Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-04
CHAPTER xxII.-Corrrrrrn.

Ae<<t IffeoeGs A00tS6s StEss &tcS
CHAPTER XXII-CorrINuEp.
He went to his club, but the first
person who came to him was Mr.. Whit
tlestaff. Mr.. Whittlestaff, when he had
left the park, had determined never to
see John Gordon again, or to see him
only during that ceremony of the mar
rage, which it might be that he would
even vet escape. Ali that was still in
the distant future. Dim IDEAS as to
some means of avoiding it fitted
through his brain. But even though
he might see Gordon on that terrible
occasion, he need not speak to him.
And it would have to be done then. and
then only. But now another idea. GER
ta:nly very vague, had found its Way
into his mind, and with the object of
carrying it out. Mr.. Whittlestaf had
come to the club. ooh, MIR. Whittle-
staff. how do you do againP''
Il M much the same as I was be-
fore, thank you. There hasn't hap
pened anything to improve my health"
Il hope nothing may happen to in
jure it"
1t doesn't much matter. You said
something about some property you've
got in diamonds. and you said once that
YOU must go out to look after it.''
.But I'm not going now. I shall sell
my share in the mines. am going to
see Mr.. Tookey about it Immediate
~"
Cant you sell them to me?''
1.-THE diamond shares to you?''
"Why not to me? If the thing has
to be done at once, of course YOU and
must trust each other. suppose you
can trust me2n
Certainly l cam.
whether get what buy or not, it does
not much matter for me. But, in truth,
in such an affair as this would trust
you. Why should not 1 go in your
place.
IL don't think you are the man who
ought to go there's
II am too old? I'm not a cripple, if
you mean that. don't see why 1
shouldn't 60 to the amond-fields as
well as younger man."
1T is not about your age, Mr.. Whit
tlestatf; but 1 do not think you would
be happy there"
'.Happy. l do not know that my
state of bliss here is very great. If L
had bought your shares, as you call
them, and paid money for them, don't
see why my happiness need stand in the
way
staff
s.Well; 1 hope So"
..And of that kind that you would
have your eyes picked out of your
head before YOU had been there week.
Don't go. Take my word for it, that
life will be pleasanter to You here than
there, and that for you the venture
would be altogether dangerous Here is
Mr.. Tookey" At this point OF the
conversation Mr.. Tookey entered the
hail door, and some fashion of intro
duction took place between the two
strangers. John Gordon led the way
into private room, and the two others
followed him. Here's gentleman
anxious to buy my shares, Tookey,'
said Gordon.
:. What the whole lot of the old
Stiok-in-the-Mud? He'll have to shell
down some money in order to do that!
III 1 were to be asked my opinion, l
should say that the transaction was
hardly one in the gentleman's way of
business.
Il suppose an honest man may
work 1T it, said Mr.. Whittlestatf.
:. It's the honestest business / know
out, said Fitzwalker Tookey; ''but it
does require gentleman to have his
eyes about him.
Haven't l got my eyes?"
''Oh certainly. certainly said
have them brighter. And there are
eyes and eyes. Here's Mr.. Gordon did
have stroke of luck out there;-quite
wonderful! But because he tumbled
on good thing it's no reason others
should. And he's sold his claim
already, if he doesn't go himself
either to me or else to Poker & Hodge,"
.sPm afraid it is So" said John Cor
don
There's my darling wife, who is
going out with rue. and who means to
stand all the hardship of the hard work
amidst those scenes of constant labor
lady who is dying to see her babies
there | am sure, sir, that Mr.. Gordon
won't forget his promises to me and my
wife,
''If you have the money ready"
ssThere is MIR. Poker in hansom-
cab outside, and ready to go with you
to the bank at once, as the matter is
rather pressing. Ii you will come with
him. he will explain everything. will
follow in another cab. and then every
thing can be completed" John Cor
don did make an appointment to meet
MIR. Poker in the city later on in the day,
and then was left together with Mr..
Whittlestaf at the club.
1t was soon decided that Mr.. Whittle-
staff should give up alt idea of the dia-
mond-fields. and in Sc doing he allowed
himself to be brought back to a state of
semi-courteous conversation with his
happy rival. .WeH, yes; you may
write to her. suppose Indeed. l don't
know what right l have 80 say that you
may or YOU mayn't. She's more yours
than mine, l suppose" Turn her
Quit i don't know what makes you
take such an idea as that in your
head'' John Gordon had not suggest
ed that Mr.. Whittlestaff would turn
Mary Lawrie out--though he had spoken
of the steps he would have taken were
he TO find Mary left without a home.
..She shall have my house as her own
till she can find another As she will
not be my wife, she shall be my daugh-
ter-till she is somebody else's wife.
told you before that you may come and
marry her. Indeed l can't help my
self. OF course you may go on as you
would with some other giri-only wish
it were some other girl. You can go
and stay with Montagu Blake, If you
please. 1t is nothing to me. Every
body knows it now.'' Then he did say
goodbye, though he could not be per-
suaded to shake hands with John Cor