Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-02-12
AVENGED At LAST:
Or, a Worldwide Chase.
A STORY OF RETRIBUTiON.
BY SH.'s
iCoPYRIGET, 1901

'Armida Delaro," was the reply.
who has designs on that sweet
sreature?" asked the millionaire. Then
Percy told all he had seen and heard
| that night.
This mysterious man is undoubted-
ly bestowing his attentions on Armida
for a purpose of his own, and as it only
dlstresses her we must stop it"
You seem very much afraid that
Armlda is falling into danger in that
mans presence, but don't you think that
| she is able to care for herself?''
| THAT may be- said Percy, ''but if l
mistake not, that man is designing
| old villain, and the less he sees of
| Armida the better. l do not like his
| looks and he reminds me too much of
the man we are looking for.
At these words Mr.. Wilcox sat bolt
upright in his chair. He was full of in
terest now.
| How do you mean? Does this fellow
resemble him in features?'' he asked.
LAS ] 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 a
| little and this man is upright almost to
absurdity. No, what / mean is that
| his character and method of action is
not such as 1 should imagine Velasquez
| to he. / only 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
| around Armida, even if they are ship
owners"
"Armida says he has invited her and
! her mother to take few days sail in
| his yacht"
! Ibid she accept?"
mo. she gave a 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
the puffs at his cigar.
well. we can make it impossible 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."
zone 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, 'syou are good
deal older than Armida, but tell me
now, like man, don't you Love her?''
The question was so sudden that Per-
cy 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 nev-
err told her of it?"
mo, l never have, and for the pres
ent 1 do not intend to do So"
For what reaSon?"
"Firs, and foremost, l am too poor"
THAT is no reason at all. You have
sacrificed your future to help me and 1
am responsible for your poverty, and in
like manner 1 am morally responsible
for your future well-being and shall
make it my business to see that you
get your share of the good things of
this world. l have plenty and to spare
and l guess when you want to marry
Armida, you can get all the money you
want for the asking"
This was a long speech for Mr.. Will
cox to make, but it was in good faith
yet" Percy replied, 1.-The probabili-
ties are that if you had not taken me
out of San Francisco l 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 l followed your
advice in all my investments, and
haven't they paid well in nine cases
out of temp
.'Still was only doing my duty to you
as your servant
Percy Beaufort Lowell" said the
gcod-hearted millionaire, II have often
told you that object to the word serUant
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. 1T is kind of you to place
such entire confidence in me, Mr.. Will
cox" he said, ''but even if l did accept
your assistance could not ask Armida
to marry me at present. / 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, l can not settle down. AT
any moment i might have to 60 off to
a distant part of the country or abroad
and under such circumstances wife
would be n burden. Moreover, my
thoughts are so intent upon the work of
running her fathers murderer to earth,
that in my abstractedncss at times she
might think that l did not love her.
Then there is another matter quite
worth consideration. Suppose she would
not have me?"
Hardly any fear that she would re-
fuse you, my boy. | can't see through
brick wall. but l can see through
ladder. and if that girl is not in love
with the secretary l am very much
Mistaken remarked Mr.. Wilcox.
You have never heard Armida talk
about an Englishman's love, though,
remarked Percy.
''Can't say ever did," was the reply.
.sWhv. she saws an Englishman's love |