The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-10-13

which he read rapidly and placed in his
pocketbook.
Well" he said. sharply, in the tone
of a man who is puzzled but won't admit
it-"well. S, J what is your opinion?
Mind. your honest opinion"
"Demetrius." said /, slowly. search
ing for n suitable epithet and selecting
the one upon my tongues tip, lis
damned coward"
And your reasons?' he snapped.
His restless eyes sparkled as the adj
jective sputtered from my lips.
He turned tail to save his own hide.
The boy was taken to save appearances.
When Mark was in real danger-alone
on the sands with observation-disclosures
rius was indecently indifferent. But
when the doctor apprehended violent
symptoms and our friend thought that
he might be exposed to them, why,
then"
He wilted. eh?"
"Yes; the naked coward cbtruded it.
self"
you don't know him, young man."
POSSIBLY not"
"He is no coward. have known De-
metrius for 30 years-a long time. |
repeat. he is no coward"
! touched up the horses with the
flick of the whip. and the action be-
trayed me. for Gerard laughed.
Take it coolly," he said. Young
men. nine times out of ten, misconstrue
the motives which govern human ac-
tions. Remember that have made
study. a profitable study, of my fellow
creatures"
"All the same" said, doggedly, she
is Il coward"
That's quite right. Sticl, to your
colors. my boy. BY the way, I am sur
prised that you should have taken Bur-
lington to my house"
could not excuse myself without ac-
cusing Nancy, so held my peace.
However" he continued, thoughtful
ly. I'VE have the man where we can
watch him. You may yet earn that big
salary"
Il expect to-" l retorted, bluntly.
was cursing myself for speaking out
so plainly. In damning the cowardice
Of the Greek | had also, by inference,
damned the cowardice of my employer.
My tongue, ms usual, had outstripped
my hating brain. l was still in my
salad days and a novice in the art of
dialogue.
81 suppose" said Gerard, carelessly,
that you have fallen in love with
Nancy"
The question took me so completely
by surprise that my stupid face flushed
scarlet. | began to realize that this
man, whose bodily presence was so con-
temptible, was. conversationally speak
ing. dandling me in his arms.
II don't blame you" continued &C.
rard, in his most matter-of-fact tones.
"She is a pretty girl and very intelli-
gent. 1t would interest Inc to know
whether-er-she-"
NO; she doesn't"
Thank YOU. like to be posted No
no; don't frown | dare swear that
she will say yes, and you may live to
wish it had been no."
lie had dropped his tone of banter and
spoke gloomily. in sour, raucous ac-
cents. This man had achieved much
that the world prizes. His keen brain
and extraordinary acumen had borne
him triumphant upon the top wave of
success. Now that he had brought his
heavilyfreighted vessel into safe har-
borage. he had leisure to read the log
and estimate the wear and tear. /
watched him as he leaned back YEARLY
hn oil If
the buggy and made small calcula-
ton. Divide wealth. as many millions
as you please, by health, subtract time,
and what is left? Answer, the man be-
side me, haggard. wizened, prematurely
gray.
So. after all. he had seen the COM
plication of my falling in love with
Nancy-had counted the probability as
gain. an extra rivet to bind me to his
service. What a puppet had been!
I'm sorry the boy is from home"
he muttered. IL should have enjoyed
seeing him. Demetrius is overcautious
"a fault on the right side"
He asked me innumerable questions
about the lad, displaying his talent for
cross-eXamination, and with it his re-
markable love for his son. Mrs. Gerard,
it appeared, had been kind enough to
give me more credit than l deserved,
and her husband expressed his appreci-
alton of my efforts in characteristic
fashion.
you are not giving me value re-
ceived," he said, brusquely, "but you've
done all asked. and more"
wondered whether Mrs. Gerard in
her letters had mentioned my eXcur-
sion into Cupid's domain, and answered
the question in the negative.
Pm n generous man." Gerard con-
tinued, with that curious infection in
bis voice which had remarked when he
had pressed upon me his rarest wines;
land my epdaughter-you have found
out, of course, that she is my step
daughter-will be handsomely dow
cred. l dare say | shall give her pic
ture or two-that Constable perhaps