The Delta independent., 1898-01-07

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
senses again."
IT have" came the answer.
"Oh, then you agree to give your
daughter to me. thought you would
come to time"
mo, 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, aud
will crush you"
"Oh. no. you will. will you? How?"
asked jackson. in derisive tones.
by denouncing you," Mr.. Morley re-
piled, sternly.
..Eow, that is useless and foolish talk.
Let Us reason, as between two business
men," said jackson, assuming conf
DENTAL style. 81 want to marry your
daughter. At first you kept promising
me chat l should do SO. All through the
five years of patient waiting for an OPP
pcAtunity to tap the vault. You kept Inc
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? I know she doesn't
more than anything on earth. She'll
do as you tell her: you know that.
Come. III 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
mocking tones. That last deal in
which we were on opposite sides hap
pcned to turn my way, and 1 got the
pile you dropped. That's my luck. /
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 n better man than either
you or me-"
"oh. she will! Not while live. No.
she shall marry no one il 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 depriving 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. l had an idea that some one
was on our track, and il 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.
NO, for us. Do you suppose I have
been such q fool as to place myself SO
completely in your power that my safe
t. should depend on your whim? Not
much! II | am found out. be sure you
60 down with me. in spite of your high
standing and ircorruptiblc honor"
Jackson hissed out these words with
venom.
This conversation is fruitlesa. We
will change it," remarked Mr.. Morley,
in tones wherein great effort a: self
control was evident. "Now, restore my
portion Of the bonds. and you have my
word that I will not moiest you. Re-
fuse, and I'll grind you down in the
dirt, where you belong"
Bluff! all bluff" exclaimed Jack
son, with n derisivc laugh. There was
time when WINS 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 dcnounce you. You
know I can do il. hold absolute proofs
which will nstonish 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 senseless old fool in re-
fnsing me your dnughter that IL would
be pleasure to show you up. Besides,
] do love Florence, and IL can't have
her ] don't care what happens to me-"
4