Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-05-17

which Norris sat, his object evidently being
to give the latter time to turn over the prop
osition in his mind before rendering his
decision.
Among other objects on the table was the
microscope, mounted with Bergman's
curious find of the previous night, and with
confident ALLOW me,'' Mr.. Ingot bent his
eye to the glass. Norris sprang up and
stretched out his hand to ward him OFF, too
late.
Under the enlarging plate, and soaked
free of the clotted blood. was frac ional
section Of the human scalp, the stubbled
hairs perfectly distinct, and bearing a
startling resemblance to the clipped crop
which adorned Mr.. Ingot's Uranium.
For single moment the gentleman
stopped regarding it. When he lifted his
head there was a dull pallor on his face;
even his lips were white.
Am to understand that you take up
my ofer?' he asked, in mechanical way,
which was hardly in keeping with fever
ish CLEAN which had come into his eyes.
''You are to understand that l refuse it."
''Oh, well, it you change your mind at
any time you can let me know. Good-day
to you,'' and he left the room with a nerv-
GUS haste that was suggestive OF any
thing but satisfactory feelings.
Norris, too, had been startled out Of his
equanimity. In the single moment that
Mr.. Ingot had stopped over the tell-tale
glass, he had distinguished small, len 9Th
ened, triangular scar, showing fiery red
through the stubbled hair-a scar which
that section of scalp under the microscope
might very nearly cover.
1t did not require many minutes thinking
to make it clear to Norris Bergman that
robber No One of the Chicago express had
been revealed to his knowledge; but he
also realized that it would require much
more direct evidence than he could offer to
bring the crime home to Banker EveTaeigh's
booa-keeper.
One thing he could do, however. He
could lay the facts in his possession before
Lyman Chi.der. He could warn the latter
of what he Norris felt assured, that
Childer had an enemy in his pretended
friend and fellow-clerk, who had already
robbed him, and very probably had the will
to do him further harm.
With this object in view, he had gained
admission to the Childer home, to have all
his good intentions swept away by rose
clad vision that had wreathed it's soft arms
about his neck, and left him bound in fet-
tiers stronger than iron, yet which no temp
tatlon Oh earth would have led him to break.
CHAPTER v.
CNE MANS HAPPINESS AND ASOTHER's DE-
SPAIR.
Brilliant lights. soft music, ''swish Of silk
and sheen Of pearls" flashing jewels and
hrieS ,1unc,,al this RI
Norris Bergman, who nevertheless made
his way through it with the ease of one not
altogether unused to such ways, and came
up unperceived by the young hostess of the
evening, until his voice caused her to turn
eagerly.
''Will you welcome repentant guest,
Miss Everleigh, in spite of his regrets!''
morris! You honor me by coming to my
birthday fete. Welcome twice welcome;
you know that 1 have never despaired Of
you, Notwithstanding your persistent re-
fusals for years past"
''It is kind of you to forgive my ungra-
ciousness, but you know my reasons. One
with his daily bread to earn has no place
here''
Every false reasoning, Norris, in our view
of it. But come, my guests are all here;
let me present you to some of them. Father
will be glad to see you, toO.''
Il spoke to him near the door. He looks
scarcely well, Think
''Then it is not simply my fancy. He shall
see physician Immediately. urged it on
him yesterday, but he laughed at the idea.
You know that young lady, do you!'
81 shall regard it as a favor if you will
present me to her," answered Norris, and
there was that in his manner which caused
Althea Everleigh to give him q searching
glauce
Carol Childers' frank eyes were lifted
smilingly to his as the introduction was
spoken. There was no shadow Of conscious
ness to mar her bright face; no subtle intu-
itiOn informed her that this was the rather
shabby young man who had figured in the
contretemps of previous hour, and Norris
found his spirits relieved of an uneasy
weight. To be here, to have the rose-clad
figure of his hearts new idol on his arm,
to float to the dreamy measures of the waltz
with the fluff of her siiken hair brushing
his cheek, to lead her afterward to pleas
ant nook which they had for the moment to
themselves, had in it something dream-like
and unreal, despite it's delight The dream
was rudely broken, though it was only by
the appearance of Mr.. mgot, claiming Carol
LOT Il succeeding dance.
Il did not expect to see you here" he
said, with a level look Of insolence into Nor
ris' eyes.
'The pleasure is reciprocal. 1t did not
seem necessary to explain that Mr.. Ever
leigh is an old family friend during your
call this afternoon. l think if l desired
situation in the bank that he would give it
to me.''
counter, if one were to judge by the culver
about the coarse lips, that had trick of
turning pale with unpleasant emotion.
He dropped back unnoticed among the
guests, waiting for an opportunity to make
his adieux and retire quietly, for it was no
part Of his purpose to drink to intoxcation
out of this pleasure cup.
1t was only an impulse which led to his
coming-the irresistible wish to meet Carol
on equal ground, little pride, perhaps, in
showing her and her brother how he stood
with tho Everleighs-an now that this
much was accomplished, ne was ready to
90 back to the sphere which. in manly indie
pendence, he had chosen for himself.
Rather an expensive fandangO for q
man who is on the verge of bankruptcy,
isn't it"
'Oh, depend on it, this is the daughters
doings. These women! They're the ruin
of a struggling man.
mo, l don't suppose she knows Of the
straits he's in, but any one who isn't will
fully blind would see there is something
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