The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-02-20


a pen aUas put in his hand, and he d6fred
his signature to each document.
"You mustn't expect from me any at
tempt to return you an equivalent for
your hospitality" remarked Sallie, as
she gracefully began the brewing of the
tea. 81 haven't the material nor the
ingenuity. There is not SO much as an
assassin on the premises, not to speak of
magic mirrors and oriental enchanters,
and beautiful specters. By the way, that
was wonderfully clever trick. How
was it done?"
"You must ask Garcia" replied the
count, quietly, as one who had made up
his mind to endure up to certain point,
and then no more.
do you think Garcia would tell me
any secret of yours?" said Sallie. She
gave the question flavor of arch sur
prise that sent the count on swift jour
ney of expectation. After all, why had
Garcia left him? He began to surmise a
possible reason, but he said only, "Ihave
always found him useful man. Of
course know he has his weaknesses"
Eyes; so have we ALL" she replied
"Even the Count de Lisle has weakness
es. And yet, it seems to me, were in
your place would have none. No man
ever had greater opportunity than you.
If you stood for yourself alone, what
could you not do? No one could attack
you. You could buy friends, police,
juries, Judges and legislatures. You
could make laws and elect rulers. You
could yourself be the real ruler of this
country and hold the balance of power
in the world. With genius and purpose
and such wealth as yours all that would
not be impossible. But, then, you must
make sacrifices. You must be solitary.
If you give your confidence to friend
or your heart to woman you are vul-
nerable and can be overthrown. When
first learned who and what you were
feared you. Here is man, said to
myself, who, from having rope around
his neck, has risen to power incalcu-
liable. The world has done its worst to
him; he will have his revenge upon the
world. The iron has entered into his
soul, and now his soul will be like iron
He must ue obeyed, for he can enforce
obedience. But when heard" contin-
ued Sallie, suddenly changing from this
serious vein to light and bantering
tone, ''that the Count de Lisle was in
love and about to be married l did not
fear him SO much. To have attempted
to overthrow you by questioning the
means that had obtained you your wealth
would have been desperate enterprise.
Even robbers and murderers, if they be
strong and resolute enough, need fear
nothing. But to have given your heart
to a girl-that was another matter! You
could be reached through her."
''And you? Are you impregnable?'
asked he.
''Only in SO far that if saw my way
to accomplish what supremely desire
would let nothing deter me. l was an
innocent little girl once, but even then
had strong desires, and without any op-
portunity to carry them out. l made
some serious mistakes, and suffered from
them, but had had my way, and /
found that most failures in this world
are due to not having been urscrupulous
enough. It needs courage to begin, but
when you discover what it is to be with
out scruples you wonder why anybody
is controlled by them. They are the
great shareholders of the human race.
But was going to say that l should be
willing to put in your hands any evi-
dence against myself that you might re-
guire for my destruction rather than
forego the purpose have in view"
"What is your purpose?"
"The poets say that love is lord of all,
you know. have had my doubts of
that, and want you to settle them.
You think you love Olympia Raven.
How much would you be willing to sac
ritice to save her ife?'
"That is hypothetical question. 1
could answer it only after 1 was made
certain that her life was in danger"
whether she lives or dies depends
upon the result of this interview. She
is in my power-as the people in melo-
drama say. What becomes of her de-
pends on my will"
The count, who had been sitting with
his elbows on his knees and his eyes low
cred, looked up, and his glance and Sal
lies met. What she saw in his mind
sent quick flush to her face. For mo-
ment she held her breath. No soldier in
battle was ever nearer death than Sallie
then. But she had a resolute heart, and
when she drew her breath again it was
with smile.
"Do you always carry revolver she
said. ''We are alone in the house, ex-
cept my maid. could have protected
myself, but l am sufficiently protected |
by circumstances. 1t has been arranged