The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-12
sand you knew all the while who I

~CerGalQly. ! our QauSQbeT Hdus mou0
toned your name and identity before
your arrival"
@What a pity! And-and you've sat
there with my niece and listened to every
word Daisy and l were saying?o
awe couldn't do less, sir We were
simply charmed by the very extraordi-
nary views, facts and intentions you
were so rash as to thrust upon u.s."
"To think of our being such fools, pal"
exclaimed Daisy, with an aspect and
voice suggestive Of Mysteries. ~The
mean things!"
"Do you suppose we know enough. pa,
to get back to Montany?" pursued Dali
sy. in tone OF deep vexation. "lf so,
let's order a carriage and start for the
station"
@Not without my money!" calculated
Jerry, deep palor suddenly replacing
the lividity of his features. "You seem
to have forgotten that little point, MIR.
Wynans." ,
aWhat little point, please?" asked
Perry, facing about in his chair.
"NIy money. fou put my money in
your pocket, you'll remember?"
"Your money!" emphasized Wynans.
"Exactly. My two hundred and
twenty thousand dollars"
"Nonsense, Mr.. Skidder! Didn't you
avow to Detective Grimshaw that you
had taken this money from my mines
and that it really belongs to me?"
sInstead of having any Of your money,
Mr.. Skidder," pursued Wynans, quietly,
with smile, ait looks to me as Il l had
merely recovered portion of the sum
you have stolen froil me!
"Stolen?" bluster-d Jerry.
@As you have yourself affirmed in your
conversation with your daughter"
"What! you don't intend to give that
money back to me?" cried Skidder.
springing to his feat, as the full extent
of his disaster Suddenly flashed upon
him.
sNot cent OF 81"
sThen III take It," threatened Jerry,
advancing menacingly.
"See here, old man," warned Wynans,
perfectly unmoved in manner and voice;
aif YOU should be so foolish as to be
guilty of the least violence, even in Ian
guage. will call policeman and send
you to the calaboose. Do look like a
man likely to stand any violence or ag-
gression from rascal OF your descrlp-
tion?"
Jerry wiltcd as abruptly as IL the
point of sword had touched him.
HIf the involuntary payment you have
Just made me has left you short OF
funds" pursued Wynans, II can mako
you small enough to take you
back to Montana.
aYou are very kind sir" sneered
Daisy with scornful ferceness OF voice
and manner, "but we can get along with
out you"
II am glad to hear 1t, returned Perry.
aYour present mood suits me better than
the one you displayed a few minutes ago.
when you were talking Of hooking on
to mel"
The eyes and cheeks Of the rustic
beauty blazed furiously.
aIf I ever do hook on to you," she
declared sternly, ut will be with hook
you will not like. You seem to have
scored one on this ,occasion-I'm frank
enough to avow 1t. But it's a long road
that knows no turn, they say, and we'll
try to get square with you later In
Montana.
q overheard you speaking Of that to
your father" retorted Perry. "Rest as
sured that l shall not be easily Gre
mated"
It cost Jerry Skidder the biggest pang
OF his life to tear himself away from all
thought or hope Of recovering the inyol-
untary payment he had made, but Daisy
had him by the arm, and was whisper
ing all sorts of dire vengeance in his ear,
and he finally acceded to the impulse
she was giving his steps toward the door.
But at the door he halted, facing
about, his eyes cleaning.
ave shall see you again IA due course,
he growed. shaking his, clenched hand
at Perry, "and when we do"
He drew his finger horizontally
across his throat. and worked his fore
finger severa times in rapid succession,
as il pulling the trigger of a revolver.
aGood riddance," was Perry's com.
ment, when the footstep; Of Daisy and
her father had died out of the stairway.
"Nothing could be more tim 'ly than this
separat:on. The old man has told Us
about all he knows, and given US an eX-
cellent insight into his intentions and
projects. What else we could get out OF
him would hardly pay US for going to
Montana in his company"
Looking at his watch again, he rang
for a servant and ordered carriage,
briefly stating the notifications of his
original programme which had become
necessary. The conveyance was quickly
in waiting, and in minute thereafter,
our travellers, joyous and eager. were
rolling rapidly toward the station
FTo BE CoNTINUED.I