The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1898-07-08
CHAPTER V.-(Continuedl

Miss Huddlestone-" | was begin.
ming to interrupt him when he, in turn
cut in brutally:
You hold your tongue" says he: 81
am speaking to that girl"
That girl, as you call her, Is my
~lfe, said /, and my wife only leaned
n little nearer, so that | knew she had
affirmed my words.
Your WHAT" he cried. "You lie!"
"Northmour,' ! said. I'VE all know
you have a bad temper, and 1 am the
last man to be irritated by words. For
all that propose that you speak lower,
Tor | am convinced that we are not
alone"
He looked round him, and il was
plain my remark had In some degree
sobered his passion. What do you
mean?" he asked.
only said one word, Italians"
He swore a round oath and looked at
lis from n to the other.
Mr.. Cassilis knows all that | know"
said my wife.
What | want to know he broke
out, "is where the devil Mr.. Cassllis
comes from, and what the devil Mr..
Cassilis is doing here. You say you
are married; that l do not believe. If
you were, Graden Floe would soon di-
vorce you; four minutes and a half.
Cassilis, l keep my private cemetery
for my friends
1T took somewhat longer" said l,
for that Italian"
He looked at me for a moment half
daunted, and then, almost civilly. ask
ed me to tell my story. you have too
much the advantage of me, Cassilis,"
ne added. l complied, of course, and
he listened, with several CALCULATIONS,
while l told him how | had come to
Graden; that it was l whom he had
tried to murder on the night of the
landing; and what l had subsequently
seen and heard of the Italians.
Well" said he, when l had done.
"it is here at last; there Is no mistake
aboat that, and what, may I ask, do
you propose to do?"
Il propose to stay with you and lend
a hand" said I.
"Ycu are a brave man he returned,
with a peculiar ~intonation.
81 am not afraid" said 1.
And So" he continued. 81 am to
understand that you two are married?
And you stand up to it before my face,
Miss Huddle3tone?"
I'VE are not yet married." said Clara,
but we shall be as soon as we can"
"Bravo!" cried Northmour. and the
bargain? D it, you're not a fool,
young woman; ] may call a spade with
YOU How about the bargain? You
know as well as l do what your fathers
life depends upon. 1 have only to put
my hands under my coat-tails and
walk away, and his throat would be
cut before the evening""
Yes, Mr.. Northmour,' returned
Clara, with great spirit; but that is
what o will never do. You made a
bargain that was unworthy Of a gen.
tleman; but you are a gentleman for
all that, and you will never desert a
man whom you have begun to help"
"Aha!" said he. You think l will
give my yacht for nothing? You think
1 will risk my life and liberty for love
Of the old gentleman; and then. l sup
pose, be best man ut the wedding, to
wind up? Well" he added, with an
odd smile, perhaps you are not alto
gether wrong. But ask Cassilis here.
He knows me. Am l a man to trust?
Am | safe and scrupulous? Am I
kind?"
Il know you talk a great deal, and
sometimes, I think, very foolishly," re-
piled Clara, but l know you are a
gentleman, and l am not in the least
afraid"
She's a trump" cried Northmour.
But she's not yet Mrs. Cassilis. l say
no more. The present is not for me-"
Then my wife surprised me.
Il leave you here" she said, sud
denly. MY father has been too long
alone. But remember this: you are
TO be friends, for you are both good
friends to me-"
See here, Northmour,' said L; eve
are all in a tight place, are we not?'
Il believe you, my boy" he answer
ed, looking me in the eyes, and with
great emphasis. I'VE have all hell
upon us, that's the truth. You may
believe ME or not, but I'm afraid Of
my life"
Tell me one thing" said I. What
are they after, these Italians? What
they want with Mr.. Huddlestone?"
Don't you know?" he cried. THE
black old scamp had Carbonari funds
a deposit-two hundred and eighty
thousand; and. Of course, he gambled
away in stocks. There was to have
been a revolution in the Tridentino.
or Parma, but the revolution is off, and
the whole wasps' nest is after Huddle-
We shall all be lucky if we can
save cur skins"
The Carbonari," I exclaimed; God
help him, indeed"
And now let US go directly to the
fort" said Northmour, and he began
to lead the way through the rain.