The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-09-10

the ghost from the other world which
Abraham's affrighted looks proclaimed
that he might well have been.
There is the key If that box" said
Tony, throwing upon the table the
small key which he had found in
Abraham's pocket.
That key Stanley hastily snatched
up and thrust into his pocket.
Abraham recovered voice sufficient
to mutter, his fearful looks still fixed
on Tony, hat it was no use dealing
with the devil; and then, gliding rapid
ly towards the door which led towards
the garden, dashed it open and disap-
peared.
Tony laughed, and, addressing Stan
ley, said: He won't go far-and If he
did it wouldn't much matter, since |
have got you right enough"
Then, changing his tone, and with an
ironical expression: well, Mr.. Clare
mont" cried Tony, land how have you
got on since yesterday:
by what fatality are you here?"
moaned forth Stanley
Fatality!-the great word employed
always by villains when they find their
wicked purposes defeated, and who be-
hoiu iSt IN llNIDE tiIoSS NloIil thS
had believed PROSTATE and dead.
In such cases, honest people say, and
justly, Providence!
Abraham believed he had stricken
our friend Tony directly to the heart;
but fate, as the peddlcr would have
termed 1t, had decreed that his knife
should glance aside to penetrate Tony's
shoulder, inflicting only a flesh wound,
which was not at all formidable.
1t was not the wound, but the force
with which Abraham had so suddenly
dashed upon him. which had over
thrown Tony; and his temporary in
sensibility had not arisen from loss of
blood, but from the fact that, in fall
ing, his head had come in heavy con
tact with the pavement.
Indeed, it was not fate, but his own
rash impetuosity, which had defeated
Abraham's dastardly purpose; If the
peddler had been less in a hurry,
Tony's death had been certain.
A surgeon had soon strapped and
bandaged III e%ngraver's wound, and
We find Tony now, somewhat paler
and weaker than usual. certainly, but
with all his accustomed energy Of heart
and mind.
Struggling to assume a bold front:
"Well, what do you requirel" demand
ed Stanley.
Now, that question. Mr.. Claremont,
is perfectly superb said Tony. For
months my brother has succumbed be-
meath the weight Of your infamy-for
months l have been ~endeavoring to fix
the crime upon the right shoulders,
and now that I have the proof here,
under my hand-can touch it"-and
Tony tapped significantly the Golfer
which contained the prOOf-'now you
ask me what 1T is that ! require? Your
audacity is equalled only by your ras-
cality, Mr.. Stanley Claremont!"
Speak ~lower-speak lower" urged
Stanley, glancing from door to door of
the ~apartment-for TOny's round, full
voice had rung out loudly, the words
he had spoken reverberating about the
lofty DON
And Stanley knew, Of course, that his
uncle would presently come in search
Of him, that guests were in the house,
II Of them the banker.
And Tony knew that. too; and deter
mined that there should be more wit
nesses to the reparatiOn than there had
been to the dishonor of his brother.
Come, Mr.. Claremont," said Tony,
"Of what use longer to hesitate? Your
knOtty schemings are all ~unravelled;
you have played and lost; so now pay.
Give me that leaf!'
Il have it not" stammered Stanley.
Rubbish cried Tony. isn't it
written herc?"
And Tony produced the paper which
had been in the p~ocketbCOk, and held
1t, and very firmly, too, before Stan
ley's eyes.
Stanley glanced down the paper, and
the ashy hue of mis- face grew a shade
deeper.
"You see," continued Tony, "your
friend mistrusted you. and had pre-
pared his vengeance. These lines were
addressed to your uncle, and speak the
truth"
Tony was fast losing patti ence-he
was beginning to get into a passion.
"Open that cOffer!' he exclaimed.
"KnOw you that you are acting with
me like a ruffian and a bandit" STAN
ley demanded, %savagely: his COM
pressed lips covered with foam.
"And If | am, 1t is because | am deal
ing with a rufiian and a banditr' re-
torted Tony. Have you not been con
cerned in a robbery, that you might
cover with o%pprobrium the rival who
was in your way? Ah.' continued To-
ny, tauntingly, you are a skillful man
remarkably SO! You are not, in fact,
the robber, but you have urged for
ward the real thief fIom the dark cor
ner in which your cowardice led you
to shelter yourself! He risked his life
and what did you risk? A lie only, if
he should be so awkward as to allow
himself to be caught, and bold enough
to accuse you as his accOmplice! l tell
you, Mr.. Claremont, that you are fifty
times a greater scoundrel than the