Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-02-25
ACLEW BY WIRE
Or, An Interrupted Current.
BY HOWARD NJ. YOST.
Copyright. 1906. BY J. B. Lppincott Co.
CHAPTER XVI.-CoSr1NuEp.

Now certainly had received no mes.
sage from Florence. If one had been
sent me it must have been either dur
ing my first visit to the cellar or during
my trip to Sidington, and therefore ]
had missed it.
"Yes. have heard that they have met
again. Much good may it do them!"
Jackson responded with a sneer. Then
he went on: "And since you found my
hiding-place, perhaps you'll tell me
what you expect to gain by coming to
it? Have you arrived at your right
senses again."
Il have" came the answer.
'Oh, then you agree to give your
daughter to me. thought you would
come to time"
mo. q thousand times no! I have
come to have an accounting from you"
Accounting? From me? For what.
wonder?" Jackson asked, with inso-
lence.
"You have broken our solemn agree
mcnt. You have removed not only your
share of what remains, but also mine
Restore it, and you will not be injured,
although we can never again resume
our compact. Refuse to do so, and I
will crush YOU"
'Oh, no, you will, will you? How"
asked Jackson, in derisive tones.
'By dcnouncing you," Mr.. Morley re-
piled. sternly.
'.Now, that is useless and foolish talk.
Let us reason, as between two business
men," said Jackson, assuming conf
Dental style. II want to marry your
daughter. At first you kept promising
me that 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 that promise. Lately you
refuse to fulfill 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"
ut cannot be-"
And why not? I know she doesn't
like me. but I love her and want her
more than anything on earth. She'll
do as you tell her; you know that.
Come, I'll give up not only your share
OF what remains, but all my own. lam
rich now. and don't need it,
'And who made you rich?"
"Oh. you did. Idon't deny it; and you
have my thanks replied Jackson, in
hooking tones. ''That last deal In
which we were on opposite sides hap
pcned to turn anyway, and I got the
pile you dropped. That's my luck. I
can give her as luxurious home as
she has had. Come, old man, be rea-
sonable."
"Never. You cannot have her. She
despises you. and her likes and dis
likes have more weight with me than
anything you could offer. Thank God,
she will marry better man than either
you or me-"
ooh. she will! Not while I live. No.
she shall marry no one if not me. Jack
son exclaimed, in rage.
Sand you thought that removing the
stolen bonds to some secret hiding place
of your own and thereby depriving me
CT nv share would compel me to ac-
cede to your demand for my daugh-
ter's hand?" asked Mr.. Morley, in great
scorn.
"Partly that. There was another rea-
son, too. I had an idea that some one
was on our track, and it was my pur-
pose to throw proof on the one who was
universally considered the guilty party
in case it became too hot for u.s."
TOO hot for you," quietly interposed
Mr.. Morley.
mo. for us. Do you suppose l have
been such fool as to place myself SO
completely in your power that my safe
ty should depend on your whim: Not
much! If am found out. be sure you
90 down with me. in spite of your high
standing and incorruptible honor
jackson Kissed out these words with
venom.
"This conversation is fruitless. We
will change it," remarked Mr.. Morley
in tones wherein great effort at self
control was evident. "Now, restore my
portion of the bonds, and you have my
word that will not modest you. Re
fuse, and TIL grind you down in the
dirt, where you belong"
sBluf! all bluff" exclaimed Jack
son, with derisive laugh. Ihere was
4 time when was afraid of you, but not
now, not now. You've been so very klnd
as to tell what you'll 10; now let me
have my say. You'll give me your
daurbter or will dcnounce you. You
know can do it. Ihold absolute proofs
which will astonish the world, you bet.
Don't answer just yet. Think over
what am saying. know well must
fall when you do. My showing you up
necessarily includes that. But you
are such a senseless old fool In re-
fusing me your daughter that it would
bc a pleasure to show you up. Besides,