The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-02-18
] ] |E|;t0RANERWYhS~
II Q 'z::331;5 j.: III 2fo Q

dragged.
Abashed for the moment, even the
bold, INSCRIPTIONS nature Ct Dacre him
elfquailed. Sorrow for the lover whom
she supposed dead, anxiety for the father
whose form upon the couch an interven-
ing table mercifully hid from her view,
contempt at the duplicity of the two era
ven wretches before her, enobled the
natural dignity Of Flora Merwyn's char
acter. Like all angry queen her eyes
scanned them, like an injured woman
she held them, bai1led, beaten, under the
domination of her flashing, accusing
glance Of Indignation and reproach.
She drew the pocketbook from the I'M
closing fingers of the overwhelmed Da-
ere. She shuddered at the contaminat-
ing contact of his relaxing clutch, but
she Stceied her heart to weakness.
Il know your plots | know you I'M
maSked.' she said simply. ut is you
who have brought about this trouble at
the bank Stand asde-unlock the front
doors. 1 will tell those men the tr nth"
you never shall!"
Her intentions he readily OWNED. She
would dcnouncc him as thief, a swind-
Ter, as the lying hypocriticaI villain he
truly was. She would restore confidence
in her honored fathers name; she would
diSbursc the ready cash contained in the
wallet she had secured.
This, the weak, blind-fOlded being
he had hoped to dazzle and win, or
brighten into becoming his wife, when
grief and despair had left her
no other alternative to save
fathers good name and life. That por-
ton of his fabric of fraud and selfish
ness, the irate plotter saw crumble to
ruins. The intended victim of his
avaricc had arrayed herself as a cham
pion, courageous, undaunted foe in the
battle of wrong against right
Compromise, there was mono in that
dauntleSs face, grown strangely stern
and heroic The child had become a
wOman-the victim an avenger.
'Do not touch me-stand back, mon
stcr. thief cried Flora, with glowing
eyes, as Dacre made movement as if to
seize her forcibly. when my father
returns"
The schemer started. In flash the
truth dawucd upon him. Flora Merwyn
did not know of the arrival Of the
tanker, of the last tragic episode Of the
hour. She had, it seemed, arrived upon
the scene only in time to catch Dacre's
words relating to the wallet He stepped
aside, he pointed to the couch.
"YOur father" he said, Lies there.
They have killed him"
With the quicknesS of lightning, the
girls heart took a vivid alarm at tho
harsh, blunt words. Her eyes directed
towards the couch, a schock that seemed
to unhinge every nerve in her body con-
vulsed her future.
One wild Shrek rang from her lips,
face turned CHASTITY, the Mortified eyes
distended. She tottcred forward with
Outstrctchcd arms.
Father - father! my murdered
father
A suffocating sob checked further ut
terance. The wallet fell from her nerve
less fingers, and, her hands pressed to
her eyes as If to shut out the CORY vision
before her, Flora Merwyu reeled and
fell an inert heap to the floor.
Arnold Dacre breathed more freely at
the complication that had diverted tho
attention of Flora from her announced
purpose Of unmasking his viIlainy. As
he gazed alternately from father to
daughter however, with bent browS, his
face took deeper, more serious frown
than ever
An impulse seemed to come to his
mind, as he regarded the wallet and its
scattered contents, to sieze all the avail
able funds in sight and fly precipitatcly.
thought of the sure pursuit that
would follow, however a longing glance
at the beautiful face of Flora Merwyn,
checked the impulse Then his wonted
boldneSS returned to him, bringing the
color back into his face, and ass urance
to his sinister eyes
only a girl,' he muttcred between his
teeth, with time to cover my tracks, to
get her to safe retreat, l can leave at my
will with a clear record. No, will make
no foolish run for liberty, with a howl
Ing mob after me. 1t would be a confess
sion Of guilt. l will face the music. l
will find some way to silence her lips.
Wharton"
Resolution in his face, Dacre APP
preached the old clerk and touched him
sharply on the shoulder.
John Wharton looked up, vacant,
dazed look in his eyes. For min
ute or two, as he passed his trembling
hands aimlcSSly over his face, he resem-
bled a person just recovering from
shock of terror that had welI-nigh I'M
baIanCed.t the mental faculties.
"Come. rouse yourself and don't set
there like block OF stone" spoke Dacre
irritablY. "Iou see what has occurred.
She knows
'1f you'd only pay the depositors,
began Wharton, gaspingly,
mo more of that" ordered the cashier,
stcrnly. Come. man, have some grit!
Never mind gaping at those two-0ne is
beyond our help or harm, the other I'll
attend to. I'll guarantee her silence,
never fear. All you have to do is your
part"
"Nhat is-my part?' faltcrcd the old
clerk.
speedy, decisive action. I want you
to leave here at once. You haven't the
nerve to face the situation without
tlinching, so I'll undertake that unpleas-
ant task alone. Now, than, John Whar-
ton, it's wealth or misery, freedom or
the pcnitentiary, just as you elect Obey
my orders implicitly, and all will be
WELL depart from my instructions in the
minuteSt particular, and | clamp down
on you not only on that certain dark pas
sage in the past of your life, but as the
man who altered the books of the bank
au1 forged those signatures.
Mercy gulped the miserable man,
writhng in agony. "Tll obey YOU.
Speak your orders"
Dacre took up the wallet that had fall
len from Flora MerwYn'S hands. This,
and package of bank notes and some
papers which he drew from his pocket,
he proceeded to do up in parcel which
he tied securely.
Take it," he commanded, pressing it
Upon the astonshed Wharton.
why, you don't mean"
THAT | make You temporary custo-
dian of all this wealth. and be careful
how You abide the trust. You can leave
the bank safely through the house. AS
an underpaid clerk, the people will
scarcely hinder Or modest you. Secure
the package safely about you, and go
out and mix with them"
They VIII mob me-" chartered the
/ frightened Wharton.
Scarcely, in the role ! intend you
shall assume" replied Dacre, with airy
confidence.
The rolp?" muttered tho Other