Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-31

liked to work, too; but perhaps others would
do his work better
Halo, halo. Phil, don't you work pretty
later It was Giddings, the lawyer, In a con
dition Of decided intoxication. "I'u bet yer
dollar you don't know what l came fort ha,
ha, ha; you think money; don't you; more
money! But aint that sort Of feller.n
Philip had been simply disguised at first,
but there seemed terrible leer in the drunken
eyes. Could IL be the man had come TO ex-
pose hint What was the use Of struggling
against his destiny any longeri IL he could
have gone yesterday, he would have saved
all risks But he had waited just too long.
Curran had returned to claim his wife. Jane
Ellingsworth had discovered everything.
And now this Giddings in his drunkard's
foolishness was threatening what ruin he
could bring.
"You are not going to do anything rash
are you" said Philip, dropping his eyes in
humiliation.
But Giddings came close to him and laid
his hand on his shoulder. Then he put his
face close to Philips, with a drunken mans
false measure of distance. The young man
writhed at his touch, and held his breath to
avoid taking the hot fumes of bad liquor the
fellow exhaled But he did not dare to anger
the low creature.
Ibid you Think continued Giddings with
gushing reproachfulness, 'that | aint got
any consciencel You're doin wrong, Mr..
Breton. / aint got no right-no right to
let it go on. Did you think amt got no
consciencer'
Philip shook him off and his face grew so
terrible that the fellow WINGED as he had
done before at that look.
Don't strike-don't kill me, Phil-Mr
Breton, / was only jokin-cant you tell
when q mans jokin'. Got any money bout
clothes, say $50; IN awful hard up. wouldn't
hurt you; your altogether too nice feller."
He leered affectionately at the young man.
then suddenly he winked frightfuny.
Philip threw him q roll of bills. 1t was
the last blood money the scoundrel would
ever draw. By tomorrow morning Philip
Breton and his wife would be beyond the
reach of harm, or beyond the reach of help,
one or the other. There is 500; take it and
go, have business"
"Ten, twenty, and twenty makes thirty,
ten, and twenty and twenty, here amt but
$50. Thought Is too drunk to coun' did
your
'!There is 800 there"
as lie. Yer takin' vantage me cause I'm
drunk"
This creature must be away if it cost 81 900
He crowded another $50 bill into the fellows
clammy hand.
"Now go, or you'll stay longer than you
want tor
Giddings dried his tears and gathered his
limp joints together to go. But he insisted
on Philips shaking hands.
But even after Giddings had got into the
hall Philip heard the fellow muttering to
himself. He stepped hurriedly to the door of
his Office to catch the word, but could not.
If Philip had been little quicker he would
have heard this:
'ESomethin' up, amt so drung but ca
see that Guess 'sil Cup to the boys house.
HIS wife ii know me, ne, he"
Would Bertha never come! If they escaped
row it must be but by hairs breadth. Ruin
would be close upon them. For the adjust
ment of a ribbon she would sacrifice every
thing 1t seemed a great while since Curran
had left the office for the labor meeting, and
he had not so far to CO. Something might
have delayed the terrible disclosure for few
moments, but by this time he must surely
| have heard the whole story of his shame and
dishonor 1t would stir him to madness. His
noble eyes would fash lightnings, and thun-
derbolts of hate and scorn would drop from
his lips. No human being could stand against
the divine dignity of such mans righteous
wrath. Philip fancied the mob sweeping up
| the road behind this outraged husband, seek
| ing out his wife for the doom that would
| satisfy his mad thirst for vengeance. Now,
perhaps, they were bursting in the gates, now
breaking down the oaken door, And Philip
could not be there to protect the beautiful
woman who had only sinned through love for
him. How the color would flee her cheeks as
she looked out on the pitiless faces of the
frenzied mob. There was no arm now to
shield her, none but Curran's, whose love was
now embittered into hate There was no pity
in his white, wasted face, only insulted love,
only scorn that could grind her fair life, with
] out one throb of tenderness, beneath his feet
Why did she not come! Philip was almost
wild with mingled terror and hope. He
walked the room like Gagged lion. Now he
rushed to the door and glanced desperately
up and down the street.
His horses were champing their bits at her
| door, but the light yet burned in her cham
| ber. There was hardly time to catch the
| train at the Lockout station. The wild mob
with the maddened lover, the most terrible
of enemies, at their head would be at her
door in a moment. Still other dangers Philip
did not guess threw gathering shadow
across her path. But she fingered yet.