Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-08-26

not have even suspected: he sat staring
and incredulous for "A time. and then
swayed up unsteadily.
''Welll How queer-Netta again
Let her go? / couldn't; what on earth
should do without. You're rich,
and you want my girl? IL daren't
think now, Marcel; let II wait bit. No,
no. don't, don't see her yet. Shake
hands-yes. indeed! Heavens, sha'n't
sleep this night"
1 went out, leaving him standing So
That kitchen door was closed; but
fancied-I was sure-I heard sup
pressed sob in there. Should I-no,
presently she would be bringing up my
supper, and then Back to my room
in a whirl I went, and sat down for the
thousandth time TO compare those
precious calculations. Why, YES, the
simple idea was perfect: the uncoiling
of the one spring implied the tighten
ing of the second, and so the motor-bar
was bound to reyolve. lsy last valuable
must go to obtain the preliminary fees.
but that The softest tap.
'Your supper. Mr.. Marcel-and good
night"
stumbled to the door. Netta-she
had placed the tray on the floor. r
caught just a glimpse of her dress
whisking round the staircase below.
All, then, she knew there was some
thing in the air that night She waa
nervous-futtered; the very cocoa
seemed to have been spoiled in the maxi
ing-for the first time. I slipped it, and
then sat thinking wildly again. Tick.
tick, went my darling clock over there.
Now-was it wavering? No, no-only
my poor, tired brain. The reaction was
setting in. of course. To bed! To-
morrow. A clear brain, at any priceI
must have fallen asleep before 1
touched the pillow. Sunshine was
streaming in when, partly dressed, 1
sat up-sat up with a vague but terrible
sensation as of something being wrong.
The time? The time-I looked across
to that bench, gave half scream-and
then my heart seemed to become still.
My clock was-not there!
What did do frst2 1 hardly know;
something had seemed to snap in my
brain as struggled to realize. Gone
stolen while slepti My table of cal
culations-gone too. 1 had left IL be-
side the model. lamont The
fash-thought sent me reeling. His
manner-his jealousy-his hint at
theftl Dazed, l only knew there was
n nameless thing In my mind as 1
stepped out on to the landing and lis
tened. The hands of the clock there
pointed to seven, and Lamont left for
his work at eight. he would swear to
his innocence; would simply hold him
by the throat while crashed open his
box. Iopened his door quietly.
Lamont was not there. 1 started round
for his trunk. 1t was gone.
felt my way down tke stairs again
like man suddenly blinded. At the
foot I met Baldwin, our landlord, and
ciutehed his arm. Just one tense whis-
per: "Lamont--that man?"
Goodness, Mr.. Marcel, what's the
matter? Lamont2 Why, he's
gone-came down here an hour ago,
woke me and gave me weeks money
instead of notice, and left the house
without another word"
| A month had passed. terrible
month that lived through in alternate
fits of madness and spells of dumb
stupor. One day 1 would tramp the
streets with eyes strained for sight
of the man who had ruined my life;
the next, would sit huddled over that
empty bench, seeing no one, speaking
to no one. At times there would come
that soft tap at the door, and Netta'i
whisper that she had something to tel
me; then her father would call m,
from the stairs; but never answeret
either-ny interest in life was sus
pended.
A month; and then, one neyer-to-be
forgotten evening, still stranger thinl
happened. Sitting there so, / hear.
heavy footsteps outside, and next
peremptory knock. Before I could stir
two men had walked In. know tina
then sprang up with choke of in
credulous passion. One man was
) stranger to me; the other-Lamoni
haggaFd but smiling. lamont II
/ had folded his arms; he could spea
2 coolly, sneeringly.
: $50 you think ! made off with you
J. ! precious invention. Mr.. Marcel? Stan
! | still-wait might have done
: should have been justified. considerin
I that it was you who robbed me of tn
3 one woman I'm ever likely to love {
4 want. No matteri Shall tell you VIII
+: went from this house as did? Ca
e you believe me?"
t Speak / could not. The very worl
t seemed to have stopped turning.
q az wanted Netta-and you were to
K blind and busy to see it. Her fath'
r had said: Netta's husband must ha-
T ~ without my consent Very wei
Y for long enough sweated and starvs
: for that. 1 own that lent you none
d from time to time just to keep yC
buried in what I considered fool
dream. knew she cared for you mos
= II any man; but that you would new
think of a wife while your problem +
manned a problem. That night, 81
~.r1,. al l.