Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-07-05

"After beng nearly killed while project
ing their property-yes, 1 read about that,
and think he was shamefully treated, u
cried Carol, Indignantly. ssMiss Everleigh
don't believe any thing bad about him Did
you see how she kept him with her lust ia
show how much she thought of hint
| don't know whether ought to tell YOU OF
not
There was a roguish glimmer in the
pretty face as she broke off-a side glance
OF knowingness that invited him to urge the
point.
'sWhat, you little teasep'
Snow, Lyman, if you are going to walk
OF with that letter, I'll no. tell you. am
dying t. know just what our venerable
uncle has left to Us. He was such a myth
always that it seems just Like Il castle in
Spaln-doesn't it to you-and l expect the
fortune to take wings before it reaches US
yet"
Confidence for confidence" said Lv-
man, putting the letter behind his back.
what were you about to tell me2'
"What l wasn't about to tell you is that I
saw Miss Everleigh glance from him to you
as if she were mentally comparing you, or
may be wishing that you were in his place
though don't think it was that, don't see
how 1t could be-" said Carol, with laugh
which showed plainly enough that she
thought this handsome brother of hers SUI
perior to Bergman. Alas for poor Norris !!
He might be madly in love, the girls heart
was not touched. And why should it be,
pray? She had met him in the thronG and
waftzed with him once; he was neither
more nor less to her than a dozen other
young gentlemen who had shared the same
privilege. All his interest in her and her
brother and the mysterious package was
unknown to her.
Before there was time for the exchange
of confidence agreed upon, the servant of
the household appeared to say that gen.
tleman was waiting to see Mr. Lyman.
'.If it is your Mr.. Ingot, do keep him in
your den," said Carol, taking her own way
to the parlor; but it was not Mr. Ingot
whom Lyman Childer confronted the
next moment. 1t was Norris Bergman,
come to lay bare the story which he had
been here snce before to tell.
Lyman Childer listened to it with COM
posture which amounted almost to indiffer-
ence; only once did he show any evidence of
interest, and that was when the scar on
Mr.. Ingot's head was mentioned.
81 saw that myself" he declared.
thoughtfully. s'But is it not rather far
fetched to connect your find with his acct
dent, whatever it may have been. Excuse
me, but could no sooner suspect our book
keeper of turning train-robber than could
believe it of myself"
ssIf you only had an idea of what that
package contained" uttered Norris, regret
fully.
Lyman's eyes dropped to the letter which
he carried yet unopened in his hand.
''Since seeing you, 1 have had little
light on that matter. A relative of ours
recently died leaving considerable property
that he forwarded copies of important pa
pers which have failed to reach me-not a
material matter, you see, nor one without
remedy. I'm as much obliged to you,
though, for your zeal in our cause"
Norris got up to take his leave, feeling
that he had received rebuff.
II fear you will think have been over
officious in the matter, as others have, evil
IDENTIFY. beg your pardon in that case. May
l have the pleasure of paying my respects
to Miss Childer before l goln
Il think Carol is engaged" said Carols
brother, with deliberate GOODNESS, and Nor
ris went without the sight for which his
heart yearned.
As the door opened for his departure, it
admitted Ingot. The latter nodded affably,
ignoring all unpleasantnesS between them,
but Norris gave him chill recognition and
passed on to the street.
Il wash my hands of all of them,' thought
he, passionately. "Ah, Carol, could wish
for something else with you, but how can I
persist after such plain snubbing: This
fortune which has come to her would stand
between us if nothing else did"
In the meantime, Mr.. Ingot passed into
''the den,'' which was Lyman's exclusive
retreat.
$50 you had Bergman to call on you," he
r,marl<pd ssWhat did he want2H
'sHe came to warn me against you"
she did, eh.' Mr.. Ingot seemed might
lily amused at the idea. ''And you took the
warning, of courses You're ready to be-
lieve gobbled up your secondhand papers
after risking my neck and committing a
train robbery to get them"
Il told him I'd as soon suspect myself as
you"
ssRight you are, old fellow You're the
sort of friend for me. Put it theren' He
stretched out his hand, and Lyman rather
reluctantly put his into it.
"But say" he went on. "Hasn't it oc-
CURED to you how disappointed the chap
would be who did get the bundle! de-
clare, I've laughed more than once since
you told me what was in it. l reckon he
looked for nothing short of United States
bonds, or mebbe treasury notes for a hum
dred thousand dollars or so. Just fancy
him when he opened 1t! Good thing Tor you
that it warn't the original of them there
deeds and mortgages" Mr.. Ingot had a
slipshod fashion of speech which was good
enough for all ordinary occasions, though
he could be more correct when he so de-
sired. '.But didn't come to sit gassin' with
you all night l want to see that pretty lit
tie sister of yours. I'm struck on the girl,
and guess she knows it."
sShe doesn't return the sentiment, I'm
afraid" said Lyman, with curl of the
upper lip.
sOh, well. she will. That's one comfort.
Don't you say son'
81 don't know what you mean"
sob, guess you do. I think we under
stand each other. Don't bother to come
along, know the way. Stay and read your
letter. It's from Farraker, dare say; more
about that lucky inheritance of yours. Just
be little careful how you dispose of your
sisters portion; if she should marry soon,
she'd want to give it over into her hus-
bands hands, of course; quite the proper
and correct way of doing, and it amt at all
| unlikely"
ssConfound the manr' muttered Lyman
| between his teeth, when the other had with
drawn. SIS he actually after Carola 1t is too
| bad-too badr'
CHAPTER VII
CLEw,