Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-18

How ID Impending Tragedy Was
Averte Just as the Villain Was
About to Strike the Hero Showed Up.
Then 1t Cost Him the Price of Sew
eral Beers to Square Things.

Camilla stood facing the window and
did not see him when he entered the
door, but she felt the proximity of the
man, whose gaze was fairly burning
holes in her gown. Prompted by an
unaccountable uneasiness and desire
to save that gown, she wheeled sudden
ly and her eyes fell upon him. They
were light and did not hurt the stran-
ger at all.
'Merciful heavens," she exclaimed.
her eyes dilating wildly. do the.dead
rise?"
She leaned heavily upon a chair and
trembled SO violently that the entire
castle shook. The stranger thought it
was an earthquake and looked about
uneasily.
Considering your question from a
theological sctandpoint." he said calm
ly, Il think it can be answered in the
affirmative"
Camilla struggled for composure like
a person wrestling with an epileptic fit.
Il read your name in the list of the
lost" she stammered, and l thought
you dead
He laughed in a low. rasping voice
which removed the varnish from some
of the furniture.
After you had seuttled the ship he
said, Il was rescued and taken ashore
/ began at once TO search for you. /
have looked among the best families of
Europe and the American heiresses, for
| did not know in what guise | might
find you. | find you quite comfortably
settled here"
What do you want of me?" gasped
Camilla.
Why" he replied. 81 had thought
something of going to housekeeping
again, and"
Never shrieked Camilla, her proud
lips curling in seorn, and without the
use of curling irons. Il will never go
back TO you"
The stranger remained perfectly calm,
and the sarcastic smile on his face
deepened When he spoke again his
voice could have been used for nut
meg crater or TO dress rough lumber.
His eyes were again burning holes in
everything they rested upon.
You forget, my dear Camilla" he
said. that | am your husband"
There was a momentary silence. so
still that the firing of "a cannon three
rods away could have been heard dis
tinctly.
Il wish that newspaper I'd told the
truth" sobbed Camilla, "and that your
name had been McGinty"
why, of course you do" the
stranger replied. Then you could
pursue your plans without hindrance."
Then you mean to betray me?" said
Camilla; changing her position and her
tactics at the same time without losing
her balance.
THAT depends on you" he said, with
a shrug of the shoulders he had learned
in Paris and was using that season with
great success. 1t had brought down the
house on several occasions.
In their excitement the two had not
heard the grating of the carriage
wheels on the drive IN the courtyard
of the castle. Camilla was staring at
the man in indescribable rage, mingled
with fear and anxiety. He was smiling
scornfully when the door opened and
Count Won Halfakeq entered
Aha" he exclaimed, striking an
attitude and speaking In a tone OF min
gled sarcasm and police inquiry. What
have we here?"
"All is LOST" exclaimed Camilla.
throwing her hands to her head with
such violence that she felled herself to
the floor. Then she sat up ond looked
wildly about her The stranger ex-
planned that she was his wife ond that
he had come to get her The count
thought he heard a tone IN the mans
voice that had a silvery ring to It. He
felt in his pockets and then addressed
the stranger.
How much do you want?' he asked
What sum is necessary TO buy your
silence and insure your absence from
the castle forever"
We'll l hardly know" replied the
stranger, meditatively. How would
dollar and a hald strike ?"-New
York World.