The Holly chieftain., 1898-07-22
A CLEW BY WIRE
o.. A laterrpted curreat.
BY HOWARD n. YOST.
Copyriehs. 1896. by }, B. Lippineou Co
CHAPTER vIn.-Cosr1NuEp.


When we arrived at 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. I laid my hand
on the bride to restrain her going.
do you mind if ask you a ques-
fion?" inquired.
.'Assuredly not"
Then tell me, do you see much of
Horace jackson? Has he asked you to
marry him?"
Yes. he has asked me to marry him.
she replied, dropping her head. "In-
deed. there is a compact between us
about it,"
"Oh!"
Eyes. Now. please do not be foolish
and feel badly over it. But have prom
ised Mr.. jackson that will marry him
If the robbery can be traced to you. and
the stolen property. or portion of it,
be found in your possession"
Good heavens! Why did you give
him that promise?"
well. he bothered me so, lately, that
! 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. Soyou see how
absolutely safe am in this"
"Does Jackson believe am guilty ?"
asked.
mo, he does not. In his inmost heart
he does not And he used to affirm his
belief in your innocence until" She
hesitated here, and seemed reluctant to
proceed. 1 waited in anxiety, and she
finally went on-"until lately he. for
some reason, has changed his opinion.
At least so he says. And it made me
angry when he told me that he had.
Then it was gave him the promise"
'now long is it since you discovered
that he had changed?"
About six weeks ago. l have not
seen 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-
lieving 1 was the guilty party?" 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 it. For she
leaned toward me and with great earn
estness exclaimed: NELSON, oh, tell
me, you had nothing to do with it, did
you?"
"Florence!"
Forgive me; I know you are hon
est and true" She laid her hand upon
mine. .I will not wrong you by the
least doubt. But jackson seemed SO
confident. There is no way by which
seeming proof of the robbery could
be shown against you, is there?"
"Good heavens, how could there be?"
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 IN amused smile.
do you like Jackson at all? is he
agreeable to you?" asked, in jealousy.
The smile died from her face and her
eyes flashed with an angry fire.
Like him? No. indeed; detest the
me happy; and laughed merrily.
ut is not kind Of you to compel me to
show temper" she said. "But remem-
Der, sir, you provoked me to it. 1t is not
only for myself alone that dislike him,
but it seems to me that he is the cause
of the change that has come over my
father lately. Ever since that quarrel
fnther has been so different"
TN what respect?" asked, sympa-
thetically.
He seems terribly worried and
ANXIOUS"
1T is probably business care. There
are very few men directing great en-
terprises who have not times of worry
nnd anxiety, who have not financial
storms and the fear of wreck to face"
added, consolingly. "And as for the
quarrel with Jackson, that was prob
sbly no more than difference of opin-
ion regarding business methods. Jack
son told me once he had business rela-
tions with your father, and that is what
makes me almost fearful that he will
gain you after ALL"
"But 1 have promised you; what more
can you ask? would not marry Mr..
jackson even II had never met you,"
Florence said, with decided shake OF
her head.
'Unless it was proved robbed the
bank" suggested.
mo, not even then. I'd rather die"
"Oh. my darling Lowell" burst out,
II must be first in Your heart or moth
ing-frst or rnothing!''
"Whnt foolish fellow you are!
You make me feel quite hurt at your
implied doubt of me-"
She urged her horse forward few
steps, then turned her face toward me.
"Rest easy about that" with the true
light in her eyes. you are first, dear
one--first now, first always"
I made spring for the bride, but,
with merry laugh, she gave her horse
the whip and eluded me.
watched the dear form rising and
falling like bird along the road, then
climbed into the buggy and slowly
drove home.
CHAPTER TX.
After supper Lit . cigar and walked
up and down in front Of the house.
During the meal Mrs. Snyder had kept
up an incessant chatter concerning the
mysteries about my house. did not