The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
Continued

at is past remedy, sir. Did my ia
Their ever have anything to do with
these people? | remember that when I
reeled away from that table, drunken
with misery than with liquor, he NUT
tered, not as if for my ears, One old
score paid off. -
zone old score, yes, and the devil
will never rest until he has paid more.
T heard he had gone to Europe years
ago.
''He has been living in Baden Baden
for Is years
"That accounts-but you wanted to
know if your father ever had anything
to do with the fellow"
eyes. The longer ponder my trou-
BILE the more l am convinced that it
was the result Of design"
DOUBTLESS, doubtless. I can't re-
member-yes, by George, do. Tony
Belknap struck him once just over the
eye with his cowhide riding whip. I
was with him at the time
"He carries the scar yet. What was
his offense:''
|
fathers by striking him with his heel. "
| ga blow for blow. I think Whit
new has come off victor in the long
run"
eThe end is not in sight yet By
the way, when did all this happen?"
'sThree weeks ago"
81 suppose your meeting with Whit
ney was pure chance?''
| ssPure. I never saw him until we
both hurried across the staging Of the
Red Wing, fearful of being left. !"
SIT does look as if the devil himself
look a hand in our affairs. Why
couldn't one Of you have been min
ute too late?'
"Why?"
"Of course he knew who you were?"
"We registered at the same time and
tested over our scramble to catch the
boat. That was the beginning Of it,
"No,' said the colonel refectively,
"the beginning of it was when he swore
as he wiped the blood from his face
| that he would get even with Belknap
| If he had to return that blow to his un-
born children.
"And he has kept his oath finely"
said Belknap bitterly. eff l were IA
talist, would hold myself exonerated
| of weakness in this whole miserable
| business.
The colonel looked at him sternly.
"Whatever you do, hold fast by your
sense of personal responsibility, boy.
| Once abrogate that and you are OF no
more consequence than dead leaf in a
winter gale. Three weeks ago? Where
have you been all this timer"
''I was too i'll to leave the boat when
we reached Cloverdell, and good old
Riley cared for me as tenderly as if /
| had been worth it. Then on the return
trip we stuck on sand bar, and went
by rail to New Orleans, lacking cour-
age to go home. This will almost kill
my poor little Marianne.
"Pish! We hatter ourselves when we
talk that way. Your sister, I'll venture
to say, young as she is, has ten times
the grit you have, and what has not
killed you is not going to STAY her Not
| that I would lessen your sense OF re-
morse by one pang. Why, it you were
on the Red Wing three weeks ago you
! must have been on the boat the TRIP
that Miss Bascom came down."
"Miss Bascom?''
"My daughter, the young lady who
received you tonight.
"And ordered me into your study
with the grace of offended majesty.
Small blame to her for never wanting
to see me again. y
"Again?"
"Then she never told you?''
"Never told me what?'
ssShe was the strong armed and strong
souled Young woman mentioned who
| frustrated my intention of Sinking this
mess by jumping off the boats guard. y
s'She was? By George, it was just
what I should have expected of her.
No. she has never alluded to meeting
any such imbecile in her travels. call
| that rather fine, sex considered.
Belknap smiled ruefully. He would
rather not have been SO entirely effaced
from the memory of the beautiful girl
to whom he was bound by grateful ties
and whose restraining eyes had haunted
him.
"By the way" said the colonel,
| glancing up at the clock over the man
telpiece, "when did you SUPP"
"Not at ALL"
"Dined, then?"
"Not at ALL
"Oh, but, by Jove, what idiocyl By
the time you have got along little
further, boy, through this vale OF tears
you will come to better understanding
with your stomach. Nothing but sud
den death Or lockjaw is sufficient excuse
| for a neglected dinner. Oscar must dc
something for you in the way OF broken
victuals, late as it is, and while you are
in his hands 1 will tell my daughter
good night.
He found Jessica in her own sitting
room daintily robed in belaced and
ribboned wrapper that gave peculiar
~ soft touch to her strong sweet face.
It was no unusual thing for her father
H. <Nra&