The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-08
A" MODEL FATHER. p"
Story Of a Scheming Tragedian
and His Pretty Daughter.
Low Cunning and Selfish Ambition on
the One Hand, and Innocent Purity
and D-tlfuI Devotion on
the Other.
BIZ DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
CHAPTER X.-CoHTG3UED.

gedlan in a stern and menaclnS 1ashlon
You laundering old scoundrel"'
..How-how dare you, sir?" cried
Bas zett.
"Dare?" replied Leverett, squaring
his shoulders and shaking his head
again. Il don't dare anything in talk
ing to YOU. I'm not a woman. You
wont abuse me No, sir. You know
better. The broad shouldered scenic art
iSt actually pranced, he squared himself
t. such an extent at Bassett He laugh
ed also, not by any means in a forced
Or unnatural way, but with IL hearty
scorn which really did seem to find
amusement in its certainty of Bassett's
.cowardice And. TO tell the truth, the
tragediao looked as if he were prepared
70 justify his guests opinion OF him.
His pale lips moved uneasily, and his
ayes were shfty. But the smaller dog
will grOwl when yOu take his bone
away, and the mcanest human creatures
resent the theft of his last rag OF dig
aity.
Il demand" said Mr. Bassett, shak-
lily, that you adopt different manner
with ne, sir"
If my manner docsn suit YOU" re-
ssponGed Mr.. Leverctt. Il am natura~y
very sorry. but | can't alter i. / n here
with j propose; and an alternative.
When YOU turned your daughter out
of house and home last night"
Il turn my daughter out of house
and hOme?" cred Bassett
Upon my word" said Leverett, Il
almost believe that You believe you
didn't. Silence! When YOU turned
your daughter out of house and home
last night, she might have persisted in
the streets, and would have done so,
probably enough, if she had not been
recognized by friend who brought
her for shelter to my house at Mazda
Vale. Now don't you say anything.
because I've got your daughters word
beforehand and I'd believe it against a
million of yours. Six months aco and
more YOU told your dau- liter lie which
broke her heart, and You told her sweet
heart a lie which broke has heart Now,
Fm not the champion of the world at
largr, but I'm going TO take this upon
my shoulders. Ac' fairly by your little
girl. Ba set. or I'll whip you out OF
every society in London.
You wiil?" asked Mr. Bassctt, try
ing to look scornful, with but indifler-
ent success. And how, may ask?''
You know as well as | do" said
the mwelcome guest. shaking threat
ening finger at him, that we only got
to tell this story down the Strand 10
make it impossible for YOU to put your
head w thin the doors of any club in
London"
My daughter is at liberty to return
mere" said MIR. BasSett. ''She is WEI
come to tia house she left of her own
frce-will."
Leverett laid his hand upon the bell
and rang a tremendous peal The
maid was engaged somewhere. and
the mistress answered. At her knock
the scenc-paintcr unlocked The door.
Pray come in, ma am" said he.
with a flourish of politcness. Can
You tell me, madam, ANYTHING of the
manner in which Miss Bassctt left your
house last night?''
well, SIR said the landlady, with
an uncertain look at the tragedian.
Mr.. BaSSett has Len in the 'OuSc, sir,
q many years, and I've never had any
thing to say sgain him until now.
believe, sir. that he were 10 some extent
in liqnor. But | don't know. sir, SAID
the landlady. coming to a sudden stop,
what right you We got to ask me, sir?
Miss BaSsett took refuge in my
house, madam said Leverett. MIR.
Basset: declares that she left home of
her own free will"
'.She did" cried BaSsett.
''Oh, Hlr. Rassett. sir. how can yOu?'
The landlady turned formidable on a
sudden. IL saw the poor dear young
thing cast out into the street. SIR she
cried to Leverett. And LovcioY. my
husband. sir, runs after her as fast Is
he could go, but she'd got minute, S
start of him. and the snow was drifting
so you couldn't scarcely see yard. arJ
l suppose he took the wrong road. sir.
and she disappeared. But. leave of her
own free-will. poor dear? You drove
her from the door," cried the landlady,
turning on Bassett with a screaming
voice, you know you did. You drove
her from the door"
Thank you very much indeed.
ma am" said Leverett. suavely. shall
I have the pleasure of carrying Your
best wishes to Miss Bassett? Thank
you. And will you oblige me. ma am,
bv ordering one of Your servants to
pack up Miss Bassett's things? The
young lady will stay with my wife and
daughter, who are old friends OF hers.
Thank you. GOOd-afternoon, ma am.
though trust TO have the pleasure of
seeing you again before 60"
During this speech of Leverett's he
and the landlady were moving to and
fro in sort of wandering dance, she
being animated by a desire to get at
Bassett with REV to the delivery OF
her mind, and Leverett politely Lent
on seeing her out of the room without
an unnecessary scene.
Thank You ma am. extremely. Good
afternoon. For the present ONLY" In
some mysterious way the landlady S
dance, directed by Leverett, had led
her from the room. the door was locked
again, and the key was once more in
the visitors pocket Now, Won low
blackguard. said Leverett turning on
Bassett with quite rollickinr air OF
denunciation. what have YOU to sav?''
by what right, asked BaSse.t. with
his face chaiky gray, an all his feat
ares twitching,-"by what right d.
You pretend to assume the guard an
ship of my daughter"
Now You mustn't" said the scenic
artist shaking his head Overwhelmingly
-''you really mustn't take that tone
with me. You criminal dogr' He
shook heayylooking fist with unpleas-
ant emphasis directly under Mr.. Bas-