The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-09-19

pecting that" he said. slowly; hut you
look as IL you meant business. and If
you ain't got anybody else 10 see you
through. I'm thar Isuppose this gem
tleman win have his fricnds?"
II shall be there at six with my sec
onds," said Pinckney, CURLY. Lead
on"
The gate closed behind them. Clar-
ence looked around the now empty
patio, and the silent house, from which
he could now see that the servants had
been withdrawn TO insure the secrecy
OF the gathering. Cool and collected as
lac knew he was, he stood still for n
moment in hesitation. Then the sound
% voices came to his ear from the gar
den room, the light friyolity of Susy's
laugh, and Hooker's huslIier accents.
He had forgotten they were there--he
had even forgotten their existence.
Trusting still to his calmness, he
called TO Hooker in his usual voice.
That gentleman appeared with face
which his attempts 10 make uncon-
cerned and impressive had, however,
only deepened his funeral gravity.
81 have something 20 attend to-"
said Clarence. with a faint smile, "and
! must ask you and Susy to excuse me
for little while. She knows the house
perfectly, and will call the servants
from the annex TO provide you both
with refreshments. / will join you n
little later" Satisfied from Hooker's
manner that they knew nothing of his
later interview with Pinckney he
turned away and assembled to his own
room.
lie then threw himself into an arm
chair by the dim light OF single candle
as il TO reflect, but he was conscious,
even then, of his own calmness and
want of excitement, and that no re-
Election was necessary. What he had
done and what he intended 10 do was
quite clear; there was no alternative
suggested, or TO be even sought after.
lie had that sense OF relief which
comes with the climax of all great
struggles OF defeat. He had
never known before how hopeless and
continuous had been that struggle un-
tomorrow; he would meet IL as he had
to-day with the same singular con
seriousness of being equal TO the occa-
sion. There was even no necessity Of
preparation for il; his will leaving his
fortune 10 his wife-which seemed a
slight thing now in this greater separa-
ton was already in his safe in San
Froncisco; his pistols were in the next
room. lie was even slightly disturbed
by his own insensibility and passed into
his wife's bedroom, partly in the hope Of
disturbing his serenity by some memen-
70 OF their past. There was no disorder
Of flight--evcrything was in its place,
except the drawer of her desk, which
was still open as il she had taken some
thing from il as an afterthought. There
were letters and papers thcre-some of
his own and some in Capt. Pinckncy's
handwriting. 1t did not occur to him
10 look at them even TO justify himself
--or excuse her. lie knew that his
hatred OF Capt. Pinckney was not so
mueh that he believed him her lover, as
his sudden conviction that they were
alike lie was the male Of her species
being antagonistic TO himself whom
he could fight and crush and revenge
himself upon. But most OF all he
loathed his past, not on account OF her,
but OF his own weakness that had made
him her dupe, and misunderstood man
TO hlo friends. lie had been dcrelict Of