Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-07-14
CHAPTER TX.
JACK MEETS A REBUFF


sign of interest when the closing sentence
was reached. ga document signed by a
dead man must be something of a curl
osity - he said grimly.
81 was waiting for that replied
Strange. ''Smith, as may continue to
call him, was not dead when the muir
derer threw his body into the stream, ,
the shock revived him, and he crawled
down some miles until he reached a
placer mining camp. Here he was
found by the man l referred to, who
took his dying deposition, had it wit
messed by two ministers who are now
leading citizens of Frisco. AS he died
he dictated to his Tescuer q course of ac-
ton which he has carefully followed.
Pursuant to that he is now in New
York and has deputed me as his agent
to call on the murderer.
And the murderer is
"David Nugent, owner of the happily
named Lucky Shot nine, formerly
known as James Horton, but who as
sumed the name by which John Hous-
ton, nicknamed Dandy Dave, chose to
be known by when he lived and-died in
California
There was pause, and then Nugent.
as he may continue to be called, said
simply and without trace of emotion:
''Have you any proofs?''
''Would I have spoken unless I had?
More than enough for Indictment any
way, and that is all that is necessary for
my purpose.
"Which purpose, to give it plain
name, is blackman. -
E non
"What does your mysterious principal
want?"
''Nothing for himself. He will not ap-
pear in the matter. -
"Why not?''
''That can It tell you. believe he
has scruples. -
"Oh-a blackmailer with scruples?
That's something new. Well, Mr..
Strange, accept your terms. Lem
uel could not keep the look OF gratifica-
ton out of his eyes. 'fBut [ want you
TO understand this. am not one whit
afraid of you or any other living man,
and I do not fight in this case only be-
cause I do not care for one thing, and l
think it altogether to nay interest not to
for another. l have always thought well
of you, Strange, but only as one thinks
of a servant. Now that by your own
skill and audacity you nave raised your
self to my level l respect you. We are
both of us rascals, Strange, and think
you are the bigger scoundrel of the two.
Now that this is all settled LET Us say no
more about it. Matters here, of course,
will go on in their usual way, only you
will, instead of a salary, draw a sixth of
the yearly profits, and Mr.. Nugent
rose as if he had concluded one of the
,pA Fvo orf1n Of
his busy life.
At this moment there was tap at the
door, and the junior clerk en-
tered aud laid card before
Mr.. Nugent. ''Ten Mr.. Houston 1
viii see him IN a moment, - said he, and
the clerk vanished. ''There is one
thing more 1 have to say to you
Strange, - Nugent continued; 81 will
go so far as to tell my daughter that I
won't allow her to marry Houston, of
whom I think shells growing fond-that l
should have done, as you may imagine,
under any circumstances-and / may
possibly tell her that I shall be pleased if
she maTries you-but beyond this 1 shall
not go. Now 90 and tell young Houston
to come IN, - and Strange went, for the
habits growing out of the old relation
ship of master and servant, which had
existed for so many years, could not be
laid aside III an instant.
"Good morning, Mr.. Houston, - said
Nugent blandly when Jack, looking
somewhat embarrassed, was ushered in.
''What can do for your
elf you can spare me few moments
of your time, Mr.. Nugent, - stammered
Jack, 81 shall be obliged. Live a
matter of Importance TO talk to YOU
about -
Certainly, Mr.. Houston. can give
you, taking out his watch, "just |
eleven minutes. VIII that be sufh-
CENT?
"Oh, yes-yes!' said poor Jack, Gam.
pie, Mr.. Nugent, ample, The fact isl,
THAT is to say-Miss Grace and IL
and he came to full stop and looked |
at the coarse featured man
OF business who sat there ImpressiveIy
waiting for him to continue. 'Well,
you see, Mr.. Nugent, - began Jack
again, with the courage born of despera-
ton, GIVE admired your daughter
Grace for q long time-ever since l can
in fact-and l think-in fact
1 know she 5. fond of me, - and he
paused again.
''WeI, sir?'' was the not very en-
response.
Gwen, you see, I came to ask you
Look here, Mr.. Nugent, and the
manly frankness which was one of his
returned 10 the lad. 81
love Grace and she loves me, and 1
want to ask your permission to marry
her. -
ooh, you want my permission, eh? |
Then, Mr.. Houston, l am afraid you will |
want-for that permission 1 shall never
give. -
Jack felt as if he had been struck in the |
face, so Unexpectedly was this coarsely- |
phrased refusal.
q" But, Mr.. Nugent--' he began.
90 But me no butts; as the man III the |
play says, Mr.. Houston. It's no use
discussing the subject, for no discussion |
win alter my position; 1 don It want you |
to marry my daughter, ana if can pre-
vent it you shall not | need not say |
that after to-day, trust you win not |
trouble yourself to call at my house.
"You surely must have some reason |
for this sudden deterioration, - said /
Jack, "for need not point out TO you |
that the intimacy which exists between !
my aunt, Mrs. VanderEeer, and Miss
Nugent, as wei Is youS own conduct /
myself TkES6ae@fo AxTSf,4 n ,ap1,