine such stuffs'' he added. quick
y. - He fell overheard, of course he
lid, didn't DeVries always say so? l
wish l didn't have such silly fame es-I
ion't know but l an a fool" with
which comforting doubt he proceeded
20 the library.
Stella Blake rose eagerly when he
opened the door, but she took no step
oward him, neither did she speak. but
Ter whole face and attitude were in
tinct with eager, tremulous. passionate
lope- How beautiful she was with the
'ich blood wavering in ner clear cheeks,
Ter eyes glowing like yelled stars, her
BOSOM rising and falling with wild, fierce
He came toward her, his
hull, ford face lighted with sudden
.ager. passionate admiration.
She shrank back with an instructive
hiyer OF disgust, but he did not notice
I. He saw only the rich, bright beauty
Of the girl
Stella" he said. putt ing his arm
bout her-still not noticing tine instinc-
i've reco:l-'.I have had hard fight to
ret it for you, and now you must pay
ne for it, or won't let you have i'll
wear l won'tr'
PAY YOU? What - what do Won
nean? She fa'tered, growing pale.
Il don't mean anything so very
readful, little Stella nothing but kiss
rom those pretty lips" he said. with
mother admiring look.
Stella's forehead was ike fame, as,
fter an instant of hesitat on, she touched
er lips lightly to his cheek. and
red to slip away from him. but he held
er fast.
No. no. he cried ..that is not
noughr' and STOPPING over her kissed
er half dozen times on lip and
heck.
The girl was white as death now, and
rembled so she could hardly stand.