The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-16
CHAPTER XVII

nice 10 MIS-. SHllUn, VINO was always
right
CHAPTER XVII
She did not stir, though il must have
been an unuttera5le relief that Mark fol-
! lowed Mrs Smith out He flung some
/ silver down on the table, bidding her get
some chops and be sharp
How long is this tomfoOlery going
/ On?' she demanded, sullenly I'm tired
| out. I've had enough of it. You told me
six months would see the ending, and yet
| here we are, and no nearer, for aught l
| can tell, to it,
so you are tired, Grannie" he said,
with a hOrrid smile, in which he showed
all his teeth. What must l be, them
| You have the best OF the game for you
are paid
! Mrs Smith stared glumpily.
'If she"-jerking her thumb towards
| the door-"had a spark of feeling she'd
chucked 70 oop long sin Do her know
that she amt real wife,"
Marks color went and came
Ceramic" he said, leaning forward;
"Im in a Jolly mess. You know what my
| reasons were for not sending my precious
| burden adrift Well, I've been debating
| the pros and cons of boarding our beloved
parents, by returning her on their hands,
and had come to the conclusion of risking
| it, Why did not take this step earlier
| can't for the life of me see. Anyway
with this sensible resolution started for
| here to-day"
''Well, goa on, can't yo?' seeing he
| paused. "TO air agoin' to do So l hope.
| I'm tired O. beiu' gaoler'
Il only wish to the dickens l could.
| What mlucky fate made me take up with
| her spiritless face | cannot think.
Granuie, I've done for myself. Olga was
dead after all l can't send Nelly adrift,
she's my true and lawful wife!"
Are you positive O. thisl' asked Mrs.
Smith, mmoyediy.
"Bah! do you take me for a simple con-
fding child,'' retorted Mark, gloomily.
Il happened to meet the man to-day
whom paid TO watch Olga's movements.
1t is a loss to him. losing his employment,
poor beggar; he was out at elbow and out
at heel: and if there could have been an
induCement to him to lie, it would have
assuredly been to have kept me imposed.
she only died the week before I took this
creature to be mine-wOrse luck"
"Olga's death don't sim to me to sinni-
fy," observed his hearer her stOlid face
not moving q muscle 'What an if this
un be yor Lawful wife, can't you get rid o.
her as YOU did of Olga} That fact did not
stop YOU afore"
The cases are not analogous. Nelly
has powerful friends with wealth, and
WISH 10 punish. OI, 1 We Hdu Il dow To-
day, but il I've got to keep her for life III
make ii pretty warm for her, ] promise
you. If she can be helped by unkind
words, interspersed with d kick now and
then to kingdom come, by JOve, they
shan't be lacking. Of now sharp, a cou-
pie Of chops each for you and me. The
cold mutton will do nicely for her"
stop; here, come back for a mint"
said Mrs. Smith, recalling him as he was
leaving her. She put her arms al1imbo,
nodding her head towards the door
"She 5 bin at yO'r desk She"
what" roared Mark furiously.
"She hev. | thOwt I'd better tell yo!
She wanted to find that receipt O. Brook
ses' bilI!n
This is your work, you old hag!" cried
Mark, with concentrated fury The re-
ceipt is in my pOcket-book. You wanted
to precipitate matters, did yOu?'
She had gone before his sentence was
finished, Indifferent alike to praise or
blame. Mark his face deathly white
hurried upstairs His desk! he had for
gotten it. Surely he had DESTROYED that
bit of evidence against himself. Why had
he ever written it, 1t was one day when
! the snow detained him malgre lui at Hen
don. To make a confession had been an
outlet TO mis- uneasy feelings. II was cul-
pable folly to have unburGened himself
even to foOlscap But he must have de
strOyed it! He found his KEYS on the
dressing table; the desk he had to search
longer for.
He had it out at last Turning the con
tents topsy-Jurvy; he searched wildly
! through them. A perspiratiOn enveloped
him from head to foot in its moist clam
miness. a grim smile stole over his feat
| ures as he saw Nelly's intercepted letters
to her father. She knew his cupaoility
| by now 1t was as well. No remOrse at
I = !. !
there was regret il was that he had
taken so much trouble to gain so worth
| less on oiect. To out-mGnuever amy he
! regarded not only as lawful, bnt as lauda-
! BILE. As for il being u sin To deceive, he
knew no such creed.
All! The Gunton papers at last, His
! excitement reached fever height as lie
! tore through then. His hair literally
| stood Oh end SO intense was the fear
uuuer which he labOrcd. Its presence
| there meant more than Nelly'S knowing
| it, He unders God from Mrs. Smiths
/ manner and also IRON the utter unScru-
/ pulo1sncss OF her character, that II she
/ knew there was any reason why he
should object 10 Nelly's Investigation.
/ that she mad previously searched and
made herself well acquainted with all he
/ wished to hide.
| The relief with which he discovered
/ that his overwhelming fears had UCea
! groEnul,ss WAS intense Tho writing
! which would condemn him, and which
/ he never remembered destroying was
! not there.
! 'Ha, ha, he was all right still; his
/ secret was his own. 10 was foolish Of
/ HIM 10 suppose that he. with his astute
/ CleVCrucss, should ever be SO cul0dbly
/ careless as TO leave clear proofs OF his
| guilt thiO wing about for any one 20 read.
/ Mrs. Smith mad doubtless seen Nelly
D 1.,+ J.,1r III h., i,