Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-11-17
CHAPTER XXXIV.

The watchman at the mills was not little
surprised, as he went his first round that
night to see mans figure leaning against q
pillar in one of the weave rooms. The fellow
did not appear to mean any harm; he was
not breaking ANYTHING or stealing any cloth,
but how could he have found his way inside.
The watchman felt little uneasy in spite OF
himself; it was such thing as had never
happened before.
"Hello what business have you got there"
But the interloper did hot appear to hear
him. How oddly he looked at she looms, as
if they were living things rhat he loved. He
had not spoken, and his hat shaded his eyes,
but the expression of the attitude was so
plain that even so rude man as the watch
man could read the tender "reminiscences IN
his heart. Perhaps the fellow might be
crazy but this was no place for him. Oh! L
didn't know you, Mr.. Breton. It's nice
evenin', sir"
But the mill owner did not even answer
him, and moved away toward the window as
if impatient at being interrupted. The moon
was full, and the sky was clear, only for
few silver edged clouds One, he fancied
ship sailing over the sea, but how slowly it
glided; could it go no fasterf All! suddenly
it parted into bright fragnNlts, and the
wind scattered them pituessly. he looked
across at the other mills; the moonnght
kissed their grim walls fondly, and sparkled
in their windows like a hundred brilliant
lamps. Why, here were his fire escapes, close
to the window coping-his first business
venture Philip raised the window and
stepped outside.
It must be nearly time for Bertha to come
with the carriage, as he had arranged, TO
avoid possible suspicion. No, there was half
an hour yet. But Philip closed the window
behind him and went down the silent stairs.
He went into his office. He would walt
there for the carriage, it would not be very
long, and then there was one last duty ne
l~.R~ lln CTR rnt n
match, and the gas shot up so brightly 1t
dazzled his eyes. He turned away for an in
slant.
A massive form stood in the doorway.
Philip must have left the counting room un-
locked when he had come in. Some one had
mill owner took only one step toward the IN
truder. 1t was no stranger that crossed MS
threshold, but a man whose name was
burned into his heart. 1t was the rlghtful
husband of Philip Breton's wife-Curran.
His hair had grown long and almost straight
about his neck His cheeks were thin and
haggard and the form that had been like
proud oak was bowed as II it had been
weighed down by burden too heavy even
for a giant to bear Philip stopped short and
looked at the man with speechless terror. de
had supposed him hundreds of miles away:
! Could it be possible the outraged husband
had never left the village since their last
meetinga Perhaps his flashing eyes had
watched Philip wooing his wife a second
time, and begrudged him his few cold kisses.
Perhaps he had peered in through the win
dows Of Philips home; had he not right to
look at his wife, and followed them forth on
every walk and drive, waiting to strike till
| the blow should fall most deadly. He had
chosen his time WELL Poor Bertha, with her
dreams of Como and Chamouni. But what
would he dos Leap upon his enemy and kill
| him2 The man in the doorway looked too
pale and i'll for such violence; would he then
| Ins eyer uttered2 But Curran advanced into
| the room with outstretched hand
"Don't you know me, then, friendT
Philip hesitated again. There might be
grain of hope yet; he would surely never
have given the young man his hand If he
had known--or called him friend