Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-05

The two men face one another and
both perceptibly start. Lord Haugh-
ton grows suddenly pale He extends
his hand and rapidly draws it back.
Herbert Ordish has calmly clasped his
behind his back. Lord Haughton re-
covers his composure with visible
effort, but neither of the men speak.
Lady Bertha (whc has been looking
from one to another with indifferently
yelled curiOsity)-You men seem to
nave lost your tCngues-or your man
ners. Have you met before? Really.
you might be hero ana william in AL
Adelphi drama
Lord Haughton (nonchalantly)-Mr
Ordlsh and | have met somewhere
abroad, L am sure. | cannot for the
moment remember where.
Lady Bertha-How very interesting,
(Rises) l am going to leave you to
entertain one another for a few min
utes. Perhaps you will be able to
puzzle 1t out by the time I get back
And, mind docking back from the
doorway with the curtain in her handl
l shall expect to bear all about if
Exit Lady Bertha.)
Lord Haughton (coolly)-'Pon nv
soul, this is an odd meeting. Let me
see, the last time we came together
was on poor Merton's ranch. when
mat broiling horrible sun was friz-
zllng all Up. What a wild week we
mad; no ice, no settler water and
naturally no hook! Wonder we didn't
all go mad. 1t v-ss just about that
time that Merton commenced to drinl,
brandy-poor devil!
Hertert Ordish-You are mistaken
James er-I beg your pardon.
Lord Haughton. Our last meeting
was IN place where Gods sun has
never shCne.
Lord Haughton-Indeed! And it
was
Herbert Ordish-In a St Ionis
gambling hell!
(Lord Haughton starts and turns
asher white)
Lord Haughton lin a low tonel-You
were not there?
herbert Ordish-I was! Let me re-
call the scene to you. 1t was in q
saGClly painted cellar beneath fhe
street, In the vilest quarter of one of
the worst cities in the world-a civ,
winch, although in touch with all that
IS ehete and vicious in our eastern
CIVILIZATION, yet retains all the oan,-
Dlers license and lawlessness of tho
land on whose borders is has snruno
up. 1t was a mad night, that, Won
remember it! Long Dan" the bank
Keeper, as peace-loving a man as ever
Dreathed, had shot a cowboy earlv in
the evening for handling his knife foo
lreely, and his dead body lay across
chalr, next to the table where yo,,
ana poor Merton sat gamblino Az
you remember it, | see,
LORD HaughtOn-You read if in tho
papers. 1t is lie! You were not tbaror
nerpert Ordish-Listen. I was in a
COWBOYS rig-out myself, unIuckilv.
the nrst disguise | could think of WHOM
l IolIo"ed you and the man whom Won
were last dragging down into hell
iroln Jackson's ranch. COWBOYS were
unpopular that evening and thara
we're one or two desperadoes here
VINO mad sworn to shoot the first tbeir
eyes lighted upon. and every nor, 49,,
then they looked across at me curi-
ously. But there you sat and played
and there | sat and Watched Won
were winning! Do you remeber the
piles and piles of gold, and dollar bil1s
and o US? Yes, you we're winnino
ana l sat there in my corner, know
ing now you were winning, with NV
mana on my revolver, walClng for ,hat
moment when you should betray vour-
sell. 1t came! You made a clums,,
move; recklessly and absolutelv
clumsy! Your victim saw il even Ia
lore did, and | heard the thuaIer of
MS British wrath as he sprung to his
Ieet and grasped your arm! You know
what followed. You shot him throrob
the heart and my revolver was knoclxaJ
up by one OF your blackguardlv rang
and while the room was ffI,I f srool-a
ana wild confusion, resounGilg ,-iIb
Snots and yelling and the smashing nj
glass, you somehow disappeara l-t,,d
knows how! l was flung ont for t.ad
with two shots in my body and a stab
IN my side. They took me Tor 4 srv-
no one knew who [ was. B.r 7 an
not die, although l came near II, 7
nave prayed for this melting. Lord
haughton! You and l have an Old
account to settle! All, 40 eel 10 lct
your ,hand steal behind! The pocket Of
that immaculate coat of yours was
never made to hold a Coils This
time we fight with different weaDo,.e
and | think I'll win.
Lord Haughton with conposur,,-
memory end powers or descrin-
ton are alike excellent, nv dear Or
dish. Trick of your craft, I supnosaq
mat last little remark, though saome
10 me just a tri1e premature, YIN,
forget that you have no evidence 10
back your word-no proof OF any s. RI
IL Is your highly colored story .gat, ST
my fiat denial! Your word against
mine! Good! So let it be!
Herbert Ordish-Your wo-.l against
mine let it be, Lord Haughton, bit
let me tell you this. Even though
your subtlety and cunning should
prevail, even though nv story IS
laughed at and l am branI7d a. Md
man, even then l shall NOT permit Won
to show your face in this hou.e ;.galh.
or to continue your acqual lance n
the wife of the man you first ,,lln-