The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-09-05

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Gus eye. had brought this elimination.
And now he stood again before that
ruined grille. his house and lands, even
mis- name, misused by mad, scheming
adventures, and himself a creeping
spy of his own dishonor.
He turned with bitter smile again
to the garden. A few dark Castilian
roses still leaned forward and swayed
in the wind with dripping leaves. IL
was here that the first morning OF his
arrival he had kissed Susy; the per
fune and color of her pink skin came
back 20 him with sudden shock as he
stood there; he caught nj the flower,
drew IL toward him and inhaled its
odor I'm a long breath that left him faint
and leaning against the wall.
Then again he smiled, but this time
more wickedly-in what he believed
his cynicism had sprung up the first
instinct OF revenge.
IL was now dark enough for him 10
venture across the carriage road and
make his way 20 the rear of the house.
His first Characteristic instinct had
been To enter openly at his own front
gate-but the terrible temptation to
cverhear and watch the conspiracy UNI
observed--that fascination common to
deceived humanity 20 witness its own
shame-had grown upon him. He
knew that a word or a gesture of eNpla-
nation, apology, appeal, or even terror
from his wife would check his rage
and weaken his purpose.
His perfect knowledge OF the house
and the security OF It's inmates would
enable him from some obscure landing
or gallery 10 participate in any secret
conclaye they might hold in the patio
the only place suitable for so numerous
rendezvous. The absence OF light in
the few external windows pointed TO
this central gathering. And he had al
ready conceived his plan of entrance.
Gaining the rear wall of the casa he
hcgan cautiously 90 skirt its brambly
base, until he had reached a long,
oven-lilse window, half obliterated by
q monstrous passion vine.
1t was the window OF what had once
been Mrs. peyton's boudoir; the win
low by which he had once forced an
entrance 10 the house when l. was In
the hands of the squatters; the window
from which Susy had signnled her
Spanish lover; the window whose graf
ing had broken the neck of Judge pey-
tons presumed assassin.
But these rccollcctions no longer de-
loyed him; the moment for action had
arrived. He knew that since the trag-
edy the boudoir had been dismantlcd
and stunned; the servants believed il 10
be haunted by the assassin's ghost
With the aid of the passion vine
tlIe ingrcss was easy. The interior win
dow was open; the rustic OF dark
leaves on the bare floor as he entered
and the whirr Of frightened bird by
his ear told the story of It's desolation
and the source OF the strange noises
that had been heard there.
The door leading 70 the corridor WINS
lightly bolted, merely TO keep il from
ruttlmg in the wind. Slipping the bolt
with the blade OF his pocketknife, he
peered into the dark passage. The
light streaming under the door To the
left and the sound OF voices convinced
him that his oniecture was right,and
the meeting was gathered on the broad
balconies around the patio.
lie knew that narrow gallery. faced
with Venetian blinds 10 exclude the sun,
looked down upon them. lie managed
to gain il without discovery; luckily
the blinds were still down. Between
their Stats, himself invisible, he could
hear and see everything that occurred
Yet even at that supreme moment the
FIRST thing that struck him was the nj
most ludicrous contrast between the APP
pcarance OF the meeting and its trc-
mcndous object.
Whether he was influenced by any
previous boyish conception of cloudy
and gloomy conspiracy, he did not
know. but he was for an instant almost
disconnected by the apparent leYity
and festivity of the conclave. Decan-
ters and glasses stood on small tables
before them; nearly all were drinking
and smoking.
They comprised IS or 20 men, some
whose faces were familiar 90 him else
where as southern politicians; few.
ilt WIS NbOfNfh W H'fs WIZ NNNfA7iNtiNf' a.
northern democrats.
Occupying enthusiastically cen
trail position was the famous Col. Star
bottle OF Virginia Jaunty and youth
ful looking in his mask-like, beardless
face, expressive and digniied in his
middle-aged port and carriage, he
alone retained something of the i'm
portancc--albeit slightly theatrical and
aifcctcd-of the occasion.
Clarence. in his first hurried glance,
had not observed his wife, and for n mo-
ment had felt relieved.
But as Col. Starbottle arose at that
moment. and with studiously chiyal-
rous and courtly manner turned 10 his
right. he saw that she was sitting at
the further end OF the balcony, and
that man whom he recognized as
Capt. Pinclncy was standing beside