Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-20

say possible menace, to me for years.
sort Of deaths head at my golden BAN
quet, as it were-and now shall be rid
Of him for good. I begin to breathe
freer already. Wonder if he'll act up to
that hint gave him about his daughter
and old Croak. He's foolif he doesn't.
Now to examine the old fellows ac-
countsl" And, passing into middle
compartment, he drew out the heavy
books, opened, and began to examine
them, while muttering to himself.
A few moments later, however, there
was the sound of a door being opened
and shut, followed by steps in the narrow
passage at the side of the Widowed and
paneled partition, and then smart rap
on the rear office door.
@There they are!" thought the banker,
cheerfully responding to the summons;
but, as he opened the door, Mr.. Boncourt
alone entered.
"Glad to see you, Boncourt," said Mr..
Marlowe. shaking hands, and signing the
newcomer to seat at large, round,
paper-littered center table, that stood
opposite to the vault. Where's Adele2"
She's in the garden with Noel, said
Mr.. Boncourt, removing glossy silk
hat, seating himself with an easy, assured
air, and slowly peeling from his white,
womanish hands the elegant kid gloves,
without which he never walked abroad.
Fl told them We would summon them
when everything was in readiness, Mr..
Marlowe."
Unlike his sister, he spoke with slight
ly foreign accent, but his features bore a
strong family resemblance to hers, though
cast in heavier, stronger mold. This
is tantamount to saying that he was
handsome, the only other difference being
that his complexion, unlike hers, was the
reverse of fair. But his face was abso-
lntely impenetrable, and he had eyes, a
mustache, and short, curling hair that
were as black as night.
His dress was so faultless as to suggest
the handiwork of an American tailor, and
the Impression was somehow afforded
that the slender, flexible proportions, SO
admirably clothed. might possess on oc-
casion unexpected strength and activity.
In years, he might have been anywhere
between forty-fi and fifty-fye.
Mr.. Marlowe looked little surprised.
why, everything is in readiness, said
he. Il can send o servant to Croak's 8
Office and have him here in jitfy."
But it's necessary that should inter-
view YOU first, as the Americans say,
said Mr.. Boncourt, placidly. 1T refers
TO the amount of the settlements, you
know
Mr.. Marlowe looked annoyed.
@This was agreed upon between us,
said he, with some stiffness.
sTrue."
-And was to settle ten thousand
x,,1y uovn. x,nx1 an,,oiI
Grafton Of the marriage affording you an
entrance into my sons social sphere
were to settle twice as much on your Sis
ter.
Mr.. Boncourt laughed amusedly.
state the easep
4Thanksl Well, what now?'
Pestel it's o mere trifie. simply find
that have been out in my calculations.
can, in fact, only settle half that amount
on Adele, which will be ten thousand"
IT won't listen to it'll" exclaimed Mr..
Marlowe, his whole manner hardening.
-Sir, this is q breach Of agreement
70 say breach of faithl such reduction
- full moietyl Iwont entertain it for
an instant!4
4 Yes, you will.
The tone was lazy, but assured. Mr..
Marlowe hesitated in . still angrier re-
ply. Still he was not afraid.
fS.' 7 tell you, will not, sirl" he contin-
ned. what! was not the difference in
the settlements more than made up in the
advantages held out to you? Ny son,
inst Of age, is finely educated, well con-
nected, numbering among his intimates
Sir Harry WildinR, Lord Squanderall and
other noblemen. Your sister, widow,
much older than he, and, in spite Of her
beauty, with no one knows what anteced-
ents. And yOurself If
Bonccnrt interrupted him with another
go0d-natured laugh. accompanied, how
ever, by sign to silence.
And myself suppose youlet me speak
for myself, Marlowe, said he, lightly. Il
can improve on your style, excellent as It
is- in it's way. For myself, then with
no connections whatever; o Frenchman
by birth, but cosmopolite BY choice; 9
gambler blackleg, you would call it In
this accursed country almost from my
b0yh0od; and determined aspirant fol
B gamblers q reasons--to those very asso-
.ciations which my sisters marriage to
your son will procure for me. So much
Z for myself. What Of it2 II has been no
secret 10 you from the very first. I have
been perfectly frank with you. i will be
still franker, and avow that my heretofore
frankness was dictated solely by policy.
From the FIRST you understood my scheme,
A why did you take il up2 IA.
Mr.. Marlowe hemmed and hawed with
ont making reply.
u *