The Irish standard., 1890-10-18


ptect and not to prosech g. al
said Percy.
81 N no laims our protection "a asked.
/ his friend ana counsel or.
Arnida Delaro,' & was the reply
Who has designs on that sweet
lcreature ~ as ed the mil lionaire. Them
| Percy told all he had seen and heard
that night. 81 +.
his mysterious man is undoubted-
| ly bestoWing his attentions on Armida
for purpose Of his own, and as It only
distresses her We must stop it, "
! You seem very much afraid that
Armada is falling into danger in that
mans presence, but don't you think that
she is able TO care for ersel f." '
THAT may be, said Percy, s'but if
| mistake not, that man is designing
old villain, and the less he sees Of
| Armida the better. do not like his
Hooks and he reminds mo too much OF
the man we are looking for.
| At these words Mr. Wilcox sat bolt
4 upright in his chair. He was full Of in
| terest now
| 'sHow do you mean? Does this fellow
resemble tim in features?' he asked.
.'As I never had much opportunity
nor was ever sufficiently interested in
Velasquez' features to examine them
can not positively say, but if this man
looks like him he certainly does not
walk like him, for Velasquez stopped 4
| little end this man is upright almost to
| absurdity. No, what mean is that
I =, 10 NJ, nf G
not such as shonld imagine Velasane
to be. Io2ly wish he had been Velas-
quez'
! Guess I'll have to take a good look
| at that gent in the morning and see
| what he looks like. 1t won't do to have
any suspicious characters buzzing
around Armida, even il they are ship
! owners"
| ''Armida says he has invited her and
her mother to take a few days sail in
his yacht
| 'Did she accept?"
mo, she gave quiet but very posi-
| tive denial He also told her some story
about burying wife years ago in Italy,
and altogether has been quite commU-
NEGATIVE with her." said Percy, between
! rl8 pEnS at his cigar. -..-
| s'Well, we can make it i'm possible for
| him TO get another chance of annoying
| her during the remainder Of our stay
here, and when we get back to New
York it is hardly possible that he will
| meet u.s." -
'sOne good thing about it is that our
address is not yet settled upon, SO we
can not give it to him. was Percy's last
remark. Then the subject changed a
little, although Armida was still the
one discussed.
Mr. Wilcox leaned on the table, and
with a pleasant smile on his face he
looked across. at the man seated oppo-
site to him.
Percy" he said ''you are Il good
deal older than Armida, but tell me
now, like man, don't you love her?"
The question was SO sudden that Per-
CIV was non-plussed. He blushed,
glanced at his feet, and then up at his
employer, who should more properly be
called his friend; then he answered
frankly: Yes, sir, / do. !"
Just what have imagined for some
time" said the old man. Then he re-
/ marked inquiringly: But you have new
/ er told her Of it?"
'sNo, never have, and Tor the pres
ent do not intend to do So"
s'For what reason?"
'sF'irs. and foremost, am too poor. :"
'sThat is no reason at all. You have
sacrificed your future to help me and
am responsible for your poverty, and in
like manner am morally responsible
! for your future well-being and shall
make it roy business to see that you
get your share of the good things of
this world. have plenty and to spare
and guess when you want to marry
Armida, you can get all the money you
want for the asking"
This was long speech for Mr.. vii.
cox to make, but it was in good faith.
"Yet,'' Percy replied, the probable
ties are that If you had not taken me
out of San Francisco should be still as
poor as ever"
''Nay, not so, Percy; you have ability
and it would have been developed. Look
at the way you have handled my affairs,
for instance. Haven't followed your
advice in all my Investments, and
haven't they paid we'll In nine cases
out of temp"
"still was oaly doing my duty to you
as your servant"
! ''Percy Beaufort Lowell" said the
good-hearted millionaire, 81 nave often
told you that object to the word se1con'
being used and applied to yourself 1t
may go over in England, but it don't
go here, SO please don't use it"
! Now Percy knew that when Mr.. Wilcox
| addressed him by his full name the
old gentleman was annoyed, so he felt
he must do something to please him
and bring him back to his usual even
temperament. cit is kind of you to place
such entire confidence in me- Mr.. Will
cox" be said, ''but even if did accept
your assistance could not ask Armida
to marry me at present. I have sworn
to myself to follow up every trail find
until that vile Velasquez meets his
deserts and until we find him or proof
of his death, / can not settle down. Al
l 7 s>~1.4 L., ~ r.