Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-09-21

was Annie Dupont, sorr, an niver knew
ut"
The narrative becoming slightly In
VOWED here, North, who had followed II
thus far with intent look fixed upon the
speaker, interposed.
81 don't understand what you are
talking about, Dennis" he said, little
impaticntly, but | gather from what
you say that you know something
about Annie Dupont. Is this SOP"
Sure, an haven't been thryin' TO
till yer honor that same2" protested
Dennis, eagerly. at was tillin'
friend about IL that was, an about
thin paphers that contain all the infor-
nation that thin New York lawyers
are advertiser for, an the paphcrs safe
In Ann O'Gorman's clutches, bad luck
10 her, whin yer honor shipped up TO
me on the strate an sc2, quict-lilsc: I'll
give yez fifty dollars, Dinnis, II ycz wull
bring them paphers 20 met An that's
the long an short Of our agrayment,
sorr"
And Dennis rubbed his hands to-
gether complacently MS II satisfied that
he had now made tho case sufficiently
comprehensive even to Mr. North's
mind.
North was regarding o'Reilly with
close attention, and up 10 this point he
felt reasonably convinced of the mans
honesty Of purpose. II this were true
this story OF which already enough had
been told 10 suggest its remaining de
tails-then IL seemed quite possible that
he would he able 10 accomplish the
mission on which, as the representative
Of Hunter & Ketchum, he had come to
K. But did he now honestly wish
for this contamination? lie had per-
sonal interests that were trembling in
the balance; how would these be eff
fectcd by the discovery and
| Identification Of Annie Dupont and the
establishment Of her legal position us
her aunt's heir? Would she make an
effort to discover and pursue with all
| the penalties of the !. ~ the authors of
| that forgery by which IL hud been at
tempted to wrcst her inheritance from
| her? Should he, who held n brothers
good name in his hand, place it within
| her power to seek this rctribution? lie
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
dcfinable 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 n
swift rccoil from this temptation, Il
| feeling of amaZcmcnt that he should
have entertained such a thought. Ollin
must be shielded II possible, but not ut
such II cost rs that Rather, for Ollin's
sake, TO undo as far as possible the ter
rible wrong that he had attempted.
This unknown, fricndless orphan, heir
TO proud name and wealth, though
now living perhaps in humble obscure
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 in
quiries.
GLOW 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 n pause of recol
lection.
"But when was that2 know moth
ing about Teddy O'Corrigan's wake
Can you not tell me more definitely
than thatp"
Dennis reflected again with his fac,
contorted as II the effort Of memory
were n painful one.
"Indadc, thin" he exclaimed, sudden
ly radiant with triumph, lit was sooI
after st. Patrick's day, for remembe
that poor Teddy died Of a brick-bat II
the hands of one OF the byes, which
same was nivir mint for Teddy at all, a
all, but for the blatherin' perliceman tina
was maxim himsilf troublesome TO tn
byes in the purade."
"St. Patrick's day?" repeated North
''Then II Is nearly year since Patricl
told you. Have you talked TO anyon
about the matter during this timer
"Nivir n bit, SOFT, till the day viii
} yer honor heard me tellin' Jim Nola
about it."
) WAS that before or after you ha'
5 written 10 Hunter and Ketchum, q
p New York, offering to give them thi
= information2"
, Tho question was asked sternly, an
p North's face was equally stern as h
spoke.
, Dennis started as II he had been sho
! and his eyes grew more round tina
| ever in his establishment and disma,
7 He was beginning TO stammer out som
. answer, when North coolly added;
/, Don't lose your senses, now, nor a
tempt to evade my question. happe
( to know all about that little affair an
S ! wish to know whom you commun
+ o-.ted with first: for 1t is pretty evider
that you have been accommodation
Z enough to offer yourself to both partie
4 Come, now, to my question again. WI
II before OF after you had written
II Hunter and KetchumP"
p Dennis had not yet recovered fro
II the confusion into which he had bee
r thrown ON being thus suddenly Co
r, fronted with his double-dealing; but l
answered, humbly;
m ut was after, yer honor"
is First claiml" reflected North, co
T. scious of slight satisfaction in II
lie thoughts then he added, addressir
Dennis sharply;
G. Don't you know that, having col
o. municatod with Hunter and Ketchu
n as you did, you had no right TO enter |
80 TO any similar negotiations with anyoi
lo elseP However, us events have dev,
\