Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-10-07

nous sum, more even than the still I'M
negotiated drafts. But, where safety
and passion pointed so clearly in one
direction, he was disposed to follow
their lead.
But he over-did the part. Even with
her limited experience, it seemed an
| incredible thing that, out Of mere gen.
crosby or admiration, this man should,
upon her bare assertion that they We're
rightfully hers. offer to restore jewels
worth thirty thousand pounds. Some
deeper motive he must have, though
what 1t was she could not fathom. She
would forthwith invoke Josiah Skin
ner's aid.
You are very generous" Zana said,
after pause, but until this mystery
of ernest Nortons strange behavior Is
cleared up, l cannot consent to profit
by your proposal. AS to regarding you
with favor: If by that you mean liking
you otherwise than as a stranger who
has shown me n kindness, let me ut
once beg you to dismiss the thought
from your mind. And now, let me ask
my second question"
Somerville ground his teeth almost
audibly. Il am all attention" he said,
with forced calmness. This girl was
neither to be silenced nor bribed! Yet
silenced, somehow, she must be.
did Ernest Norton sell you this
ring?' she asked, awaiting his reply
with parted lips.
That cursed ruby ring! How we'll he
remembered removing it from the dead
mans f1ager, and disregarded i'm
pulse, which had come over him, to
hurl it far out into the Thames! For
the life of him, he could not wholly
conceal the emotion cause:; by this I'M
! expected question; and. in that emo
ton, Zana instantly read guilt. Once
more was the latent tigress aroused in
her and fierce light came into the
dark eyes.
"Yes," answered Somerville, as soon
as he could trust his voice; she sold it
with the other things"
'"Tis false" she cried, her slight
frame quivering with passion. II say,
again, tits false! Even were Ernest
Norton as base as his conduct seems to
prove, he could not be base enough to
sell the parting gift of the woman who
loved him! He neither sold nor gave
you this ring, and you lie in saying
that he did. And you are lying about
the other jewels, also. Once more 1 ask
you, Where is Ernest Norton? Have
you murdered him?"
Somerville reeled so that he lad to
clutch at chair for support, and he
turned his head to hide his livid, work.
ing features from those cleaning,
vengeful eyes.
You are mad" he muttered, hoarse-
~. But he knew that, 80 far from be-
Sv,cr eho I,01I l,s~ sv,
hands, and that, if she left that room,
her first action would be to denounce
him as a murderer and a thief. At all
hazards, he must detain her, but how?
Violence he dared not attempt. Her
had seen her enter, her brougham
awaited her, she was almost due at the
Folies Begore. He saw but one chance
not a hopeful one, in her then excited
condition, but still. at least, chance.
With swift, sudden movement he
placed his hands firmly upon her Shout
ders and threw the whole power Of his
steely-gray eyes into hers. She gave
little cry, more of surprise than fear.
not having the faintest suspicion of his
purpose. Had that cry been but a
scream, she would, in ali probability,
been heard outside; but, as it was, her
ejaculation passed unnoticed. Then
she felt as though some numbing pow
er were passing from the inscrutable
gray eyeE into her very brain, and.
when she again attempted to utter
cry, she could not.
Larger, brighter, more masterful, the
grey eyes appeared to grow, and, strive
as she would, she could not but look
into them. She felt herself gently
borne back upon sofa, and a dull,
heavy sense of irresistible drowsiness
came over her. She gradually lost con-
seriousness of her surroundings; she
could discern nothing but two fathom-
less abysses of steel-grey, and then
memory became blank.
$50 much for Mesmer," muttered
Somervllle, wiping the beads of per-
SEPARATION from his forehead. Gle has
stood me in good stead on an emergen-
cy, and I'll finish her off in my own
way by-and-by. 1 must get rid of the
brougham, and keep the Folies Bergere
people quiet, first of all, though"
Locking the door of the room upon
tie outside, he went down stairs and