Iron County register., 1888-08-02


OF the muddle. If you want to stand well
with Childers you won't put in your oar un-
asked, and guess you know all you've got
to do if you want to stand well with me-"
The last was spoken with a chuclle, as if
Mr.. I4got was enjoying some inward joke.
Norris could not fail to understand him.
To stand well with Mr.. Ingot, he must not
rival the latter in his attentions to Carol.
''As if she could ever turn to him.
thought Bergman, with thrill of his old
rcpulsion coming back. 81 owe him one
good turn though for setting me straight.
1t looks reasonable enough-his story; /
don't see why should doubt it."
He could not help a little soreness, how
ever. that Lyman had not found it possible
to trust him. His thoughts were taken
quite away from the object of his present
journey, and it was not until he stood at
Mr.. Eeerleigh's door that he recalled the
substance of Althea's note.
'sAll well, Jacob:' he asked of the SER
want who opened the door.
"All WELL sir, except that Miss Althy is
powerful nervous this last day or two.
Tain't good sign for young pusson to
get so nervous. IL it don't mean one thing
it's apt to mean another. Walk right in,
she's expecting Of you, sir; and n,isdoubt
il you haven't something to do with her
doubtful shake of his gray poll The
young fellow was well enough in his opinion,
but not half the match his young lady de-
served.
Althea was alone. She started up with a
little gasp, and gave both her hands in a
warm pressure.
ssOh, Norris! Nothing has happened,
then? You are here safe! have been SO
uneasy-I am so glad to see you again"
The proud voice was broken by a qulver,
tears clung to the dark eyelashes, though
a tremulous smile was ON the red mouth.
Norris heart was warmed by her evident
solicitude.
"My dear Althea, what should have hap
pened: A fellow of my Drawn should be
pretty well able to take care of himself if
there had been any thing more formidable
to face than my good uncle's fancies. You
did not suppose three days at the cottage
would have a fatal effect, did you.''
"You have really not been in any dam
ger. then2" persisted Althea, wistfully.
81 Read that. Think, if you can, what have
suffered
She took a note from her belt and passed
it to him. Written on coarse paper, in an
evidently disguised hand, Norris read:
"DEAR Miss EvEnLEIGH-This is to warn
you against harboring snake. Don't put
any faith in Norris Bergman. There are
some on his heels who will make short work
of him if he goes much further A word to
the wise ought to be enough. He has got
off twice, let him look out for tho third
time. If he goes into the bank it will be
worse for you and yours. As surely as he
does. he is a doomed man. This is not the
warnings of friend, but of one who knows.
Heed it."
The signature was the rude drawing of a
hand reaching up through an open square.
Norris fixed his eyes upon it, and his brows
knit Tho rambling, foolish attempt to
frighten him was given its only point in his
mind by that strange signature
ssWhat does it mean, Norris What
enemy have you to make such threats -
ssI am as completely at a loss about that
as you can be, Althea. This note looks like
the disjointed rawlings of crazy man to
me. Don't let it annoy you. 1t is not
worthy of attention"
s'Have you no idea who wrote it:' fixing
her glance, searching and intent, upon his
face.
"Not the slightest in the world"
''You will not let 1t prevent your going
into-my fathers service!" with percep-
tible pause before the last three words.
"Certainly not. It would take much
more than this to make me change my mind
on that point; if any thing, 1t has the effect
to strengthen my determination"
liam glad of that, but oh, Norris! be
carcful-bc careful of yourself. shall live
in misery if any harm comes to YOU"
There was q deep, excited glow in those
great, dilated eyes, which Norris could not
cutie fathoE He led the conversation
away from tho exciting subject; by making
light of it, he tried to relieve her of further
fears. He was glad that she did not know
the thought which had been suggested to
his mind.
sIt looks as if the villains had spotted
the bank, and were afraid of my interior
ing with their operations. Strange ii l
should come in the way, for the second
time, of that gang. Only one of them would
have used that signature, yet it seems a
most foolhardy thing to do to warn me in
that way. can't understand 1t at all; must
be sharp and watchful."
These were the thoughts which clung to
him after he had parted from Althea. Could
he have looked back through the closed
doors have seen her standing with that
drawn look of pain on her brovTs, he would
have known that he had not left her in such
entire ignorance as he imagined. There
was trouble of her own, too, Snawing at
that proud heart
Have I been so untrue to myself as to
give INV heart unasled land-worse thought! !
.-unworthilya will not believe it. 1 have
faith in Norris If there is baseness and
treachery, he will discover them. have
done right by putting that note in his
hands,"
Vet the consciousness Of doing right did
not bring peace to Miss Everleish's breast.
CHAPTER XIV.
CLOUDS AND PORTESTs-
rorol,s foi,r face wore most unusual cloud