Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-07-18
CHAPTER TX.
JACK MEETS a REBUFF


nately delivered story, showed some
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 I may continue to
caA 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 ne reached a
placer mining camp. Here he was
found by the man ! 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 rescuer 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 mine, 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
simplysand without a trace of emotion:
HAVE you any proofs?''
90 WoEld l have spoken unless l had?
More, sfflan enough for Indictment any
waSSf and that is all that is necessary for
my purpose.
/" Which purpose, to give it a plain
name, is blackmail. -
''Call it so If you will. -
What does your mysterious principal
want?'
''Nothing for himself. He will not ap-
pear in the matter.
"Why not?''
''That 1 can't tell you. I believe he
has scruples.
Cola blaekmailer with scruples?
That s something new. Well, Mr..
Strange, 1 accept your terms. Lem
uel could not keep the look of gratifica-
ton out of his eyes. 'But 1 want you
to understand this. 1 am not one whit
afraid of you or any other living man,
and do not fight in this case only be-
cause I do not care for one thing, and
think it altogether to my interest not to
for another. l have always thought well
-
of a servant Now that by your own
skill and audacity you have raised your
self to my level respect you. We are
both of us rascals, Strange, and I 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, oaly you
will, instead of a salary, draw sixth of
the yearly profits, and Mr.. Nugent
rose as if he had concluded one of the
least important business transactions Of
his busy life.
At this moment there was a tap at the
door, and the junior clerk en-
tered and laid card before
Mr.. Nugent. 'tTeIl Mr.. Houston 1
will see him IN 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 l
won't allow her to marry Houston, of
whom l think she is growing fond-thatI
should have done, as you may imagine,
under any circumstances-and [ may
possibly tell her that l shall be pleased if
she marries you-but beyond this L shall
not go. Now go 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 IN an instant.
''Good merning, Mr.. Houston,' said
Nugent blandly when Jack, looking
somewhat embarrassed, was ushered in.
''What can l do for you?
elf you can spare me few moments
of your time, MIR. Nugent, - stammered
Tool- ba OblIupd Live q
matter of Importance to talk to you
about. -
seCertainly, Mr.. Houston. can give
YOU, - taking out his watch, "just
eleven minutes. viii that be sufi-
CENT?
- On, yes-yes said poor Jack cam
Sple, Mr. Nugent, ample. The fact isl
THAT is to say-Miss Grace and IL
and he came to full stop and looked
appeaIingly at the coarse-featured man
of business who sat there ImpreSsively
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 a long time-ever since l can
remember, in fact-and think-in fact
1 know she's fond of me, - and he
paused again.
''Well, sir?' was the not very en-
couragIng response.
Gwen, you see, came to ask YOU
Look here, Mr.. Nugent, - and the
manly frankness which was one of his
characteristics, returned to the lad. 81
love Grace and she loves me, and L
want to ask your permission to marry
her. -
''Oh, you want my permission. Ell?
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.
but, Mr.. Nugent-' he began.
90 But me no butts; as the man IN the
play says, Mr. Houston. It's no use
discussing the subject, for no discussion
will alter my positions; don I want you
to marry my daughter, and if l can pre-
vent it you shall not. L need not say
that after to-day 1 trust you will not
trouble yourself TO call at my house. -
''You surely must have some reason
for this sudden determination said
Jack, for need not point out to You
that the intimacy which exists between
my aunt, Mrs. Vanderveer, and Miss