The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-30


"lIe must be 4 black-hearted wretch"
she said.
"Ile is. II rumor may be credited at
Al his past carerr Is deeply stained with
uaG actions. Not such as would put him
ras.!y within the grip OF the law; but
wicked, selfish, cruel injuries done TO the
weak and innOccnt. This time lac has
plunged into deeper water. But there Is
4 hook being prepared 10 fish him out
Oh well land him safely enough"
"Do YOU believe that he stole the
check, and committed the forgery >"
"No; he is too crafty for that Some
one else pulled that excessively hot
chestnut out of the fire for him"
You mean the secretary ,"
Il do. Mr. Checketts is not unknown
TO me. Directly / saw that he WAS in
the swim knew in what quarter 10 hunt.
Years ago, under another name, that
most rcspectable-looking party WAS kept
at the States expense
What do you mean ,"
Il beg your parden, madam. / should
have said he underwent u term of i'm
prisonmeut at Sing Sing, for initiating
too closely the bonds of railway comp
anv"
Then he is 4 convict-a criminal ?"
Rank Mr.. Davenport has had nice
lot in his house for some time. The only
wonder u me is that trouble did not fail
upon the family sooner. The rascals
were bidinc their opportunity, | suppose.
However, We shall have them all right
before much harm Is done"
Il shall always feel very, very strongly
how much i owing TO your skill and
s1gacity," said Kate, holding forth her
band with a spontaneous movement OF
gratitude.
Bing touched the tips ofthe fair fingers
respectfully for a moment
A little he said, may possibly be
due to my long experience in tracking
the course of evil men. But the palm
Of victory will be yours, madam, and not
mine. The clearness OF head and infieNi-
bility OF purpose you display under cir
CumstanCcs that might we'll cause yOuI
utter prostration will be the prime reasons
OF our success. The difficulties of the
task imposed by your devotion are not
yet over but / feel convinced that YOU
are equal to them all Madam, 4 delicate
piece of work still lies before YOU"
Tell me; l shall not shrink from it
"You must be listener TO one of the
'confahs' between Van BIarcom, and
Checketts."
Il must-I must l viii watch for ar
occasion. But L do not see how Just now.
Let me think"
Il believe ! can put YOU in the way o.
doing -. While you have been engagcC
inside the cnemy's camp have not been
idle on the outskirts In fact | have
made 4 discovery, in doing which | waS
very nearly discovered myself. But not
quite-nnt quite. Yesterday afternoon
/ climIe.l the wall and sneakcd about
the grounds Of Davenport Lodge, III
hopes oi some interesting tritie turning
up; and II did"
What N:- 4 -
'Well, | nearly came face 10 face with
our two gentlemen in earnest discussion;
and ii they had not been greatly absorbed
and | extremely nimble in dOdgins be-
hind ! friendly tree, | shOull have found
myself IN a pretty pickle. As il was
slight sound or a shadow disturbed them,
for they stopped short and looked round
suSpIciously- Then ! heard Mr.. Van
Harcom say, we are getting imprudcnt,
thcrkettS; some OF the servants NAV be
prowling about Let us walk round u
the haunted bower; it i quiet enough
there They stroiled down n bv-path
where l dared not follow, So l made
tracks and got of the grounds forthwith
lrtspa-sers might be prosecuted, you
know"
ron,,,r. ~ ,r',ct DO you gather from the ad-
Il gather that when Van Blarcom and
his satellite take a turn in the garden
before dinner, 10 sharpen their appetites
they generally make for the haunted
lower DO yOu happen to know the
exact situation OF that aTbOr ?'
81 do not; but | will soon find out"
81 would, by all means. And YOU must
contriye To be there on the occasion OF
their next visit to the bower in question.
: should recommend You to- take careful
bearings OF the place, and decide before
hand how you may best secrrte yourself
so as TO hear what passes without being
observed. Recollect, you don't want 10
see, only TO hear"
1t shall be done. II they 60 there
again / shall not be absent"
When the interview terminated, Bing
looked after the retiring form OF Kate
with admiration in his ewes
by Jupiter he soliloquized. "That
wOman is worth a thousand OF the ordi-
nary kind. She'll run those two scoun-
1rrls 10 earth a. surely as my names
Bing. Young Davenport may think him
SELF mighty fortunate in having such 4
clever, plucky little champion for wife.
He ought to be fond OF her, for she de-
serves it-by Jupiter, she does ~
While Mr.. Bing was thus emphasizing
his honest admiration OF Kate, Mr.. Van
Blarcom was dwelling upon the same
theme IN totally different spirit. For
the first time in his selfish and sensual
existence gleam OF genuine passion had
shot through the dark recesses OF his
heart We shrink from calling il love,
and yet by what other name shall we de-
fine it2 FaIn would We believe that love
can take no root in natures 50 impure
and unworthy-that truth and Innocence
from the only atmosphere in which il
can flourish. Alas, history in the past
and facts in the present forbid us from
chcrishing that comforting delusion.
Ere now IL has been the fate OF evil men
TO love with a consuming fervor that,
by-and-by, grew into intolcrable agony
from Its very hopelessne-s. There is no
peace, no beauty, no gentle influence in
such a love. Ofttimcs il is fraught with
painful, and not unfrequentiy with ter
rIblc consequences. For Is the tender
merc-ics of the wicked are cruel, 50 does
powerful love, surging in the breast OF
bad man. become 4 fierce and violent
sentiment even in its tenderest aspect.
"If that girl were only Edith" he re-
fected, as he paced his chamber. "But
what is the use of fffing'? The daughte-
of the millionaire will have 10 become
Mrs. Van Blarcom-there l. no mistake
about thai. i have worked hard for the
golden prize, and don't mean To lose i
for less substantial considerations, how
ever agreeable tempting. Strange, though
that have never felt so intensely smit-
ten by woman before | met Miss Ray
mondi Kate, / shall call her-hang il
all, why shouldn'tI? Charming. darlin.
little Kate Now, If l belonged 10 one
OF the numerous orders OF moral milSSop-
vulgIrly conprehended under the term
flats ! should dismiss the thought of
this beautiful creature from INV head,
and determine TO toe the chalked line of
extreme responsibility. But as l am for
tunately free from most of the prejudices
of my race and time-in advance of my
age, may sIy-I decline to surrender
any chance, however distant, OF adding
10 my earthly bliss. To arouse in Kate
feeling akin 20 affection, or even to yet
her in some fashion under my thumb,
urorrlI bs n frirrf,,r,h tho thrill ~ ,,-b,.b