Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-28


shall be talking nonsense II take AM
more. Good night"
lie hobbled down the stairs and with I
/ feeling of great disappointment | CLOSED
the door behind him.
But from his own lips had learnt tina
Lady Estmefe was, as ] suspected, th'
victim OF some diabolical revengeful plo
Of his, and determined 10 redouble my
efforts; to spare no means Of finding how
! the plot had been laid.
| went again and again over Mrs
| Payne's tale. She who loved and would
have screened her mistress, and saw her
as Sir Lawrence saw her, standing at tbs
open window with Chesham's arm around
her. Granted that Gresham wished e
work out his revenge; that he knew Of
Sir Lawrence's expected return-how
could he have brought that situation
about?
The only tenable theory was that he
had partner in his guilt; that someone
az his instigatlon had perforated Lady
Estmere. But whoS
There was a lndy's maid. What be.
came OF her? Could she throw any light
Hupon the euject2 / resolved, II ! could
find out nothing more from Chesham, to
run down to Derbyshire, and see Mrs.
Payne once more, to get from her the
name OF every servant who was In
the Dover House at the time, and
trace one and all, aud hear what each had
TO say. AS for Gresham, / believed him
capable of any villainy that the heart OF
man could devise.
II was now nearly the end of August.
Besides my long-standing engagement
with Boutwell,, had several other invita-
tions for September. | declined all, be-
ing determined that so long as Gresham
stayed in town | would keep with him.
A man doomed to walk with thick stick
cannot do much with gun among the
turnips and stubble. AS yet he gave no
sign Of quitting London, and his move
ments controlled my own.
Valentine came back to town for few
days. He called on me, but l was out.
Afterwards met him as / was walking
down Piccadilly. Chesham was leaning
on my arm at the time and smiling his
evllist smile as he looked at some fair
woman who was near us. Valentine, as
soon as he saw my companion, started as
If he was shot. He passed me without
taking the slightest notice. This was no
more than [ expected, and | reioiced to
think that as Chesbam saw the non-recog-
milton he would believe our friendship
was thing of the past. He chuckled,
and looked after Valentines retreating
figure
"Your dear friend Estmere didn't notice
YOU" he said.
awe are not such friends as we used
to be.n
"But you ought TO love him for my
sake" he said with malignant express
ion in his eyes. "Do you remember how
he struck me in your rooms?"
p'Yes-yery WE'LL
"pve paid off some of that score, and
mean to pay off more. COMPOUNDED
young upstart"
| did not defend Valentine. 1t would
have suited my purpose better to have
abused him, but could not bring myself
to do that
otis hot" SAID Chesham, ''the pave
ments are like fire. Let us 20 to the
club and have quiet turn at piquet or
ecarte.n
made no objection, and in a few mo-
ments we were Ia the card-room
"The whole place seems deserted"
said my companion. "Hang me, If |
don't think we are the last men in town.
shall go abroad again-to Monaco, /
think"
"Let me know when you THINK of GO
ing. Perhaps | will go with you"
81 wish you would, and have a shot at
the tables I'm not fond of young fellows
as a rule, but like you, Norris. That's
more than I've said to any man for
years.
Curious as 1t may seem, believed him.
had noticed many little things lately
which showed me that so far as he was
capable of liking anyone he was begin
ming to like me. He was not so keen
about winning my money. Once or twice
he had told me roughly that | was fool
to play with him. He one day made me a
present of a cigar case-an act of munih-
cence no one would have believed posi-.
bic from him. II the man had a soft place
in his heart felt sure | was finding 1t.
was playing my part almost too well. 1t
was a Just retribution that the man who
as yet had never made friend should
choose at last one who was Stimulating
friendship for the sake of destroying him.
We played two or three games of
piquet. Luck went against me and lost
E20 handed him bank-note OF that
amount, and having no wish to play
longer, put the cards aside. Just then a
waiter entered, and Gresham sent him to
see II there were any letters for him.
There was one addressed, noticed, In
womans handwriting. This was
nothing unusual, as many such notes
came to this Don Juan. lie opened his
letter, read it, aud muttered one or two
of his pleasantest curses.
"Bad news2" l asked
"No; only an application for money.
That's the worst of any folly, it always
costs money. Long after you've forgot
ten IL II jumps up and duns YOU
al thought You never paid any money
for your folllesn
"Never, If can help 1t. Begad! folly
or not, I've paid through the nose for
this.n He hobbled across the room, rang
the bell and asked for an envelope and
ink. Then he drew out of his note case
the very note for twenty pounds which |
had just paid him. lie tore the hy sheet
off the letter, wrapped VI round the note,
and placed it in the envelope This he
directed and stamped, and then placed it
It in his pocket,
| had paid little attention TO him. |
made no attempt to ascertain the name OF
the correspondent who could extort such