The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-02-05
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNrrNurp.

When we arrived ut the cross roads,
Florence insisted on riding her horse
the rest OF the way TO her home.
A thought occurred to me after / had
assisted her to remount. laid my hand
on the bride TO restrain her going.
do you mind IL ask you q ques-
tion?" inquired.
"Assuredly not"
Then tell me, do you see much of
Horace Jackson? Has he asked you TO
marry him?"
Eyes, he has asked me 20 marry him."
she replied. dropping her head. "In-
deed, there 10 . compact between us
about It,"
"Ohi"
eyes. Now, please do not be foolish
and feel badly over IL. But have prom
ised Mr.. jackson that will marry him
II the robbery can be traced 70 you. and
the stolen property, or n portion OF IL,
be found In your possession"
"Good heavensl Why did you give
him that promise?"
"Well, he bothered me 30, lately, that
I gave him the promise TO get rid OF
him. His part of the compact'is not TO
mention the subject again until you are
shown TO be the robber. So you see how
absolutely safe am in this"
"Does Jackson believe am guilty?"
/ asked.
mo, he does not. In his Utmost heart
he does not. And he used TO affirm his
belief in your innocence until" She
II 49, a.
proceed. waited In anxiety, and she
finally went on-"until lately he. for
some reason, has changed his opinion
At least SO he says. And IL made me
angry when he told me that he had
Then IL was gave him the promise"
'now long is 1t since you discovered
that he had changed?"
about six weeks ago. have not
aeen him since. He and his father had
q terrible quarrel that day, and he has
not been here since then"
what reason did he give for now be-
Neving / was the guilty partyP" i
asked.
"Oh, he mumbled something about
discoveries recently made which would
throw new light on the case"
Florence gazed earnestly into my
face, and she must have noticed the
troubled expression upon IL. For she
leaned toward me and with great earn
estness exclaimed: NELSON, oh, tell
me, you had nothing to do with 1t, did
your"
"Florcncel"
"Forgive me; know you are hon
est and true" She laid her hand upon
mine. II will not wrong you by the
least doubt. But jackson seemed so
confident. There is no way by which
n seeming proof of the robbery could
be shown against you, is therep"
"Good heavens. how could there be 2"
I exclaimed. "oh. see IL ALL" went
on bitterly. Jackson has become
wealthy, and is trying TO ingratiate
himself with your father and under
mine my reputation with you and so
finally gain your hand
Florence listened TO my incoherent
outburst with an amused smile.
.'Do you like Jackson at all? Is he
agreeable 10 your" l asked, in jealousy.
The smile died from her face and her
eyes flashed with an angry fire.
Like him? No. indeed; detest the
man. hate him." This outburst made
me happy, and laughed merrlly.
"It Is not kind of you TO compel me TO
show temper" she said. "But remem-
Der, sir, you provoked me IL. tits not
only for myself alone that / dislike him,
but Il seems 20 me that he Is the cause
L. ~ Eao ~
father lately. Ever since that quarrel
father has been so different"
I'm what respect?" / asked. sympa-
thetically.
"He seems terribly worried and
anxious"
"It is probably business care. There
are very few men directing great en-
terprises who have not times OF worry
and anxiety, who have not financial
storms and the fear Of wreck to face"
i added. consolingly. "And as for the
quarrel with jackson, that was prob
ably no more than n difference OF opin-
ion regarding business methods. Jack
son told me once he had business rela-
lions with your father. and that Is what
makes me almost fearful that he will
gain you after ALL"
shut have promised you; what more
can you ask9 would not marry Mr..
jackson even IL had never met YOU
Florence said. with decided shake OF
her head.
"Unlcss 1, was proved robbed the
bank suggested.