Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-10

ts bOstelTy, AT tue DotIom OF MlllBste-
=. same room in which mine host had
I'm the factory lass her mother s
.,,,sit-Dan Ashton and Walter May
80 we're seated, one afternoon about a
-..k after the commencement of the
,.,,ory strike at warringham.
# was very miserable outside; the long
,.,., had at last broken; a keen thaw
"a set in; the snow was quickly disap-
..-irr from the roofs, fields, streets,
which il had lain so long, and the
,Loroughfares Of the town were inches
sson in an icy, sloppy mass of melted
- and mud, which penetrated the
'.artsst shoes and chilled the most Wig
orous feet
The short mid-winter day was closing
On the blinds were drawn, the gas was
,t.btad the door closed, a cheerful fire
Need in the high fashioned CRATE,
s.1 Dan and Mayhem were seated, one
On each side the hearth, their legs
stretched out to catch the pleasant fire.
glow.
s8ps OF the hearthrug, midway between
me two, and within easy reach, and
mon it stood a couple of streaming
glasses Of hot punch.
land now, Mayhem. 2" Dan began as
he sampled his brew, 'what's this bust
Tsss-important business, think you
vrots-yOu wish to see me about?'
otis impOrtant-very Important"
Mathew answered slowly, thoughtfully,
spi with considerable emphasis on the
lat two words, as he stirred his liquid
and swallowed hot mouthful. 81 sup
nose. Ashton, - he added "that We can
talk here without any fear of being over
hesrd?'
"Certainly," mine host responded
with a keen look at the other. "Nancy is
down below minding the bar, Nellie is
out"
cont with that fellow, Eliot, dare
say, " the younger man interrupted, Bit
terly,
"Can't say, but I daresay she is.
Yes, we can talk here without anyone
hearing what we have TO say, Dan
said, his voice falling a little, and his
thoughts wandering back TO that evening
many years ago when he had put a SINH
lar question to Mr.. Richard HARDWOOD.
"What l have to speak about, Ash
ton, Mayhem began slowly, and with
bis SINAI lferret-like eyes fixed steadily on
The landlord IS face, "conoerns yourself,
Nellie Pemberton, and Richard Har-
wood.
1.-THE devil it does?'' Ashton cried,
thinking of the one solitary subject in
which the trio named by Mayhem were
concerned.
"Yes-yOu know what l mean. There
rs but one matter which effects you all?'
''But-but 1 dom know!' Dan re-
Piled with a sudden heart sinking. 81
can I imagine what you are driving at.
You will have to speak palmer, May
heW.
Dan took up his beverage hurriedIy,
and gulped q portion OF 1t down, in a
vain endeavor to hide his confusion.
Mayhem noted the effort and a smile
nIIieo across his freckled visage.
well, III speak palmer then. You
have not forgotten the arrangement you
came to with Harwood SO long ago? He
psys you still to keep your mouth closed.
The child, Of course, Is Nellie Pember-
ton. Is that plain enough, Damp
''By c." burst from Ashton IS lips
/. he jumped to his feet. GLOW did you
get 10 know this? Who told you?"
'lou are satisfied then that I know?H
the younger man asked with laugh.
lyon must know-aud, yet, for the
life OF me, l cannot see how you got TO
know. Harwood wouldn I tell, and no
one else could!"
Except Yourself, Dan.
"And l was 10 more likely TO blab the
lnlng out than HarEocd, Dan NUT
Tered. Tell me how you got TO
know. "
" 1t was partly accidental, partly de-
agh' The first inkling received of the |
secret actually fell at my feet, the rest 1 |
eOntrlyed TO get possession of by little |
scheming -
But how? how?' Ashton asked ex-
gledly. 1t seemed TO him wonderful |
'line that the carefully guarded secret
VI so many years should have at last |
isaAeu out, and in so unaooountable |
manner.
1t was simple enough,'' Mayhem
saN' with little hard laugh. 81 sup
pose you know this letter?''
As ne spoke he inserted his left hand |
u the inner pocket of his coat and drew
,l,,eIrom sOiled envelope addressed to
Or. Richard Harwood. - This he
lSlued to Dan, who after staring at the
.ta cover for a moment, drew out
'us letter II contained and read it.
r, lie STAR, November 20.-Dear Sir: |
w were very unwise in refusing to see
ue Fheu called on Friday night, and
~, J Will be unwise still if you ever again
-'yl'ne to admit me when call. don Z
asan to let you slip through my
-Ssels now any more than
WI years ago. Your secret is worth as
~! now as ever, even more, for the
In In Nellie PembeFton, is q woman
-" Anu she would be willing, dare
=, 10 give good lump if l could prove
~. she is the heiress to all You hold.
.G' bargain is q bargain, and 1 mean
: Aeep It If you will. But If you won t,
! q you know what to expect. AS sure
m pou above us IN expose you, and
m, Nellie Pemberton everything. 1t
~ Ue easy to prove all, as you know.
VIII be fine thing to see Richard
, ,a-"oodr Esq, J. p, turned out of
sun house and ali he owns, aud have
,,'ory Wench put in his place. You
~ -OS can do this, and by G. will If
" provoke me so far.
-. but you win have more sense, /
IN ma, Than force me 20 do this. You
-' Ue wise, and send me the money as
'UAl' Yours respectfully,
..p, "DAN ASHTON. :"
I'M Ilehard HARDWOOD, ESQ.,, J. P.i'
tnls is not my letter-the letter
~ 10 Harwood-but il is q CODY of ito