Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-06-25
Yes. Think YOU when I sacrifce ali t,

Yes. Think you when I sacrifice all to
secure education and comfort for you away
from my poor miserable home, that when
the opportunity has come to make you
! grand lady would neglect to improve it?
That opportunity has come toyou, and mute,
implicit obedience to me. as iii the past,
will make you an heiress tomorrow; heiress
/ to q million"
( He had grown intensely excited. All the
dull coarseness Of q stolid sullenness, so
habitual to his manner. left him as he
seemed to revelin anticipation Of the fixture
he had determined to win for her.
Her face was perpIexed, her brain con-
fused. What secrets her school life held
for her, what mystery her strange career,
| she, the daughter of a poor man among the
children Of the rich, had suggested they
were trifes compared with the mystfying
developments of the past hour. Despite
herself q gloomy oppression overcame her
thoughts as she glanced at her father, whose
eager eyes scanned the streets past which
they flew with the impatience and abstrac-
ton of a man bent upon the fulfllment Of
some cherished purpose.
There was SO little of the trifing in Reu-
ben Leslie's nature that she knew that even
if he held an exaggerated idea of his plans
there was still some basis for his actions
| What was the underlying motive? A thrill
4 which changed the heart blood currents to
ice peryaded her frame as question from
Leslie suggested clew to his mysterious
actions.
Have you seen Elmer Warren latelyPn
Her choked negative apparently satisfied
her father, for he did not resume his ques-
tions.
suitor for her hand The man of all others,
rvbr ubo oII
nearly month he had visited the humble
cottage, and his attentions becoming more
marked had at last led to her definitely re-
| jecting his suit.
And now-she grew sick at heart as, re-
calling her fathers stern will, his strong
predilection in Warren's favor. she feared
that the boasted fortune OF the rejected
suitor had assumed material shape, and
that Reuben Leslie's vision Of wealth ex-
listed In prospective marriage of herself to
the man she SO disliked.
Her mental agitation was mingled with a
confused appreciation of their swift prog
ress The vehicle emerged from the dark
ened thoroughfares: proceeded down the
broad avenues; crossed State street with its
rushing trains Of cable cars; passed the
| glittering dome Of the towering Chamber Of
Commerce; and, after fitting vision of the
frowning City Hall. plunged into the gloomy
depths of the Washington street tunnel,
gained the boulevard, flew over its smooth
pavement until Ashland avenue was reach
ed, and then turned north.
Edith recognized her surroundings more
clearly as. the carriage, finally veer-
ing west, iolted over the unpaved
surface of Ohio street. She shuddered
as they crossed bleak, lonely prairie A
memory of the mysterious murder of
beautiful young girl in this vicinity
mingled with haunting thought of other
dark crimes that had made this district
weird field of tragic romance. She saw the
deep pits and the old stone quarry stretch
ing west, the great artesian well beyond
them. There was no opportunity for
further conversation with her father, for
the vehicle came to a sudden stop, leaving
the city, with its distant cleaning stars of
light, afar. There was no light in the
somber structure before them, and the lone
| liness and desoIation of the old works re-
PEELED and frightened her as her father
alighted.
Take my hand, he said I will lead
the way"
And then to the driver:
You mind your orders. Wait in the
neighborhood until I signal you.
The complaisant All right" of the driver
mingled with the lonely echoes of their
footsteps as father and daughter entered
the old building and proceeded along a
hallway. At door Leslie paused, released
Edith's hand, drew key from his pocket,
opened the door. and, entering an apart
ment, Lit lamp. There was the chill OF
dampness, the mustiness Of disuse, in the
air of the room, furnished only with O
couple of chairs and rude deal table.
The windows had iron blinds, and the un-
painted interior evidenced the occupancy
of the room in the past for some light in
dustrial employment. A pi Q of rusted iron
tools lay in one corner. of the place. and a
dust-covered machine stood near the win
dows.
There were two lamps on the table.
Lighting the second one and taking it up
| in his hand. Leslie turned to Edith.
aCome, he said
Long familiarity with his moods i'm
PEELED her to strict obedience. He did not
even turn to see if she was following him,
but proceeded out into the hall, across it,
and into an apartment smaller than the
other. Its only furniture was o rude
bench. He pointed TO it, and she sat down
upon it.
Are you afraid of the dark2" he asked.
"No, father.
Leslie blew out the lamp.
1t is better in the dark, he said.
There was pause long and impressive,
silence that filed the girl with vague
fears. A nameless dread oppressed her
heart and she shrank back as she could
hear her father moving around the apart
ment She heard him put down the lamp,
and then his words.
Edith" he said, you have ever been
| dutiful, obedient child. I wish to leave
| you here for an hour, perhaps more; but
| shall be within call. No one can molest
you: you need have no apprehensions of
| danger Whatever you hear, whatever you
/ see, I depend on your honor to remain
/ silent; for within one hour that will be ac-
complished under this roof which will
| make you heiress to million.
Again the strange words, again the faint
est quiYer of excited avarice in the heavy,
steady tones, as his form stood outlined in
the doorway. and then disappeared.
/ AS the mystifed girl realized that, what
| ever the accomplishment of his purpose,
its execution involved secrecy and dark
| ness, she shuddered, and voiceless intui-
ton seemed to note a resemblance in his
slow, cautious steps to the gliding tread OF
! the night prowler and assassin.
She heard him 90 into the room across
the hall. then all was silent. Turning, she
gazed from the window. Winding in and
out the deep rurs OF the rarely frequented
road she saw the lamp of the carriage gleam
In the distance. afar the twinklinR lights Of
the city, to the foreground o huge dark
structure, the deserted factory now shut
down, where her father had been employed
as workman previous to the strike. What
lonely spot; what fitting place to accord
with dark crime, with the scowling face
-SQ{ 81. oo1l lo1
father.
Gradually, her eyes becoming familiar
with the shadowed street in front Of the
house, she was enabled to discover more re-
mote objects. She strained her glance as she
| inolad dnur fha rnad and irnanined that