Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-13
THE BANKERS CRIME ;
Diamond Cut Diamond.
By NATHAN D. URNER.
CHAPTER xn-tContinued.I

CHAPTER Kill -fContinuedJ
Wormer here managed to exchange
glances with his employer and the banker,
as much as to say, Get for me fair
chance at Boncourt. I'm good to pump
him for all he's worth"
I'VE shall then have quite dinner
party" said Marlowe, after an uneasy
pause. Hope you will join us, I'm sure.
Croak and Wormer viii be there, together
with some others"
sShall be charmed, certainly; for Adele
always likes to be alone with headache"
And then Boncourt, who was q gifted
conversationalist, went on chatting agree
ably on various topics of general inter-
est, and monopolizing the talk, until
servant came over from the great house
to announce that dinner would be served
In quarter Of an hour.
Mr.. Marlowe and Boncourt arose, but
Croak, with glance down over his SLOW
emily attire, observed that he would re-
quire the allotted fifteen minutes to
freshen himself up bit, and Wormer,
while carefully wrapping up his precious
bottle in the newspaper he had been read
ing, said that he would follow with his
master.
The two others were then about to
stroll out. when the old woman-Mrs.
,Beane- suddenly made her appearance at
the back door adjoining the woodshed.
is it true, MASTER" she called out,
sharply, that you're to dine elsewhere,
and ali my trouble with this joint of meat
to 90 for naughta"
Back to your den. bedlam, and be
quietl" was the angry reply.
The look, as if peering out through q
sheet of fame. suddenly leaped into the
old womans face.
"Oh, I'll be quiet and be trampled ON,
of coursel" she exclaimed, harshly. I'm
nothing but a slave, q char-woman, q
cinder- drudge, am II But mark you,
Master Croak-"
She paused as abruptly as if striken
dumb, the fame-look flashing away and
leaving the wild, strange face in ashes.
She had at that instant caught glimpse
of Boncourt's handsome face, and was
glaring at it as at q ghost, while for an
instant Boncourt himself seemed tc
change countenance.
-Hag! what are you incoming atP
furiously cried the lawyer, advancing
menacingly toward her. in with you
and lay me out my linen, or I'll put yor
to torture"
She shrank back coweringly before hi
approach.
Of the incident.
what a very odd old creature" lazii,
commented Boncourt. as he strolled on
of the garden with Marlowe. Quite a
rrotesaue as her master. Is she his moth
or or grandmother"
Neither, fancy, and perhaps not 81
very antiquated as she looks, either,
was the abstracted reply, for the banke
was preoccupied with something else.
In fact, he was pondering over Woi
mer's theory, and wondering If there coul
be truth in it. He resolved to ventuT
upon test.
ABy the way, Boncourt, said he, com
ing to pause under one Of the fine shad
trees in front Of his gate, do you kno'
that 7 still feel sore over that let-down 9
ten Thousand pounds ON your sister
dowry2'
aNo, really2"
by Joye, but do, thought Now, jul
suppose case. Suppose should be
ill-natured az to repudiate it--break o
the match altogether you know. Wit
what Justice could you complaint And
and-blast it ALL in what way could &c
help YOURSELF"
Boncourt laughed lightly.
Look; in Just this way, ne repile
and he accompanied the words by brusl
ING from his sleeve caterpillar that ht
fallen from above, and he set his shape
foot upon it in the path, with signii
can't relentlessness of movement.
aHa! ha! pretty good, must declare
laughed the banker, nervously. HOY
ever, though only joking, really dor
believe that you had any such piece
writing as You boasted possession OF ye
I'M terday afternoon.
your memory is at fault, Marlowe.
4 1. lxr nulr ~
you could know that / did not have 1t
my possession
The bankers face frightened, and
ventured upon long breGth Of at LEI
partial relief.
You dare not be more explicit, said
@Yon're again mistaken, for dare ar
thing said Boncourt, his voice or
more having the low, metallic distinctnt
suggestive Of q rapier gliding from
velvet sheath.
aTHeY I was merely 'bluhing' you,
we gamblers say; aosc there is no need
that the cards are in my hands-the "
ming card, which it required no atten
st ssasYder for me to obtain.
Marlowe whitened and trembled,
he could scarcely longer doubt the ma
power.
W8H 8uent @B tH6 N&rAUM0 ~ uAnh1AA We
little accustomed to, hospitality hay
never been one Of its characteristics.
It had caused q futtsr among the
wants, and, AZ fer the good housekeeI
she still seemed to be under the infue
S Of some trepidation as to the true.
auirements Of such D grand ocoasi
even when duly throned at her end OF
table, and with the seated guests rang
smilingly along on either side.
But to no one, perhaps, was the e
Sring so much Of O surprise as TO y
1farIowe. He returned from Jasn
Lodge Just as the guests were about
ing seated. The Appearance among u
81 old Mr.. Alworth and bis daughter
II itself 4 surprise to the young %
such thing never having before
cured in his recollection; and this
increased, together with not Q, little
comfort, BY his presently finding HIM
seated at Gwendoline's side, with
consciousness that LAWYER Croak wa
her other elbow Never till that mon
had Noel received the least intimatio
Mr. Croaks matrimonial designs,
49, ~. - {4aN dias.naad ff3