The Holly chieftain., 1898-09-16
! ACLEN BY WIRE
Or. An Interrupted Current.
BY HOWARD NJ. YOST.
: Copyright. isqs. by g. Lipplneou Co.
!!
cHAPTERl XyL.-coxrrNrEp.

ing my first visit to the cellar or durinI
my trip to Sidington. and therefore
had missed it.
Yes, have heard that they have me-
again. Much good may it do them.'
jackson responded with sneer. Ther
he went on: And since you found my
hiding place. perhaps youn tell me
what you expect to gain by coming tc
it? Have you arrived at your righ,
senses again?''
Il have" came the answer.
''Oh, then ypu agree to give your
daughter to mf. thought you would
come to time.Y
NO, thouAnd times no! l have
come to have aH accounting from you''
"Accounting?, From me? For what
| wouder?" Jack son asked, with inso-
|. lence. NtA
You have broken our solemn agree
| rncut. You have removed not only your
| share of what remains, but also mine.
Restore it. and you viii not be injured.
/ although we can never again resume
our compact. Refuse TO do so. and /
will crush you"
''Oh. bo, you will, will you? How o.
asked Jackson, in derisive tones.
by denouncing you," Mr.. Morley re-
piled, sternly.
Now, that is uselessand foolish talk
Let us reason. as between two business
men," said Jack -on. assuming conf
dental style. a. want to marry your
daughter. AT first you kept promising
me that l should do so. All through the
five years of patient waiting for an OPP
portunity to tap the vault, you kept me
to the job by tina; promise. Lately you
refuse TO fulfil your promise, and yet
you now talk to me of breaking our
agreement. Give me your daughter.
You know she would be Influenced by
your WISH"
1T cannot be"
And why not? ! know she doesn't
like me, but love her and want her
more than anything on earth. She'll
do as you tell her; lyon know that
Come. III give up nd only your share
of what remains. but all my own. / am
rich now. and don't heed it"
"And who made yot richT
"Oh, you did. dom deny It; and you
have my thanks, rtplied Jackson, in
mocking tones. That last deal in
which we were on opposite sides hap
pcned TO turn my vtay. and got the
pile you dropped. hats my luck
can give her as luxurious a home as
she has had. Come old man, be rea-,
sonable."
Never. You canntt have her. She
despises you. ano Hsr likes and dis
likes have more weitht with me than
anything you could tffer. Thank God.
she will marry bett lr man than either
you or me-"
'Oh. she will! Not while live. No.
she shall marry nc one if not me- y Jack
son exclaimed, mirage
And you tbonglt that removing the
stolen bonds toson. secret hiding place
of your own asd thereby depriving me
of my share would compel me to ac-
cede to your demand for my daugh-
ter's hnnd?" asked Mr.. Morley. in great
scorn.
PARITY that. Thee was another rea-
son. too, had an iiea that some one
was on our track. ard it was my pur-
pose to throw proof cn the one who was
universally considered the guilty party
in case it became too rot for u.s.
Too hot for you, quietly interposed |
Mr.. Morley.
No. for us. Do yru suppose have
been such fool as % place myself so |
completely in your pfwer that my safe |
ty should depend enyour wlfirn? Not |
rnucb' II nm fcr~,l r,u+ 10 aura. ,.,,,
go down with me. ir4pite of your high !
standing and incor-uptible honor
Jackson hissed out hese words with |
venom. |
This conversation IL fruftless. We |
will change it, remfrked 8fr. Morley.
in tones wherein graf 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 FL grind .ou down in the
dirt, where you belong
Bluff, all bluff" exclaimed Jack |
son, with derisive hugh. There was |
a time when was afra d of you. but not
now. not now. You've Leen so very kind |
as TO. tell what you1l do; now let me
have my say. You'n give me your
daughter. or Win dcnounce you. You |
know ! can do il. hole absolute proofs
which will astonish tn. world. you bet.
Don't answer inst y.t. Think over
what 1 am saying. i lnow well must
fall when you do Ny showing you up
necessarily inclpdfs that But you
are such a senseltss old fool in re-
fusing me your Daughter that it would
be a pleasure to- oshbw you up. Besides,
| do love Florence. and il l can't have
her | don't care vAat happens to me-"
There must hate been something in
Mr.. Morley after IBIS speech which dis
turbed Jackson. tr he gave vent to
nervous laugh andbacked away. so that
l could not see hi p.
Now, don't act ike fool. old man.
and do anything
Before Jackson fould finish pistol
shot rang out
This was immS lately followed by
two other reports.} Mr.. Morley had evi-
IDENTIFY missed the first time, nnd his
second shot sounded simultaneously
with Jackson's re1rn fire.
Then Mr.. Morleytaggered before the
passageway. His rms were upraised,
and the hands woked convulsively.
He made greal effort to speak. but
no sound came frdn his lips, except n
deep groan as Id fell forward full |
length. And ther@h he lay. motionless,
his face resting onlhe hard floor.
In a moment J&kson was bending |