Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-12

tnal old promise TO Agatha NebD, ana Ut
tered oath after oath, cursing himself, the
woman and what she had done, til a casual
glance at the heavens overhead, in which
the liquid moon hung calm and beautiful,
recalled him to himself. Ceasing his vain
repinings and silencing with a fierce but
determined effort the fierce demon In his
breast, he turned from the unhallowed spot
and made his way with deeper and deeper
mis- ivings toward a home made hateful to
him now by the presence of the woman who
was thus bent upon his ruin.
He understood her now. He rated at its
full value both her determination and her
power, and had she been so unfortunate as
to have carried her imprudence to the point
of surprising him at that moment In one OF
the hollows OF that midnight copse, it would
have taken more than the memory of that
days resolves to have kept him from using
his strength against her. But she was wise
and did not intrude upon him in his hour
Of anger, though who could say she was not
near enough to hear the sigh which broke
irresistibly from his lips as he emerged from
the wood and approached his fathers house.
A lamp was still burning in Mr.. Suther-
lands study over the front door. and the
sight of it seemed to change for a moment
the current of Frederick's thoughts. Stop
ping with the gate in his hand he consid-
/ tANA VIZ lAAAsNAA aNAAA NhNh NANA - ~
countenance and a lighter step was about 10
proceed inward, when he heard the sound
Of a heavy breather coming up the hill, and
paused-why he hardly knew-eXcept that
every advancing step occasioned him more
or less apprehension.
The person, whoever 1t was, stopped be-
fore reaching the brow Of the hill, and pant
ing heavily, muttered an oath which Fred
erick heard. Though it was no more pro-
fame than those which had just escaped his
own lips in the forest, 1t produced an effect
upon Frederick which was only second in in
tensity to the terror of the discovery that
the money he had so safely hidden was
gone.
Trembling in every limb, he dashed down
the hill and confronted the person standing
there.
YOU" he cried, "you!" And for a mo-
ment he looked as If he would like to fell
to the ground the man before him.
But this man was a heavyweight of no
! ordinary physical strength and adroitness,
and only smiled at Frederick's heat and
threatening attitude.
II thought l would be made welcome"
he smiled, with just the hint of sinister
meaning his tone. Then, before Frederick
\ could speak: 81 have merely saved you a
trip to Boston, why so much anger, friend?
You have the money; of that am posi-
( tive
Hush! We can't talk here whispered
Frederick. Come into the grounds, or,
what would be better, into the woods over
there"
II don't go into any woods with you
laughed the other; mot after last night,
my friend. But l will talk low; that's no
more than fair; I don't want to put you
into any other mans power, especially If
you have the money"
"Wattles-" Frederick's tone was bro
ken, almost unintelligible. What do you
mean by your allusion to last night?" Have
you dared to connect me
Pooh! POOH" Interrupted the other, good
humoredly. Don't let us waste words over
a mlschance word 1 may have let drop"
Il don't care anything about last nights
work, or who was concerned in it. That's
nothing to me. All ! want, my boy, is the
money, and that want devilish bad, or 1
would not have run up here from Boston,
when l might have made half a hundred Off
a countryman Lewis brought in from the
Canada wilds this morning."
"Wattles, l swear"
But the hand he had raised was quickly
drawn down by the other.
Don't" said the older man, shortly. at
won't pay, Sutherland. Stage talk never
passed for anything with me. Besides, your
white face tells a truer story than your
lips, and time is precious. l want to take
the II O'Clock train back. So down with the
cash. Nine hundred and ifty-six it is, but,
being friends, we will let the odd six
CO."
"Wattles, l was to bring it to you tomor-
row, or was it the next day? l do not want
to give it to you tonight; indeed l cannot,
but-Wattles, wait, stop! Where are you
going?'
ITO see your father. l want to tell him
that his son ives me a debt; that this debt
was incurred in a way that lays him liable
for arrest for forgery; that, bad as he thinks
you there are facts which can be picked
up in Boston which would make Frederick
Sutherland's continued residence under the
parental roof impossible; that, in fact, you
are a scamp of the first water, and that only
my friendship for you has kept you out of
prison so long. Won't it make a nice story
for the old gentleman's ears?"
"W~attles-I-O, my God, Wattles, stop a
minute and listen to me. / have not got
the money. l had enough this morning to
pay you, had it legitimately, Wattles, but
it has been stolen from me and"
81 will also tell him." the other broke in,
as quietly and calmly as If Frederick had not
uttered a word, that in a certain visit to
Boston you lost $500 on one hand; that you
lost it unfairly, not having a dollar to pay
with; that to prevent a scandal | became
your security, with the understanding that
l was to be paid at the end of ten days
from that night; that you thereupon played
again and lost 400 and odd more; so that
your debt amounted to 1855; that the ten
days passed without payment; that wanting
money, l pressed you and even resorted to
a threat or two; and that seeing me in earn
est, you swore that the dollars should be
mine within five days. That instead of re-
naming in Boston to get them you came
here, and that this morning at a very early
hour you telegraphed that the funds were
to hand and that you would bring them
down to me tomorrow. He may draw con-
clusions from this, Sutherland, which may
make his position as your father anything
but grateful to him. He may even-Ah, you
would try that game, would you"
The young man had flung himself at the
older mans throat, as II he would choke off
the words he saw trembling on his lips.
But the struggle thus began was short. In
a moment both stood apart, painting, and
Frederick, with lowered head, was saying
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