Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-10-21
CHAPTER VI.

NItAI l.
At the request of Mrs. Gerard, drove
alone to meet her husband, passen-
ger on the incoming stage, which was
due at the nearest town "a wretched
village) about five in the afternoon.
burlington. so the doctor assured me.
was, practically speaking, paralyzed,
and unable to move his limbs without
suffering intense pain. During the day
he had spoken to none, taking what
nourishment was offered, and submit
ting without groan to the treatment
prescribed. The nurse was a powerful
man, fully awake to his responsibilities.
Gerard doubtless had much to say to me.
and / to him. Under these circum-
stances / consented to leave the house.
"Wiu he live?" was the first question
of Gerard.
"The doctor thinks So
Then | told my story from start TO
finish, eliminating the murderous sug-
gestion Of the Greek. Gerard was in
tensely excited.
GOOD Lord" he burst out. what an
escape the lad has had,'
1 concluded with the flight of Deme-
trius. and gave hiESthe Greeks letter,
which he read rapidly and placed in his
pocketbooE.
WELL" he said, sharply; in the tone
Of a man who is puzzled butwon't admit
it-"wel, sir, what is your opinion? =?
Mind, your honest opinion"
"Demetrius," said !, slowly, search
ing for a suitable epithet and selecting
the one upon my tongues tip, "is
damned coward"
"And your reasonsY' he snapped.
His restless eyes sparl1ed as the ad-
iectiye sputtered from my lips.
"He turned tail to save his own hide.
The boy was taken to save appearances.
When Mark was in real danger-alone
on the sands with Burlington-Demct
rius was 4indecently Indifferent. But
when the doctor apprehended violent
symptoms and our friend thought that
he might be exposed to them, why,
then"
"He wilted, chi"
Eyes; the naked coward cbtruded it.
self"
"You don't know him, young man."
Possibly not"
"He is no coward | have known De
metrius for 30 years-a long time. ]
repeat, he is no coward"
/ touched up the horses with the
flick of the whip, and the action be-
trayed me, for Gerard laughed.
''Take it coolly," he said. young
men, nine times out Of ten, misconstrue
human r.
tions. Remember that have made
study, profitable study, of my fellow
creatures"
"All the same," I said, doggedly, "he
IN a coward"
"That's quite right. Stick to your
colors, my boy. BY the way, I am sur
prised that you should have taken Bur
lington TO my house"
could not excuse myself without ac-
cusing Nancy, so I held my peace.
However" he continued, thoughtful
ly, Eve have the man where we can
watch him. You may yet earn that big
salary"
"I expect to-" retorted, bluntly. /
was cursing myself for speaking out
so plainly. In damning the cowardice
Of the Greek had also, by inference,
damned the cowardice Of my employer.
My tongue, as usual, had outstrippcd
my hating brain. / was still in my
salad days and a novice in the art of
dialogue.
II suppose" said Gerard, carelessly,
"that you have fallen in love with
Nancy"
The question took me so completely
by gurprise that my stupid face flushed
scarlet. / began TO realize that this
man, whose bodily presence was so con
temptible, was, conversationally speak
ing, dandling me IN his arms.
II don't blame you," continued Ge-
rard, in his most matter-of-fact tones.
"She ls pretty girl ond very intclli-
gent. 1t would interest mo to know
whether-er-she-"
mo; she doesn't"
"Thank you. like to be posted. No
no; don't frown. ] dare swear that
she win say yes, and you may live to
wish it had been no."
lie had dropped his tone Of banter and
spoke gloomily, in sour, raucous nc
| cents. This man had achieved much
| that the world prizes. His keen brain
and extraordinary acumen had borne
| him triumphant upon the top wave OF
| succesa Now that he had brought hiB
heavily vessel into safe har-
| boragc, he had leisure to read the log
and estimate the wenr and tear. /
watched him as he leaned back wearily
| against the wcll-padded cushions OF
the buggy and made small colcula-
| tion. Divide wealth, as many millions
as you please, by health, subtract time,
and what il left? Answer, the man be-
| side me, haggard, lyizencd, prematurcly
| gray.
| 50, after all, he had seen the com
| plication OF my falling in love with
| Nancy-had counted the probability nB
| gain, an extra riyet to bind me 10 his
service. What puppet had becnl
| I'm sorry the boy is from home
| he muttered. 81 should have enjoyed
seeing him. Demctrius is oyercautious
"a fault on the right side"
/ He aslscd me innumerablc questions
about tho lad, displaying his talent for
cross-examlnation, and with it his re-
| markablc love for his son. Mrs. Gerard,
it appeared. had been kind enough to
give me more credit thnn / deserved,
| and her husband expressed his npprecl-
alton Of my efforts In . characteristic
fashion.
"You are not giving me vnlue re-
cciycd," be said, brusqucly. but you've
done all asked, and more"
/ wondered wh<her Mrs. Gerard In
her letters had mentioned my excur-
sion into Cupid'B domain, and answered
the question in the negative.
'Pm "a generous map" Gerard oon-
tinucd, with that curious infection ia
his voice which had remarked when he
had pressed upon Inc bis rarcst wines;
land my stepdaughtcr-you have found
out, Of course, that she is my step
daughtcr-will be Handsomely dow
cred. / dare say l shall give her pre-
ture or two--that Constable perhaps
| il"
If" / repeated.
"1f she marries the right fellow"
1 lie. "a