Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-30

San Francisco. and my secret agents
knew nothing of his W hereabouts. Then
lie reappeared one day. and greeted
me on Market street with n dia-
bolical stare. A few days later I
received this: You are looking too well.
How is your boy? My friend, fear
you despise me. but 1. God help me.
had seen this mans handiwork. II"
"Mr. Gerard" l said. earnestly. you
have my deepest sympathy. Such ter
rorism is infamous. But, pardon me.
! cannot but hope that this villain is
playing with your feelings, destroying
not your body. which might bring him
TO the gallows. but your mind. This
cruel anxiety will"
Drive me mad. know It, and then
those defenseless ones will be at his
mercy
With your immense wealth" said.
slowly, you could have bribed men
to"
xiii him for me?" he said hurried
~. Eyes. yes; / have thought Of that;
but 1 couldn't do it. my lad-I couldn't
do it."
With these words fed my lingering
doubts as to whether or not should
accept the perilous position of tutor
to young Gerard. My reception, the
words of Poindexter. the appearance
of my host. had filled me with misgiv-
ings. These misgivings were ban
ished by pity and indignation.
Il insulted you. sir. by the sugges-
ton; pardon me. II my poor services
are required, they are yours"
He held out his hand, which / clasped
firmly.
you are very strong" he said. visit
fully. "Will you stand. If necessary,
between my son and BurlingtonT"
That" I replied, grimly. "is in the
bond"
Blood tells" he continued, still clasp.
ing my hand. II have some qualities
which men value. but bastard strain,
flows in my veins. should have cut
poor figure in the middle ages. Well,
well. you have put new life into me-
the tones of his voice strengthened per-
ceptibly-"and shall not be migrate
full. If you do your duty, as know you
will, the reward will be commensurate"
YES" / said. heartily. "the prize IL
worth working for"
He glanced at me queeriy.
81 was not thinking Of the money"
he muttered.
The streets were empty of foot-pas-.
sengers as ! trudged briskly (the night
was chilly to my hotel. A fog. held at
bay by high wind. was impending and
likely TO roll in from the ocean before
dawn; but the sky above the city was
clear and starlit. In my pocket was an
address, my destination on the morrow;
in my heart was hope; in my head were
score of surmises chasing each other
into blind alleys. had walked some
rs yards. when an impulse moved me to
halt and look backward. Gerard man.
sion. its mansard roofs sharply out
lined against the purple armament.
crowned the top of the hill; and its
massive proportions, in such striking
contrast to the bodily presence Of the
owner. impressed me sadly. The very
stones of his palace proclaimed the
Titanic efforts which had piled one
upon another. The lust of millions,
like a monstrous bat, had sucked from
its victim vitality and viriity. To
the right and left were other palaces:
and recalled the histories Of the men
who built them. and shuddered. The
loneliness Of the spot. q solitude grim
with spectral activities. was awful.
Suddenly / became aware that an
other beside myself was intently re-
garding the house above. In the shad-
ows across the street. leaning against
a lamp-post, stood a man absorbed In
contemplation. Fancy urged me to