The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-25
CHAPTER III.
RODNEY's PARTNER.
What can he dos"

Nv hat can he dO9
1t was the question which NIignon
had asked herself over and again since
Narick' visit to the cottage. She knew
him of old as a relentless enemv-a
subtle. unprincipled. malignant man.
who could veil his deepest hatred under
false smile, and strike his bitterest
blow when when he had lulled his vic
tim into fancied security. How foolish
of her to fancy that if if she once broke
his chain he would let her 90.
He would not marry me when he
could" she thought, angrily. "Why
should he care?'
All. she knew why well enough. As
La June she had been worth more
money to him than his wife could
have been. He had made her feel that
when the scales fell from her eyes and
she had futilely resisted him. Her
father had been on his side. too. AL
ways gambler. Tredegar Almont had
never reaped the rich results of his pro-
fesSion until he became associated with
Varick; and he was not apt to give
these up for the foolish fancies of his
daughter.
Not sing there?" he would say when
she tried to appeal to him. Non
sense, my dear. You are as secure
from all insult as You would be in the
Governors parlor, with your father and
Your future husband both at hand to
protect YOU. Its only choice between
going there ard having Varick and his
friends here to entertain
What wonder that she thought men
hard and merciless9 What wonder
that. when Rodney France came, with
out questioning, and proposed an elope-
ment two weeks from the day when he
met her first. she should fly to the ills
which she knew not of from such as sur
rounded her?
And now the brief peace she had
known was broken. The serpent had
reared its ugly head amid her roses;
it could be Paradise to her no more.
Rodney was away much of the time,
now. He was anxious to launch him.
self on the sea of business life As speed
ily as possible.
Il think have found the very thing
| want, said he, coming back from the
city week after that incident by the
river. I've the chance OF partner
ship with a man who impresses me most
favorablv. though met him TO-DAY for
the second time. A returned Califor-
MAN. who looks more 10 business capac-
ity than capital fromhis associate. He
wants to start savings bank in River
ton. hundred miles north of here.
which busy little town offers an open
ing for such an institution. He saws
there are immense fortunes to be built
up in the Western mines, but there are
immense risks 20 be taken: and for his
part he prefers to 90 slow, with certain,
though moderate. success ahead
'.Oh. Rodney, don't speculate, what
ever else you dor
MY dearest. there's some sort of
speculation in every new enterprise a
man undertakes. But don't fear; I'm
as much opposed to illegitimate ventures
As you can be. ;"
Rodney had burnt his fingers in gold
gambling before he came of age. He
had begun with different sort of gam
bling. had won, and had carried his
winnings into the gold room. to have
them slip. Ike magic, from his grasp.
1t was this operation, coming to his
GUARDIANS ears which had caused the
after to delay the transfer of his funds
when Rodney came of age; done, of
course, with the young mans full con-
sent
They were walking under the trees
which surrounded the cottage, the sum
iet light pouring in rosy food over the
Gene Approaching upon the turf
which deadened his footsteps, came a