The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-02-25
L0RA NEW TN5~
H. q az2 z $780, FORTUNE.
}55-z M2RsE- ~ =
What is it,"

What IL IT."
Never mind. You say I can trust
you. Hide It,"
Hide it?'' came the parrot-like mono
tone. "Whcrc?"
where you will, so it is safe. It
haunts me. l can't think. My brain
, seems rceing, but it must be safe
Don't tell me where, only hide it. a
thousand angels seem tugging at my
heart-StringS to restore it to her, one
gaunt, menaoing demon says no, and l
dare not refuse. Hide it safe, secure
If anything happens to me"
at won't-master! Oh, it surely
won't! You are only half daft over the
| trouble at the bank"
''If it does, go to Arnold Dacre and
tell him entrusted the package to you.
Deliver it to him. No, no! | can ex-
plain no more, only obey. | have task
to pcrlorm-a task to perform-a task to
PERFORM
Way down the stairs echoed the last
words of the strange monotone. Hold
ing the packet in his hands, the cripple
only knew that its owner had fled from
the room as if poSSessed-that it was en-
| trusted to him for safe-keeping.
ut must be valua OLE" he muttered
with concern" too valuable to hide here
in Rdgefeld, or he'd have done it.
known place-up the rivera safe
place, a sure place"
The man with a mission to perform, -
had meantime gone out upon the public
! streets of the town, had mingled with
the mob, had executed that mysterious
task apportoned to him by his tyranical
master.
1t was full eventide when he returned.
| If his face had been pallid at noon, it
was CHASTITY now. His eyes, rolling,
| haunted, seemed to turn and dilate on
rickctty pivotS, continual tremor OF
the bloodleSs lips told of emotion that
was fast sapping life and energy with
| its intensity.
I've done it," he muttcrcd. II have
succeeded oh, the pitiful farce, oh. the
! Misunderstanding effort
Utterly unnerved, Wharton sank to a
couch. The grey shadows came through
the windows, the deeper dusk began
to penetrate the lovely room.
He tried to resin vain. His hand
would seek his head, his eyes would
| glare strangely. Once he started up
with a terrified cry, and stared at a
| corner of the apartment, as ii his fevered
| fancy depicted some horrible wrath
! lowering there.
"Thc old man." he Chattercd "the
poor, honest master who was so kind to
] me. Murdered, | can SEQ his CORY
locks OF silver now, oh, mercy, mercy.
| | didn't do it. | didn't do it,"
| He shrieked forth the words and
! pressed his hands over his eyes, as if to
| shut out the awful picture that haunted
| him.
Il can't stand it," he gasped at last,
! arising trembling in every limb, and
! gliding like thief to table.
| A bottle he had brought stood there.
| He took up a glass. So unsteady were
| his fingers, that the flask ratified against
/ the goblet like hailstoneS on a thin
pane
| Suddenly bottle and glass went crash
| ing TO the floor A violent shock had
tension reached its highest bcarablc
/ point.
| Something snapped in John Wharton 5
| head-somcthing gave way il the mental
| equilibrium.
A strange cry like the whine of a dog
when stricken with poison, escaped his
| lips.
Its Gomez he whispered in hollow
! tones; ''oh, God! whose laws | have out
ragged, whose commands | have rejected,
mercy. mercy
Fighting off imaginary hosts Of bat
Ting demons, shricking, covering, the
duh hOpcleSSneSS of the idiot in his eye,
the fury of the maniac in his twitching
face, the convulsiOn shook the strong
frame as by cyclones breath and then
cast him prone on the floor, quivering,
jaObcring, helpless.
ut had come" at last indeed,-thc
silver cord was Iooscd, the wheel at the
CIstcrn was brokcn-the mailed menace
of doom had crushed him, and the worst
had bcfallen John Wharton-thc hand OF
heaven, Retribution,