Iron County register., 1893-07-13

been told to suggest it's remaining de-
tails-then it seemed quite possible tha,
he would be able to accomplish the
mission on which, as the representative
of Hunter & Ketchum, he had come &c
| ". But did he now honestly wish
| for this consummation? He had per.
sonal interests that were trembling in
the balance; how would these be ef.
fected by the discovery and
| Identification of Annie Dupont and the
establishment Of her legal position as
her aunt's heir? Would sfe make an
effort to discover and pursue with all
the penalties of the law the authors of
that forgery by which it had been at
tempted to wrcst her inheritance from
her? Should he, who held a brothers
good name in his hand, place it within
her power to seek this retribution? He
was no longer the champion of Annie
Dupont. For one moment of passionate
feeling, of desperate temptation, it
seemed to him that he could ruthlcssly
sweep her from his path, upon which
she had so suddenly risen with an in
dehnable menace, and shroud in deeper
mystery than ever before the fate of
one whose truthful history the world
should never know.
But with the. next moment came a
swift recoil from this temptation, a
feeling of amaZcment that he should
have entertained such thought. Ollin
must be shielded if possible, but not at
such a cost as that. Rather. for Ollin's
sake, to undo as far as possible the ter
rible wrong that he had attempted.
81. Il los~
to proud name and wealth, though
now living perhaps in humble obscuri-
ty, must be sought out and placed in
possession of her rightful inheritance.
North had been slowly pacing the
floor while these thoughts were pass
ing through his mind. Seating himself
now beside Dennis, he continued his il
quiries.
How long have you known these
facts about Annie Dupont, Dennis?'
liver since me cousin Patrick tould
me. at Teddy O'Corrigan's wake, sorr,"
returned Dennis, after pause of recol
lection.
But when was that? I know moth
ing about Teddy O'Corrigan's wake.
Can YOU not tell me more definitely
than that?'
Dennis reflected again with his face
contorted as if the effort of memory
were painful one.
''Indade, thin" he exclaimed, sudden.
ly radiant with triumph. 1T was soou
after ST. Patrick's day, for l remember
that poor Teddy died of brich-bat in
the hands of one of the byes, which
same was nivir mint for Teddy at all, at
IL hot
was maxim himsilf troublesome to the
byes in the purade.'
''St. Patricll's day?" repeated North.
''Then it is nearly year since Patrick
told You. Have you talked to anyone
about the matter during this time?'
''Nivir Il bit. sorr, till the day whin
yer honor heard me tellin' jim Nolan
about it,
WAS that before or after you had
written to Hunter and Ketchurn, of
New York, offering to give them this
information?''
The question was asked sternly, and
North's face was equally stern as he
spoke.
Dennis started as if he had been shot,
and his eyes grew more round than
ever in his astonishment and dismay.
He was beginning to stammer out some
answer, when North coolly added:
Don't lose your senses, now, nor at
tempt to evade my question. happen
to know all about that little affair, and
l wish to know whom you communi-
Gated with first: for it is pretty evident
that you have been accommodating
enough to offer yourself to both parties.
<<~v
it before or after you had written to
Hunter and Ketchum?"
Dennis had not yet recovered from,
the confusion into which he had been
thrown on being thus suddenly con-
fronted with his double-dealing; but he
humbly:
1T was after, yer honor"
TO BE CONTINUED.