Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-08-05

was on poor Merton'S ranch when
that broiling horrible sun was friz-
cling all up. What a Wild week we
had; no ice, no settler water and
naturally no hook! Wonder we didn't
all go mad. 1t was just about that
time that Merton commenced to drink
brandy-poor devil,
Herbert Ordish-You are mistaken,
James er--I beg vcnr n.rdon
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. Louis
gambling hell!
tLord Haughton starts and turns
asher white)
Lord Haughton lin low tone)-Yop
We're not there?
Herbert Ordish-I was Let me re-
call the scene to you 1t was in
galclly painted cellar beneath the
street, in the vilest quarter of one Of
the worst cities in the world-a civ
winch, although in touch with all that
is enete and vicious in our eastern
CIVILIZATION, yet retains all the gam
piers license and lawlessness of the
iand on whose borders is has sprung
up. IL was a mad night. that, Won
remember 1t! Long Dan" the bank
keeper, as peace-loving a man as ever
| breathed. had shot a COWBOY earlv IN
she evening for handling his knife too
freely, and his dead body Law across
d chalr, next to the table where Won
ana poor Merton sat gambling All
J you remember it, | see,
Lord Haughton-You read if in tho
papers. 1t is lie! You were not there,
Herbert Ordish-Listen. | was in n
cowboys rig-out myself, unluckilv.
the first disguise | could think of n,h.,,
! followed you and the man whom Won
were fast dragging down into hell
from Jackson's ranch. COWBOYS were
unpopular that evening and tbere
we're one or two desperadoes hero
VINO had sworn to shoot the first their
eyes lighted upon, and every now ond
then they looked across at me cnri-
ousiy' But there you sat and played,
ana there | sat and watched. Y,u
were winning! Do you remeber the
plies and piles of gold, and dollar bill.
ana y US? Yes, you were winning
ana sat there in my corner. know
ing how you We're winning, with NV
hand on my revolver, wa.ung for ,hot
moment when you should betray your-
sell. III came! You maze a clumsy
move; recklessly and absolutely
clumsy! Your victim saw it even te-
fore | did, and | heard the thun ler of
his British wrath as he sprung to his
feet and grasped your arm! You know
what followed. You shot him through
the heart and my revolver was knocked
up by one OF your blackguardly rang,
and while the room was fun II smoke
and wild confusion, res3untiiug ,'i,h
shots and yelling and the smashing Of
glass, you somehow disappearn t--Ghd
knows how! | was flung ont for ttar
with two shots in my body and STAB
in my side. They took me for sly
no one knew who | was. Blt | d d
not die, although | came near II, /
have prayed for this maaliHg. Lord
Haughton! You and | have an old
account to settle. All, 10 81 10 let
your hand steal behind, The pocket If
that immaculate coat of yours Wa
never made to hold a Colt's TINS
time we fight with different weapoie
and think III win.
Lord Haughton with composu,cI-
memory end powers or descrip-
tion are alike excellent, my dear Or
dish. Trick of your craft, suppose?
That last little remark. though, seems
to me just tritle premature. You
forget that you have NJ evidence 10
back your word--no PRO- of any sort.
it is your highly colored story gan st
my fiat denial. Your word agairst
mine! Good. So let it be!
Herbert Ordish--Your wo."l AGAINST
mine let it be, Lord Efaush,on bit
let me tell you this. Even though
your subtlety and Gun 1ipg sl'oul6
prevail, even though nv story IS
laughed at and am branlol 4. 4 Md
man, even then | shall nrt permit YOU
to show your face in this huu.e ;gall,
or to continue your acquar -tance V n
the wife of the man You first ,n,ln-
dered and robbed and thea murdt,cf!
Your very presence in thic room is a
heinous and a blasphemC ",s'
Lord Huughton (suavel. -- At th"
bidding of IS mistress only | re-
gard you as lunatic. Come, if this
is tobe your battle-ground, throw down
your cage! Tell Lady Merten your
story! | deny it from beginning to
end!
Enter Lady Bertha from behind the
curtains followed by footmaH.
Lady BERTHA am able to slale rCu
the trouble. Robert, the door to Lord
Houghton. Herbert! tnolds out her
hands impulsively).
Herbert Ordish taking them glaily)
Bertha!
That whole Pompeiian trouble