Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-03-05

On spproval, and If were You l wouldn't
give any money on account"
Send him TO me and I'll talk TO him. y
Carruthers was just leaving the room when
= his friend called him back
Il say, Carruthers, I'd better tell YOU,
then you can't say ] didn't. This chap has
been in quod five years for forgery. His
names Maurice Hervey. suppose he's out
row on ticket of leave. He tells ME he
means to run straight for the future. Now
You know all about it and can please Your
SELF
The consequences was that Carruthers, who
held the same belief as him with the harp
of divers tones resolved TO Sse this man
and, moreover, TO treat him as if he had no
knowledge of his antecedents. He was glad
to help any enc back TO the straight path
Carrut hers, who hated the bother of cater
ing for himself, still lived at his hotel He
had taken an office i'll a quiet street some
little way off. Here he spent the greater
part of the day, writing his new book, cor
recting those delightful objects, the proofs
of a first book, or thinking sadly of Bea-
trice's and his own LOT. This oftics was on
the first floor and approached by a steepish.
straight flight Of uncarpeted stairs.
One morning he heard feet on the stairs:
heard them stop on the little landing IN front
of the door which bore his name. Some one
knocked, and Frank shouted Come in To
his supreme establishment in walked the man
who had demanded Beatrice's address and so
outraged old Whittaker's sense of dignity.
''What do you wantf' asked Frank
brusquely.
Hervey explained that Mr.. Field had
written to him and instructed him to call.
So Carruthers knew that the man who was
,,,l
fslon and ticket-ofleave man. He raised
his head and coldly scrutinized his visitor.
Hervey until that moment had not recog-
It:zad him. He did so then, ami knew that
the recognition was mutual. All question
of thu original purpose which had brought
about this meeting faded from the mind of
each man. With each Beatrice was the one
thought.
"Will You give the address I wanted
WREN last we metz" us,s I'd Eervey eagerly.
Il will not" answered Carruthers shortly.
BE did not this time assert his inability to
oblige his quHstioner, because he was I'm
willing to ca lfesS. that Beatrice's present
abode was a secret kept even from her own
friends He had also made up his mind that
nothing should tempt him to ask this ex-
convict single question. An attempt TO
get at the truth through such medium as
this would be degradation, an insult TO the
woman he loved.
His visitor took the blunt refusal very
badly. The truth Is that Mr.. Hervey's tenn
per was not improving, or rather his conf
mGnd of 1t was, from a sustained course of
cigars and whisky and water, growing fitful
and intermittent. Besides, Carruthers had
way with him which was particularly irri-
tating to those who had the misfortune to
Tfs.l Nv
Hervey had found it almost more than he
could put up with. However, with the ex-
ception of slapping his hand on Franks table
he controlled himself tor the present.
Il must insist upon your telling me" he
said; Il have to make an important business
communication to Mis- Clauson."
Carruthers smiled contemptuously Her
trustees the MeSsrs Ta!Gart, of Oath
manage Miss Clausou'S business, believe
Or YOU might go to the family solicitor,
whose name viii give YOU"
My business is OF p private nature. l
demand this address. ! have right to ask
it."
Carruthers shrugged his shoulders, ele-
waited his eyebrows in true Talbert fashion.
and again smiled that irritating smile
My good sir he said, cannot You I'M
derstand that | absolutely refuse to crafty
You! That gentleman IS not justified in
giving every one who asks it q lady's ad-
dress3 Go to Sir Na;ngay Clauson. he is the
proper person to apply 70. As to rights, l
am certainly within my own if / ask you to
leave my room. No doubt you see that the
business which gave me the pleasure of this
visit cannot be carried through"
Hervey scowled, h.sita.ed and then walked
out of the room He was wise in so doing,
no bn,- IL H., al
and premature disclosure indeed, disclo-
sure at all, of the truth would entirely ruin
his cloudei prospects. As from lack of po-
likeness, or furry OF discontinue, he left the
door aiar, CarrutherS rose and walked across
the room to close it. just then the door
opened and the two men confronted each
other on the threshold.
IF you write to Miss Clauson will you
give her message from me:" asked Hervey
with forced civility
That depends exactly upon what the MES
sage may be-"
''Will you tell her that / called on you and
said the matter could now be easily arranged
There's no harm in that
There seems none When write I'll give
it"
You'd better mention my real name. It's
not Henry Morris-It's--n
II am acquainted with your real name, -
said Frank, with perfect noRchalance. Her
vey grew very angry.
Now, wonder who you may be- he said,
you who write to her. Perhaps you're sweet
on each other, and look forward to a happy
marriage An incautious remark OF the
rogue's, YETI one he could not refrain from
making; nor could he refrain from cycling
Carruthers to see how the shot told. Hard
L.
equanimity.
Perhaps So" he said carelessly ~ can't,
however, imagine it can be of the slightest
interest to you" The scornful emphasis laid
on the last word flicked Hervey like whip
perhaps sou he echoed with his hooking
laugh. ''Ha, ha do you think I'm foolf
Do you think you take me in with your
studied easel Don't | know you're dying to
know who am and all about mel"
Il know good deal already" said Frank
In scathing tones. "If / felt any wish to
know more I should apply at Scotland Yard
or wherever the proper Office may be-"
This taunt was more than even the most
anna BILE tlcket-of-leave man could be expect
ed to let pass. 1t finished HeTvey entirely
He boiled over. With the violent expletive
which invariably accompanies such an act he
struck out full at the speaker.
This Carruthers was one of those decep-
tive men who at first glance gave little
promise Of much strength. Yet if his frame
was spare his shoulders were square, and all
the weight he carried was bone and muscle
He may be summed up in the simple word
w1ry; and why men, as many muscular
looking athlete knows TO his cost, are not
adversaries to be dspised He was far from
being one of those marvellous creatures,
usually officers in the guards, who, in fiction
at least, can crush up silver flagons, toss
with one hand a sixteen-stone ruffian over a
ditch or a railing, but all the same he had
his fair share of manly strength.
After parrying Hervey's blow, he simply
jerked out his right arm to the very best of
his knowledge and agility, throwing the
whole weight of bis body into it, and, in the
language Of what may now be called the re-
vived prize ring, got well home"
These were tn. only two blows struck, and
for this reason: Hervey, when he received
Franks blow, was standing on the landing.
He staggered back and went headlong down
the steep stairs, Il seemed as IL his neck
j l!5 s |