Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-05-03
6bat 6qFrible Map.
BY W.. E. NORRIS.
CHAPTER yI-(continued.)

but we must accept facts. At first L
really thought that she would succeed
In defying him. He few into a passion,
and frightened me out of my senses;
but she did not care a bit, and it was
only after he had recovered his cool
ness that SHE seemed to waver. You
can't imagine anything more curious
20 watch than the way In which her
will staggered, us it were, and then
suddenly broke"
Mrs. Patterson's manifest enjoyment
of this spectacle was infuriatng to
Everard, who nevertheless subdued his
wrath.
IL think It win he all right when I
have seen her" he said, quietly.
Il hope so, I'm sure; but you cannot
see her to-day. TO begin with, he
has forbidden II, al;1-"
"This is monstrous!' Interrupted
Everard, jumping up. DO you sup
pose that / am going to submit to his
commands?'
Dear Mr.. Eyerard, remember what
i told you; you must nave patience, and
plenty Of it. Besides, Laura Is really
not in a state to talk to you to-day.
She is completely tagged out, and IL
she did see you, you would gain moth
Ing by it Shall / tell you what l
Think
II shall b4 very glad" answered
Eyerard, sitting down again.
"Well, then, / think that, instead OF
fighting Count ~Souratkin, you had pct
ter try to make terms with him. de
did not tell Laura distinctly that he
meant to marry her himself, but he
gave me to understand as much, and l
feel convinced that what he wants Is
not her, but her money"
THAT Is extremely probable"
"And what you want, i imagine, Is
not her money, but her"
DO you mean to suggest that Miss
Denham should hand over her fortune
TO this many"
Mrs. Patterson sighed. II believe that
if she did he would leave her in peace;
and peace is better worth having than
money"
Il could n4rer be a party to such a
transaction. / can't prove to you that
\ am not mercenary; but / will ask you
TO take my word for the fact. As for
aiding and abetting Count ~Souratkin,
or any other rascal, in a robbery, I
wouldn't do such a thing to save my
life. Added to which, / can imagine no
surer way Of strengthening his hold
upon Laura than yielding to him."
He would cease to prosecute her
when there was nothing further to be
gained by so doing"
$50 long as she or her husband had
a guinea there would always be some
thing to be gained. No, Mrs. Patterson,
that plan will not do. And now, in
spite Of what you have said, / must beg
you to let Laura know that / am here,
and S her to speak to me, IL it is only
Tor five minutes"
Mrs. Patterson obeyed; but presently
she returned, shaking her head. Laura
Is very sorry" sine said; "she hopes you
will forgive her, but she does not feel
equal to meeting you to-day. IL you
viii call tomorrow afternoon between
four and five o'clock, she will be down
stairs, and, of course, 1 will leave you
together. Perhaps you are right about
the money, but / have my misgivings,
I own. You are not fighting with a
man, but with a devil"
: "Never yet" remarked Everard, "have
4 heard that 1t Is good POLICY to give
way to the devil. Moreover, Count
Souratkin is not the devil at all, but a
vulgar Russian imposter. However, /
know that it is vain to try and pursuade
you of that" And SO he departed, with
IN uncomfortable conviction that the
vulgar imposter had got the better of
him this time.
He had not proceeded a hundred
yards down the street when he en-
countered, and almost ran against, the
subject Of his thoughts. Souratkin
smiled, raised his hat, and made as
though he would have passed on; but
Everard. not overwisely, perhaps, de-
tanned him.
"If you are on your way to call on
Miss Denham," he said, II can save you
the trouble Of going any farther. She
Is not well enough to receive visitors"
S0uratkin's smile was ironical, and
even a triie insolent. That is a pity"
he answered; but / shall ask for Mrs.
Patterson, who is NJ doubt at home"
"Count Souratkin," said Everard,
brusqIely, II don't know why / should
not use plain language with you. You
are aware that Miss Denham and 1 are
engaged to be married, and I hear that,
for reasons best known to yourself, you
have been trying to put a stop to the
engagement. Now / wish you to under
stand, once for all, that 1 am not going
TO tolerate that kind Of a thing"
Souratkin raised his eyebrows. "But,
dear sir, how can you help t~olerating
str ne asked, suavely. II am an old
friend of Miss Denham, an old friend Of
her father, and / should think to fail
In my duty If / did not advise her when
an important crisis of her life presented
itself. ! am not able to advise her to
marry you--no; / do not think you a
suitable person to be her husband. 1t
grieves me to say this; but in hon
esty-"
In honesty interrupted Everard,
you would have to say something
quite different, and that would not
serve your purpose. Well, 1 only
wanted TO warn you that you will find
me a rather tougher customer than Mrs.
Patterson. Use your influence with
Miss Denham, by all means, and / will
use mine. We shall see who will win"
For an instant Souratkin's face
clouded over, and a CLEAN shot out
from his narrow eyes. your infiu.
ence!' he exclaimed roughly; you have
no influence" But he recovered him.
2.I2 A.