The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-09-01

Otnef tnan our good friend Tony Drum
mond; bodily, and in the flesh, and not
the ghost from the other world which
Abraham's afflighted looks proclaimed
that he might we'll have been
There is the key IF that box said
Tony, throwing upon the table the
small key which he had found i'll
Abra hams 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, that 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: We'll, Mr.. Clare
mont" cried Tony. and how have you
got Oh since Yesterday"
by what fatality arc you here?"
mOaucG forth Stanley.
Fataiity.-the great word employed
always by villains when they find their
wicked purposes defeated, and who be-
hold erect and living those whom they
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 peddler would have
termed it, had dccreed that his knife
should glance aside to penetrate TOnyS
shoulder infictin9 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, i'll fall
ing, his head had come III 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 our engrayer'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 bold front:
'Well, what do you require?" demand
ed Stanley.
Now. that question, Mr.. ClarcmOnt.
is perfectly superb said Tony. "For
months my brother has succumbed be
meath the weight of your infamy-for
months | have been endeavoring to fix
the crime upon the right shoulders,
and now that / 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 it is that require? Your
audacity is equalled only by your ras-
cality. Mr.. Stanley Claremont"
Speak loWer-SpeaiI lower" urged
Stanley, CHANGING from door 10 door Of
the experimentation Tony's round, full
voice had rung out loudly, the words
he had spoken revcrberating about the
lofty room.
And Stanley knew. of course, that his
uncle would presently come in search
of him. that guests were i'll the house,
one of them the banker.
And Tony knew that, too; and deter
mined that there should he more wit
neSScS to the PREPARATION than there had
been to the dishonor of his brother
Come, Mr.. Claremont," said Tony,
''Of what use longer TO hesitate? Your
knotty Screenings are all uuravelled;
YOU have played and lCsi; so now pay.
Give me that leaf!'
Il have it not" stammereG Stanley.
"Rubbishr' cried Tony. "::sn't 1t
written hcre?'
And Tony produced the paper which
had been in the pockeibc ok, and held
it, and very firmly, toe, before Stan
ley's eyes.
Stanley glanced down The paper, and
the ashy hue OF his face grew shade
deeper.
You Sec" continued Tony, ''yonr
friend mistruStcd you. and had PIE
pared his yengca ice. These Ines We're
addressed to your uncle, and speak tho
truth
Tony was fast losing patiancc--he
was beginning to get into 4 passion.
open that Golfer he exclaimed
''i<now you that you are acting with
me like a ruttian and Il bandit" Stan
ley demanded, Savagely; his COM
pressed lips covered with foam.
And if am. it is because | am deal
ing with a ruffian and Il bandit re-
torted Tony. Have you not been con
cerned in Il robbery. that you might
cover with opprobrium the rival who
was in your way? Ah!'' continued To
ny, tauntingly. you are a skillful man
remarkably so. You are not. i'll fact,
the robber, but you have urged for
ward the real thief flom 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! | tell