Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-06-14
room, ham wild with the dread which

weighed so heavily upon her.
She could stand it no longer. Better
to know the worst, if the worst must
come; but there was another struggle
going on in Mignon's breast. People
had called her Gree when she had hated
her own charms and disdained to use
them; but now, wild thoughts of befool-
ing Varick fioated through her brain.
If she could make him think she was
hesitating, yielding-if she could make
him Uait-surely. surely, there were
episodes in that dark life of his which
might be turned to account to rid her
of this implacable foe.
Yet when she stood face to face with
him that day, her heart sank; one fash
OF his masterful eyes. and it seemed to
her that he must read her t1imsy pur-
pose through and through. She had
not a smile to offer toward the consum-
nation of that purpose. and no thought
of jealousy stirred in Rodney's mind.
He thought she was bored by his part
ner's presence, and took the burden of
the conversation upon himself. 1t
turned, as it generally does turn between
men, into business channels They
were discussing the ACCESSIBILITY of
had been offered them. l.--.
1--WE would have to call in all our
temporary loans," said Tendyke, '.and
it would lock up our capital for years,
but it is a safe investment, and better
to my mind than hazarding the same
amount in more risky enterprises"
"You see, Mignon," put in her hus-
band, "Tendyke is even more careful
than | am regarding risks. My wife
has none of the progressive spirit of the
age. I'm afraid, and she approves the
steady gait we have been going
so you keep yourself posted regard
ing the affairs of the bank, Mrs.
France?" asked Tendyke, smilingly.
'Yes," she answered, and there was
a defiance which he understood in the
quiet words. Il have a sort of pre-
sentiment that it is an unlucky venture
for us, and 1 want to be prepared for
the crash when it comes" IS
"Lucky that l don't believe in pre-
laughed Rodney. mig
non has it settled that l am fore
doomed to be taken over the
head with billy, and pitched out
that back window of the bank
into the river. l try to convince her
that You are the one in danger, sleeping
in the building as you do. 1t might be
more burglar-poof than it is. but have
in the strength of the vault to
withstand any attacks which may be
made on it,
Mignon, watching him furtively, saw
a sudden CLEAN cross the face of her
enemy, whether fierce or hooking she
could not tell. She was watching for
an opportunity of speaking to him
alone, but it did not come. Tendyke
rose to 90 early, and Rodney, discover
ing that he had an errand on the street,
went out with him; but two minutes
afterward the parlor door opened and
the former reappeared.
Ibid l leave my memorandum book,
Mrs. France ?-your husband was look
ing at it. Now, Mignon, be quick with
what you want to say" in dropping
voice, as he crossed the room to her
side.
not at home. l dare not awake his
suspicious by going to you Oh, Varick;
think even you would pity me if you
1t was not the way she had meant to
effective than any art she could have
used. He could not fancy any very
powerful resistance from the dropping
girl, whose deep, sad eyes fell away
from him with such a hopeless look.
"She won't peach to France--the one
thing was afraid Of he said to him
self. Aloud: s.Wait. This business of
calling in our funds will keep us both
busy for the next four weeks. Don't
bring ruin down on your head sooner
han necessary, Belle June. 1t will
come soon enough of ITSELF
She did not at all understand the
hooking smile which accompanied his
words. She started up and laid her
hand on his arm to detain him.
"Varick, will nothing tempt you to
spare us? Think well before you re-
iuse-nothing at all? l am too desper-
ate to scruple at anything less-less-
han what you ask"
A hot tide started in the mans veins, !
20 chill again under the solemnly earn |
est look on her uplifted face. With a
reiterated Watt he broke away from |
ler light touch.
"Confound it air. he muttered to |
iihlSClA- eiiouSShe lo1 " sCSOHu CussG |
she was flinging herself straight at me;
out whatever she meant, it wasn't that. |
And I'm glad of it, he added. with
,ut that Internal pride of hers, La June
be prize worth winning
The next instant Mignon heard him |
peaking on the verandah.
Found it in another pocket after
giving Mrs. France any amount of
bother. Didn't know / was so careless |
n my habits as all that" and shud-
Ter ran over her as she sank down and |
buried her face in her hands.
CHAPTER v.
THE TRAGEDY.
Two weeks went by.
1t was a wet winter night, quite dark
It five o'clock, with the sleety rain
reezing as it fell until the cobble-stone
'avements of the little town held ver-
table man-trap in every round and hol-
ow; but John Tendyke, returning to his
DOM after his six o'clock dinner, trod
he slippery way in safety, and looked