The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-12-09
sav n vAfch hAr -

say Il, watch her."
BE on your guard" chimed in the
Basilisk, ''and don't listen to her silly
stories; they are too ridiculous-much
too ridiculous."
Both she and Plowitx laughed
heartily. But what was In their
laughter was not In their
eyes. II mine told me true, they were
relieved Of great fear.
"W course" said Miss Beaufoy, I"
what We have told you il in the strictest
confidence"
AN English gentleman" purred
Plowitz. ''doos not need 70 b ~
minded Of that"
oould NOT help retortings
sNor q German one either"
hands. ssGood! After the FreDch.
you arc the readiest people under the
sum mean under the fog. Good
good againI'
could have kicked the maa, but
my mind was too full Of conflicting
ideas TO resent his impertinence.
Nevertheless, my face must have b.
trayed my feelings, for Miss Beaufoy
said quickly:
You mustn't mind DR.. Plowits, Mr..
Coplestone. He Is privileged here. "
''Of course" laughed Plowits; ''of
course. So ought 70 be-
Perhaps l should add something to
what We have said" said the Basilisk.
.'HaveI your permission" she asked
PlowitS.
by al MEANS" he replied gaily.
again making use Of the invisible soaR
s.by all means"
lyon must know. them" continued
Miss Beaufoy, without symptom Of
interest, without . shade Of tone,
''that DIR. Plowitz u the afiianced hus-
band Of Mary Fortescue."
l could not speak. There was dull
weight on my brain. which seemed to
tie my tongue BY sheer force Of pres
sure. What manner Of man was this,
trying to prove his future wife madf
what manner Of woman was this ready
to we'd man whom she hxtedl Ny
heart was as heavy IS my head.
you seem surprised" said Miss
Beaufoy coldly; ''but the match has
been arranged for years. Now you nm
derstand why these strange fancies Of
Mary make DR.. Plcwitz so SD"
$50 very sad" echoed Plowitz
nournfully; but. rs I could see, with .
hyena-like expression on his counte-
nance.
Il can understand it." I said, trying
to be calm.
At that moment tbs dinner-gong
sounded through the hall.
I'VE shall be too late to DRESS" cried
Miss Beaufoy. II wonder whore papa
shall I call himP' asked Plowitz,
with . significant glance.
She nodded.
He raised small tube, which hung
BY the side Of the mantelpiece, to his
lips. and blew softly. Then he shout
cd aloud:
..Mr. Beaufoy! Mr.. Beaufoy! dinner
is ready!'
But while he was shouting, saw the
top Of the stair. case double backwards,
leaving . chasm, out OF which Mr..
Beaufoy walked - easily as he would
have done. from doorway!
As the stairs noiselessly resumed
their ordinary position and appearance,
he descended them with . good deal Of
noise.
''Ah, my good friends" he said. %
he reached US, I'm quite ready for
dinner. I've been hard at work.
Come, Mr.. Coplestone. lead the way in
to the dining. room. Even you ought to
know IL by this time.
went on ahead like man in .
dream; but not SO much in front but
that could hear Pl0witz say, in . re-
ply to q whispered remonstrance Of
Beaufoy's:
pooh, pooh! it was an excellent
joke. The blind man couldn't see. and
it even frightened you. Old friend,
like jokes. "
We sat down.
MARY is too unwell to come down.
said MIR. Beaufoy. Poor girl!'
The Basilisk and the doctor saluted
ono another with smiles.
ITO BE CONTINUED.