The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-09-13
Many were the sneculations indulrad In

1t was observed, however, that there
was little love lost between tho two men,
and this seemed TO prove that the one
was somehow in the power Of the other.
Lawrence Richmond had been more
moody than ever. He watched Capt.
Grant from under his shaggy white eye
brows with almost a glare In his eyes,
and once In a while there might have
been seen upon his face an ominous
scowl.
Evidently 1t would have done the old
man good to have been able to get his
strong fingers upon the throat OF the
soldier, and have choked the life out Of
him.
Serene In the enjoyment Of his power,
the captain thought not Of danger and
| yet he was not the man to be caught
mapping
The secret that lay between these two
men dealt with the past, and 1t hung
over the head Of Lawrence Richmond like
the knife Of the gulllotine. The captain
held the keen sword suspended over the
rope, and when he willed it, all that was
necessary was to let the weapon drop
| and off went tho head OF the master OF
Richmond Terrace.
Every day that passed served to in
crease the feeling Of mingled dread and
hatred which the one bore toward the
other, and Lawrence Richmond was fast
becoming desperate.
This last demand on the part Of the SOL
der for his daughter served to cap tho
climax. In spite of his terrible temper
and strange actions at times which would
seem to belle the fact, this man sincerely
loved his child.
She was the only link that bound him
to past that had been full of happiness
and sunshine until that dreadful blow
came which deprived him of his loved
ones except Carol, and left him behind
to mourn when he could not be COM
forted.
The Captain held his secret, and It must
needs be terrible one to cause man OF
Lawrence Richmon1s iron will to bow
the knee to one whom he looked upon as
his inferior. Could It be, then. that this
frightful devastation in his household
was the visitation Of Providence, as
just reward for the crime OF the pasts
Alone In his library the master Of the
4 Terrace paced TO and fro like Gagged
tiger.
His hends we're behind him, his head
low upon hIs breast, aud his every step
quick and sgle, showing hfs irritable,
nervous temperament That he was
wrestling with somo fearful question
could be plainly seen. and there was only
one thought that had power enough to
chain his mind at present
So earnestly was he engaged ln this
strange species OF amusement that he did
not notice the presence in the room Of
the captain, until the latter gave utter.
ance to q how, metallic laugh.
II was strange thing for him to DO
hunting down this old man while at the
Same time he had an avenge. on bis trail
In the shape Of hls antagonist IN the duel
Nora. Warner, the wFonged wife Of
Roger Darrell, who had escaped from the
mad house and was On che trail Of VEN
geance. But 1t Is ever thus with human
nature-dismond cut diamond-the world
over, and 10 would be indeed hard to find
any object In the shape Of mankind 80
low and Insignificant but what there may
be some TO do him homage and fear the
nod Of his head.
The old man looked up quickly, and
the keen-eyed soldier noticed wild, half.
eager look upon his face that he had
never seen there before.
"He has settled upon something; I
can see it by the glitter Of his eyes and
| the way he shuts his teeth. Havoc care,
my old gentleman. or you will find youy
claws nipped still closer, for no man ever
plays with fire unless be gets his fingers
burnt, and to you and the secret hold
constitute that fire."
Thus he muttered, as he waited fo1
Mr. Richmond to speak.
"You heFer said the other at last;
'what a wonder knew 1t not, for gen.
orally I feel the evil influence Of your
presence like deadly vapor falling from
the horrid upas-tree."
"You are disposed 10 be both sarcastie
and complimentary Mr.. Richmond, but
under the peculiar circumstances cap
forgive you. am come to ask a little
temporary loan OF you. which am sure
you will not refuse-a matter Of mere
Thousand or two"
Courses on you and your loans you
will drive me to distraction yet What
II should go mad7 Why, man,
would tear you limb from limb, hate
you 80. Do you ever think of the risk
you are running In prosecuting me thus%
The old man certainly looked wild
enough when he spoke, but the captain
only laughed. He would have laughed
had he been standing over a powder
magazine to which the fuse WAS lighted
and, indeed. to tell the truth, he was ac-
tually doing that now. and he knew 1t.
81 have done nothing 30 terrible, my
dear old gentleman. The case lies In q
nutshell. You had your choice between
providing for me with a small portion Of
your immense worldly goods, or else los
ing the whole Of them, your liberty and,
perhaps, your life. That you have chosen
the former only proves your wisdom.
"You hate me, you say. What cause
have you to do so3 Had 1t been another
man. duty would have led him to taking
the other course, and you would have lost
all. No; on the contrary. you should
thank me. There was always q chance
OF finding It out, and lightning seldom
strikes the same tree twice. hold Your
secret, and while you act like a rational
being there is no chance Of It's being dis
covered by any one else. Defy me. and
well, what is the use OF threats1 You
know me enough TO be sure OF what [
would do"
There was conscious power In the voice
of the captain that was peculiarly aggre-
waiting to the old man. hut he calmed him.
ha Obi