Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12

put upon WIDER footing than that: let
me think" and he turned away to the
open window; but when he got there he
/ saw lot Of miners clustering about.
| Now he had no fear of theirrecognizing
/ him. since he had not left yestiee Of
| the printed description. But the very
! sight of them, and the memory of what
/ they had done TO his dead accomplice.
| made him shudder at them. Hence
F., forth he kept away from the window
! and turned his back to it.
! L think with you. sir" said lie. melli-
f1uOusly. that she ought to have a few
| thousands by way of compensation.
| You know she could claim alimony and
| be very blister to you and yours. But
on the other hand | do think, us an im-
| partial person, that she ought to keep
| this sad secret most faithfully, and even
! take her maiden name again"
Whilst MOnckton was making this
impartial proposal BARLEY opened the
door, and was coming forward with his
| deed. when he heard voice he recog-
nized: and partly by that. partly by the
fellows thin lips he recognized him,
and said, 'Monckton! That villain
| here!"
"Monckton." said Colonel Clifford.
that is not his name. 1t is Meredith.
He is clergyman" BARLEY examined
| him very SuspiciOuSly. and Monckton.
| fectly calm and innocent Meantime a
note was brought to Colonel Clifford
well, then" said BARLEY, very IN
| willingly, they acre clerks in my Office,
and this one robbed me-"
"One thing at time" said MoncktOn.
did | rob you of twenty thousand
L.
ford?"
His voice became still more incisive,
| and the curtain of the little room OPEN
ed little and two eyes of fire looked in.
DO you remember one fine day your
| clerk, Walter Clifford, asking you for
leave OF abSence-tO be married?"
BARLEY turned his back on him con-
temptuouSly.
But Colonel Clifford insisted on his
Eyes, he did" said BARLEY, sullenIy.
But" said the Colonel, quietly, "he
thought better of it, and so-you mar
ried her yourself"
This bayonet thrust was so keen and
sudden that the villains Self-p0ssession
left him for once. His mouth opened
in dismay, and his eyes, rowing to and
fro, seemed to seek door to escape.
The curtains were drawn right and left
with power, and there stood Grace Cliff
ford, beautiful, but pale and terrible
She marched toward him with eyes that
rooted him to the spot, and then she
stopped.
me, and tried to kill me. Look at his
white face turning CHASTITY beneath his
paint at the sight OF me; look at his thin
lips, and his devilish eyebrows, and his
restless eyes. This Is the man that bribed
that ac1etch to fire the mine"
These last words, ringing from her
lips like the trumpet of doom, were an
SWered, as swiftly as gunpOWder eX-
plOdes at a lighted touch, by furious
yell, and in a moment the room seemed
forest of wild beasts. A score of Ia
ging miners came upon him from every
side, dragging, tearing, beating, kick
ing, cursing, yelling. He was down in
a moment, then soon up again, then
dragged out of the room, nails, fists,
and heavy boots all going, stripped to
the shirt, screaming like a woman. \
dozen asSailantS rolled down the steps,
with him in the midst Of them. He got
clear for moment, but twenty more
rushed at him. and again he was torn
and battered and kicked. "Policei po-
fce!" he cried; and at last the detectives
who came to seize him rushed in, and
Colonel Clifford. too, with the voice Of
a stentOr, cried, "The law! Respect the
law, or you are ruined men,"
And SO at last the law he had SO
dreaded raised what seemed a bag of
bones; nothing left on him but one boot
and fragments of shirt, CHASTITY, bleed
ing, covered with bruises, insensible,
and to all appearance dead.
After q short consultation, they car
ried him, by Colonel Clitford's order, to
the Dun Cow, where Lucy, it may be
remembered, was awaiting bis trium-
plant return.