Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-06-09
AClEW BY WIRE
Or, An Interrupted Current.
BY HOWARD M. Y0ST.
Copyright. 1896. by J. B. Lippincott Co.
CHAPTER XVI.-CoNTINUED.

L
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, l 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
1t? Have you arrived at your right
senses again?"
II have" came the answer.
"Oh, then you agree to give your
daughter to me. l thought you would
come to time"
"No, a thousand times no! I have
come to have an accounting from you"
Accounting? From me? For what,
I 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 l
will crush you"
"Oh, no, you will, will you? How?"
asked Jackson, in derisive tones.
by denouncing you," Mr.. Morley re-
piled, sternly.
'"Now, that is useless and foolish talk.
Let us reason, as between two business
men," said Jackson, assuming a conf
dental style. 81 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"
"It cannot be-"
And why not? l know she doesn't
like me, but l 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. am
rich now, and don't need it,"
"And who made you rich?'
ooh, you did. don't deny it; and you
have my thanks" replied Jackson, in
mockng tones. "That last deal in
which we were on opposite sides hap
pened to turn my way, and got the
pile you dropped That's my luck. 1
can give her as luxurious a 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-"
"Oh. she will! Not while live No.
she shall marry no one if not me-" Jack
son exclaimed in rage.
"And you thought that removing the
stolen bonds to some secret hiding place
of your own and thereby deprivng me
of my 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. | had an idea that some one
was on our track, and it was my pur-
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 I have
been such a fool as to place myself so
completely in your power that my safe
ty should depend on your whim? Not
much! If 1 am found out. be sure you
go 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 sort at self
control was evident. "Nc-v, restore my
portion of the bonds, and you have my
word that l will not modest you. Re
fuse, and I'll grind you down in the
dirt, where you belong"
bluff! all bluff" exclaimed Jack
BON, with a derisive laugh. There was
a time when l was afraid of you, but not
now, not now. You've been so very kind
as to tell what you'll do; now let me
have my say. You'll give me your
daughter, or will denounce you. You
know 1 can do it. hold absolute proofs
which will astonish the world, you bet
Don't answer just yet. Think over
what I am saying. know well 1 must
fall when you do. My showing you up
necessarily includes that. But you
are such a scnseless old fool in re-
fusing me your daughter that it would
be pleasure to show you up. Besides,