Daily camera., 1897-09-02

well, we can't talk III tins place.
Jackson said. after pause. His bed
room is right above rs"
"Yon mean Mr. Conway No fear of
his hearing. He was called to my house
by message from my daughter, and
is with her now, have no doubt"
Now | certainly had received no mes
sage from Florence. If one had been
sent me it must have been either dur
ing my first visit to the cellar or during
my trip to Sidington. and therefore ]
had missed it.
"Yes. have heard that they have met
again. Much good may it do them!"
Jackson responded with a sneer. Then
he went on: "And since you found my
hiding-place, perhaps you'll tell me
what you expect to gain by coming to
it? Have you arrived at your right
senses again?"
81 have" came the answer
ooh, then you agree to give your
daughter to me. thought you would
come to time"
mo, a thousand times no! l have
come to have an accounting from you"
accounting? From me? For what,
I wonder?" Jackson asked, with inso-
lence.
"You have broken our solemn agree
mcnt. You have removed not only your
share of what remains. but also mine
Restore it, and you will not be injured
although we can never again resume
our compact Refuse to do so, and J
will crush you"
"Oh, no, you will, will you? How?
asked jackson, in derisive tones.
"By denouncing you,' Mr.. Morley re
piled, sternly.
'+Now, that is useless and foolish talk
Let US reason, as between two business
men," said Jackson, assuming a conf
Dental style. 81 want to marry you,
daughter. At first you kept promising
me that should do so All through the
five years of patient waiting for an op
poxtunity to tap the vault, you kept mt
to the job by that promise. Lately yo'
refuse to fulfill your promise, and YET
you now talk to me of breaking ou,
agreement Give me your daughter
You know she would be Influenced by
your wish"
"It cannot be"
"And why not? I know she doesnf
like me. but l love her and want hel
more than anything on earth. She'l
do as you tell her; you know that
Come, III give up not only your share
of what remains. but all my own. an
rich now, and don't need it
"And who made you rich -
"Oh. you did. don't deny it; and yor
have my thanks" replied Jackson. in
mocking tones. ''That last deal in
which we were on opposite sides hap
pened to turn my way. and got the
pile you dropped. That's my luck. I
can give her as luxurious home as
she has had Come. old man. be rea
sonable."
Never You cannot have her. She
despises you. and her likes and dis
likes have more weight with me than
anything you could offer Thank God,
she will marry better man than either
you or me-"
"Oh, she will. Not while live. No.
she shall marry no one if not me" Jack
son exclaimed, in rage.
"And you thought that removing the
stolen bonds to some secret hiding place
of your own and thereby depriving me
of c1 fn
cede to your demand for my daugh-
ter's hand" asked Mr. Morley, in great
scorn.
"Partly that. There was another rea-
son, too. had an idea that some one
was on our track. and it was my pur-
pose to throw proof on the one who was
universally considered the guilty party
in case it became too hot for u.s."
TOO hot for you," quietly interposed
Mr.. Morley.
mo, for us. Do you suppose have
been such fool as to place myself so
completely in your power that my safe
ty should depend on your whim? Not
much! If l am found out. be sure you
go down with me, in spite of your high
standing and ircorruptible honor
Jackson hissed out these words with
venom.
This conversation is fruitless. We
will change it," remarked Mr.. Morley,
in tones wherein great effort at self
control was evident. "Now, restore my
portion of the bonds, and you have my
word that l will not molest you. Re
fuse, and I'll grind you down in the
dirt, where you belong"
bluff! all bluff" exclaimed Jack
son, with derisive laugh. There was
time when was afraid of you, but not
now, not now. You've been so very kind
as to tell what you'll do; now let me
have my say. You'll give me your
laughter, or I will dcnounce you. You
know can do it. hold absolute proofs
which will astonish the world, you bet
Don't answer just yet. Think over
what am saying. know well must
fall when you do. My showing you up
necessarily includes that. But you
are such n senseless old fool in re-
fusing me your daughter that it would