Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-03-09
CHAPTER XI.
IN ONE ACT.

bold. evil experience of wrong-doing, he
4uaileG and weakened like the veriest
Graven.
TO dispose of foe effectually, to
map out a straight course of progress for
a new career, and to have that toe APP
pear, silently, secretly, and score the
etrst point in the game, was enough to
sdjSmay more resOlute soul than that OF
the over-confident plotter.
In flash he discerned the truth. The
Gell-taie ticket had revealed all. A good
conduct badge, emitting an inmate Of
the state pcnitentiary to certain priVi-
!cgcs as a reward for meritorious beha-
vlor, who could have possessed it but
the owner of that number, 1924, who
could have dropped it in the carriage
seat but the driver of the vehicle?
And convict No. 1894, as Arnold Da-
Gre we'll knew, was no other than the eX-
clerk of the bank, the alleged embezzler,
the disgraced lover of Flora MerWyn-
Ray Webster!
He had escaped, that was certain. He
aad returned to Ridgefield. He had ar
rived at an opportune moment, at criti-
cal climax in the affairs of the bank
and he had acted!
Struck dumb with a full realization Of
what that meant the villain. chilled
with vague augury and dread. He had
been mistaken when he had said that
but two persons in the world possessed a
knowledge of the vault combination, the
dead banker and himself. There was
get another, but so securely had he
wound net of seeming guilt about that
Ehlrd person, so strongly had he shut
E.tu in to a loathsome prison cell, that
NY
Webster also knew the secret key to the
massive vault door. That knowledge had
probably saved Flora Merwyn' life, and
had robbed the schemer of his victim.
Hc bad appeared mysteriously, he must
have witnessed the interview between the
sScf4emer and his confederate, John Whar-
6ou, The ladder, the carriage! Rescu-
sng Che imperiled girl, conveying her to
1he vehicle, he had removed her from
she power OF her enemies.
Then. The strong man shivered as he
recalled the awful debt of blight and
wroug the innocent Ray Webster owed
AFGl--as he recalled, too, the firm, reso-
iute nature Of the escaped convict. A
w0rthier champion Flora Merwyn could
not have found, for what vengeance and
3utY might fail to accomplish love would
certainly attain.
'Bafled-beaten, he found voice to
hiss forth at last, and he staggered into
the open air with wild impulse to fly
The scene precipitately. ere the avenger
appeared to bctray, to unmask. to pun
tsh him.
SfEhe money, the fortune-the package
l. entrusted to John Wharton, that first!'
Ac gasped ut is folly to remain here
UQW The story of Ray Webster would
sajse q storm of suspicion that the cor
lucrative evidence of Flora Merwyn
would augment to certainty. No, every
sGour's delay is fraughu with danger. 1t
rs aight row--flight only. [ must see
Wharton, and at once"
4 bitter scowl darkened the sinister
face, Fortune was much; luxury the
Keynote of this mans nature, but the
Ealr face of Flora Merwyn had been a
Eode-star in the past. He was suscep-
tive of at least one genuine emotion-he
valued her love. he had craved it, he had
swuru to possess it, and now, with a
'muJGered maledictiOn he hurried for
ward. All that must be abandoned.
Ne arrived at John Wharton's lodgings.
AT che foot Of the stairs stood a little
EroWp. They were discussing the old
c2eyI'S queer behavior. Dacre glided
auto the shadow and listened to them
eaaSaen.
Hes gone clear daft" spoke one.
''Why! when l asked him if the bank
would pay dividend of ten cents on the
dOttaV, he laughed in a silly way and
said lac expected two millions from the
government in new gold coin tomorrow.
Eyes" spoke up a second land he's
aeen cutting pasteboard into bits, and
pretending they were drafts on New
York oh. his troubles have certainly
driven him wiJless. Poor, honest fellow
little he dreamed of the villainy OF
Others, that was to drive him out in the
>woSld pauper in his old age
4 covert smile crossed Dacre's face
as he stole noiselessly up the stairs.
The court woald scarcely attempt tt
question a lunatic as to the affairs of the
bank. Oh! it was a royal game, ad
<ntrablv played. Pity tor it, that, after
-a,I this shrewd, careful plotting, tligh,
should be necessary, with but half the
precious prey at stake attained!
The sounds of an excited voice raised
(a frantic, incoherent tumult quickened
Dacre's steps. He pressed the knob OF
tho door that led into the old clerks
sleeping apartment. A vivid picture
-IIied his vision as he did so.
There stood the Sheriff, cloud OF
concern and distress on his brow, re-
garding wild, uncouth figure, crouch.
lug against the bed, John Wharton's
ashen face glowesed forth strangely.
Gwen Dacre, believing it all farce, all
,oEetence, lost sight of the superb acting
of his subordinate. in the awful frenzy
the miserable vretch portrayed.
Observation-Disclosures of exchange.
Step up gentlemen, take your choice,
millions in fresh, crisp bank-notes, bill
5ous in government bonds and foreign
securities, and in the vaults-gold."
THUS prated the old clerk, quietly
enough. OF sudden, however, he fixed
hjS eyes on vacancy. With terrible
scream. he sprang to the other side Of
the room