Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-06

preston. His knees were shaky, his pulse
feeble, and his head top-heavy. tie declined
assistance rather sulkily, and descended hold
ing by the stair-rail and stepping gingerly.
Before the repcntant owner OF the puffy
nose and purple ey;id had finished his soli-
tary breakfast, MIR. Norcross came home.
He had obtained bail and was at large.
Looking hastily into the parlor he saw a
stranger, with his hat %jauntily ON ono side,
seated in . damask covered chair, with his
feet on an embroidered ottoman, turning
over a bound collection Of sea m1SsCs, and
lrene's guitar lying across his lap. He was
dumb with astonishment. Polite Number
Two did not leave him 10 burst in Ignorance.
"All right. Mr.. Norcross, l suppose. An
'tachment put on, aud I'm keeper. Sorry to
disturba family. But somebody has 10. Can
| do anything TO obleege your
"Yes, by laying down that book which you
are spelling. And you may take your greasy
boots Off that worsted- work, and nut the
stopper into that Bohemian-glass bottle.n
"Beg your pardon. sir. Didn't intend to
make trouble. Boots has 10 be creased. Won
know. else they crack all out, an don't last
no time; mine do. This ERE cologne is nice,
to be sure. l jest poured out a bit ON my
pocket handkerchief
Cologne! It's altar OF roses; and you've
spoiled more than your neck is w~orth-taking
yourself at your own valuation
"Why, you don't say this is high-costl IL
does smell good, though, hal"
AS he started to go up stairs, Mr.. Norcross
saw the linen carpet-cover spattered with
frequent drops of blood. He called aloud 10
his sister
"Irenel are you therel alivei What's the
meaning of this bloOIi Who has been mur.
deredl Or is this turned into a butcher.
shopF'
Irene and her sister-in-law descended, and
hurriedlY explained the mystery. While
they were standing at the head o. the stairs.
George made his appearance, AMI received
such congratulations from his broth + as
might be expected. He vouclsafel no ,eply.
but went into the room where he had slept 10
get some article he had left. A sudden
thought struck Mr.. Norcross. He fo,Iowel
George into the room. and in "A moment after
returned,-but 50 changed! lana line Cap.
tain Absolute at the duelling-gr uad turned in
a twinking into Bob Acres, Lucy Bvrtram
putting on the frenzied Look OF Mag Nor
ril.e or tn even-temp re | Gratano meta
mtr hpsrd Into he horror stricken, despair
Ing SHY ock at The mament he hears his sen.
tenc', and you iave some notion of the ex.
IANaoiRAt FAAfAhN 49, y hot lNNG wore. His
eyes We're fixed like ba, etu. lights in a bag
card, corr se-like countenance. His hair WINS
disorder,d. He clu card his cravlt as thuu,h
sulrvcatiug. Lis vo.ce was go.le: he wins.
per,d { ebly, like one of Ossian's ghosts
"Gonc, g,irl Who has it Irene, Gather.
inc, Georg ! Who's got III Quick The
money! Goavf
He rushed inio the room again, deaf TO any
reply. lie 81 nlol his hands and knees.
looked under Tie bed, the wardrobe. the
dressing-clse, the chai's. muttering all the
while with n voice like "A dying mans. He
rose M, staggering, AMI st.zed Irene by the
arm, who t.cmblcd with terror at his fe-
rocity.
"The money! Give me the money! You've
got it! You kno you havel Give il to mel
Give"
spray he calm, " said Mrs. Norcross, @you
shall know all about it,"
"Idont want to know, she almost scraained;
Il want the money, the money!
Then dropping his voics 10 a lower key,
and with a tone which was meant to be
wedding, he turned TO his sister-in-law-
you've got ii, thenl How you frightened
mel Come, dear sister, don't trinc with me.
I'm poor, very poor, and the little sum seems
large. Give il TO me. Let me see that II Is
safe. Dear ~sisterl'
al haven't it,p said Mrs NorcrosS aBut
compose yourself. You shall know about
it."
He cried audibly, like a sickly child.
ut isn't gomez No, you play upon my fears.
Where is the pocket bookF
"How are you ever going TO know, II you
won't hearf' askel Irene. al wouldn't be so
unmanly as TO whine so even about a mil
lion"
"No, you think money is as plenty as but
tons. Wal till you starve-sTARvE-till YOU
beg ON n street crossing
"Listen, Z" said Mrs. Norcross.
ADO, aud stop your grooming like a mad,
man." said Irene, c~onsolingly. "When
George met with his mishnp aud fen sense
less, we asked the officer 10 carry him up.
Rather than go IN another flight, wa
had him taken into your chamber. Your
dressing-case lay ON the table. in the middle
of the room, AWAY from It's usual place by the
mirror. The officer at ol &c seized aud
opened it. You al car less'y left your
money in it. He was evidently informed OF
the fact that you had money, and was di-
rected to attach II. He countcd the package
before me, and then put it into his pocket"
During this recital Mr.. Norcross' breath
N0AAAt VtHNh aAA bo N9tS bItittl Whit Ills
muscles all mt once seemed charged with
electricity. He dashed down. stairs, half.a-
dozen steps at a time, and bounced npon UNI
lucky Number Two, who, with tho captivated
Biddy, was leaning at the par,or door, listen
ing 10 the conversation above. SEEING the
officer by the throat, NorcroSs shouted
"Robberl theft Give up that money!
How dare youl Give IL up, | say"
Number Two could not answer, for his
windpipe was mortally squeezed under the
iron grip OF his adversary; therefore, as the
only reply he could make, he commenced the
exercise right and left, and with
such effect, that Norcross loosened his hold
and staggered back.
"Therel | guess you have got enough ont.
What ye talking about moneys | amt got
any OF your money!
Meanwhile, Mrs. Norcross, who had fol-
the Infatuated man, though necessarily
1T some distance, came and grasped his arm
"The man who seized the money is gone"
the said, "This is the one who takes his
Norcross was speeches., but not long.
While hope remained, he had whined, cried,
Implored. Now that he was baffied, discom-
fitted, ruined, his rage broke out The placid
gentleman, whose glossy garb and qniet air .
day before made such a picture OF content,
would hardly be recognized in this furious,
gesticulating lunatic, whose oaths and objur-
came belching forth like sulpurous
1t was ON his gentle sister-in-law
that the weight OF his wrath fell. She tried
TO pacify him, until she became actually
for her safety, and turned to fly.
"Gol" he exclaimed. "You've dono
You've ruined me. Pack OFT
You've ~beggared me. Now look out for
Don't let me see your face againi"
Trembling and fearful Mrs. Norcross went
TO her room TO gather her wardrobe. She
had not intended 10 remain a burden upon
her brother-in-law. Now she must 90 at
once. Even il he were TO repent Of his blind
rage and ask her forgiveness, she felt that
there was an impossible gulf between them.
During the confusion that followed, Num-
Der Two, feeling hungry, went down with
Biddy to u ch.
"It's about the last ov it here, SIR" said
the girl, "an' we may as well ate what il
good and dhrink something betther than
sold wather.n
So saying, the best the house afforded was
set out; wines OF rare vintages were uncorked
and glasses hOb-a-nObbed.
Mr.. Norcross, exhausted with his delirium,
went 10 his room, and there languidly paced
.he floor back and forth, without cessation.
ike a Gagged white bsnr in midsummer.
crawled up TO his own bed. Irene
- - 49,