Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-31

Then with a slight laugh. as OF annoy
ancc or admiration: What have Won
found out about her2"
1.-THE secret 81 her life" sail Mary.
''Do you know anything Of her post
life?" she asked. 81 will not tell you
all ] know because I do not wish 10
betray hei II she tells the truth But
she is not what she pretends 10 be-"
The man stared long and earnestly
at the girl before he replied:
"YUu are wrong. The man who has
caused all this trouble is Tom Roy
lance"
"Wcll, we shall see. say that I
have the evidence chat will clear him
even from suspicion"
"Evidence!" cried Gorringc, what
evidence have your II, as you say,
Savannah Morbyn Is mad, how will she
be belicved?"
"Madw cried Mary, looking at him
very suspiciously. IL did not say she
was mad. do you think shc is?''
"You said 40 ch2 oh, well, thought
you did" answered Gorringc, with CON
fusion, which did not escape his com
panion's notice. "Well, it's the same
thing II she has some disreputablc
secret"
~ did not say even that IL wns dis
reputable" answered Mary. but you
seem TO have thought she was mad.
Did you2"
"How on earth should know? !
know nothing about her and Lcr Sc
cret. But say should not accept her
evidence In Toms favor against the
other evidence"
"lt's not for you 10 say what cvi.
dcncc may he given" answered Mary,
warmly. lyon nrc not the judge.
What have now found out viii make
Toms innocence clear no matter what
other evidence may Ice given"
"bo you mean that you do not mind
the evidence nave 10 Ciyc?'
IL mean that we shall prove that
Tom was not in the mill was not any
where near It when the decd was
done, answered Mary
"You set me at defiance, thru?"
"Sct you ut defiance? What can you
mean? How strange you are. Io1
said before that nothing would please
you more than that Toms innocence
should hc proved and that should br
happy with him"
81 am not altogether WE'LL" he said
SIN worried. too, bit. You are
quite wrong about savannah. know
that she Is quite respectable and is to
be trusted continued Gorringe, dog
gedly.
"And | am sure she Is not" returned
Mary, with as much emphasis. Now
wherever can Mr.. Charnley be? lie
must have gone. cannot stay. What.
ever II Is he wants TO say must wait till
the morning"
She got up from her chair and walked
towards the door.
Don't go, Mary" said Gorringe.
standing In front OF the door. Don't
go. II isn't often ] get the chance Of
having you to myself. Stay awhile
here" He spoke with gentle per.
This is no time for yielding TO feel.
ings Of friendship" replied Mary.
"There 10 work TO be done-serious
and important work"
But Mr.. Charnley will be disap-
pointed. Stay little longer. 1t is such
a pleasure for me TO have you alone,
all TO myself; TO look at you, to feel
you are close by me, to know you trust
me-"
81 cannot let you talk TO me like that
again, Mr.. Gorringe. | am Tom Roy
lauce's promised wife"
But Tom Is not free yet, lass. Ho
has TO think about getting away from
this charge before he thinks of prom
ised wife"
''But shall free him. Let me GO,
please"
~ cannot let you go like this" he
said, his voice trembling.
what do you mean2" she cried, u
shadow of fear for the first time cross.
Ing her thoughts.
She was alone with him IL great
building, In room shut away in the
very heart of the mill, where not even
q sound could possibly reach the out
side.
81 mean that J cannot let you go
from me without an answer TO the
questions have been asking you for
some days. II l consent not to give
the evidence will you promise not to
see Tom again7"
mo, certainly not-a thousand times
mol II you viii give the evidence you
must give II; though be sure II is evil
dence, and not such rubbish as you
made up at Toms cottage"
Made up at Toms cottage! / don't
understand you"
Il mean when you mistooh red paint
for blood, and a broken piece Of iron
with which no was making an expert
ment Tor a dangerous weapon"
Without n word he turned to the
safe and took out the packet she had
brought to him before, When he saw
what she had done he held II out II.
front Of him, looking from II TO the
girl and bach again.
II see what you have done" he said,
In a hard, firm tone. "This is your
work TO cheat me, You will repent it,"
he said, deliberately.
"You have cheated yourself" she an-
swered. "But have given you my an
swer. will CO."
He was silent for lengthy pause as
II in thought, Then he looked up and
spoke:
lyon have mistrusted me and tried
TO trick me. You have succeeded In
thati but you have made my task
easier than thought TO find IL, Mary.
] also have cheated you. II was who
wrote the note In Mr.. Charnley's name
TO get you here alone In the mill with
me. 1 also have succeeded. | have
brought you here TO tell you that you
must be my wife. Youare in my power
herei and II you viii not be mine, then
the consequences will DO on your own