The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-19
XIV.

cori,unled by this check and filled with an
thu, WAS nigh 10 dangerous. he fell
s,ct and then immediately spranG forward.
"WbN, are you doing here?' he cried. Don't
trov that IL is II o'clock and that my
,,,,har requires the house TO be closed at that
hour
and vou?" was her sole retort; what are
, doing here? Are you searching for
sovsrs in tho woods. AM is that valise you
o,rrv the receptacle in which YOU hope to put
,onr botanical specimens"
With , savage gesture lie dropped the valise
,,a took her nercely by each shoulder.
"yhere have you hidden my money!" he
hissei, Tell me Or
"or WHAT" sh. asked. smiling into his face
IN A way that made him lose his grip.
.Or-or. cannot answer for myself" he
ro,, m. ~stammcring. DO you think I can
,nlure everything from You because you are
=. voman, No; | will have those bills. every
ono ot thcm, or show myself -FOUR master.
Ehe-, are they. YOU incarnate fiend?"
II vas an nnwisc word to use. but she did
rot seem to heed it.
"Ah." she said softly. and with a lingering
accent, as II his grasp OF her had been a caress
TO which she was not entirely averse. i did
no, think you would discover its loss 30 soon.
When did You Go.to the woods. Frederick? And
was Mss Halliday with you;"
He had q disposition to strike her. but con-
trolled himself. Blows would not avail against
The ~softness OF this suave vet mcrciless being.
Only a will as strong as her own could hone to
core with this smiling fury: and this he de-
ternlned 10 show. though. alas. he had every
thing 10 lose in the struggle that could rob
her N nothing hut a hope which was but n
base.ess fabric at best; for he was more than
ever determined never to marry her.
"A man does not need to wait long to miss
his own" said he. And If you have taken
this money. which you do not deny. you have
shown yourself very short-slghted, for dan
ger lies closer tothe person holding this money
than to the one YOU may villify by our threats.
This you will find. Amabel. when you come to
make use OF the weapon with which you have
thought 70 arm yourself
Tut. tut" was her contemptuous reply.
"Do you consider me IA child? Do l look like q
bahhling infant, Fred erick?'
Her face. which she had lifted to his in cay.
Ing this. was 50 illumined. both by her smile.
which was strangely enchanting for one SO
evil, and by the moonlight which so etherializes
all 1t touches. that he had to think OF that other
purer, truer face he had left at the honey
tuck.e porch to keep down a last wild impulse
toward her. which would have been his undo
Ing. both In this world. and the next. os he
knew.
Or do | look simply like q woman she
went on. seeing the.impression she had made
and PLAYING upon It. a woman who under
stands herself and you and all the secret perils
Of the game we nre both playing? II I am a
child. treat me as q child but il ] am q wo-
man
Stand out OF my wav." he cried. catching
W his valise and striding furtously by her
Woman or child. you shall know that / will
not be your plaything TO be damned In this
world and the NEXT
Are YOU bound for the CITY OF destruction?
She laughed. not moving. hut showing such
confidence in her power to hold him back that
he stepped In spite OF himself. IF 80. you are
taking the direct road there and have only &c
hasten. But you had better remain In your
tathets house. even Il you nre something OF n
prisoner there in company with my very in,
significant self. Tho outcome will be more
satisfactory, even IL you have to share 1t will
me"
And what course will you take?" he asked
raising with his hand or the fence. IF
ehHoSc destruction without you rather thar
peFlition with yout'
What course' Whv. ! shall tell DR.. Talbo
Just enough .! what know to prove you to b,
~ desirable a witness in the impending in
guest as myself. The result l leave TO You
judgment. But you will not drive me to thi.
extremity. You will come back and
Woman, | will never come hack. l shal
nave 10 larc vour worst In two weeks and
WI, tegIn by daring you now. T."
blt he did not leap the fence. though h
MADE a move to do so. for at that moment
paF,y OF men came hurryinG by on the lowe
IVY one OF whom was heard to say:
! Will bet my head that we will put on
nahd on Agatha Wcbh's murderer tonight
INe man VIII" shov"s $50 bills around so heed
r''iy should MT wear a beard so long II lead
t. detection
was tho Coroner, the constable. KNAPP
W. A.el eli route to the forest road'on whlc
""l j In an! James Tabai.
''e.'Fi"S and Amabel confronted each othe
M a'ler q moments silence turned as IL by
>',,n''i imrnIsc toward the house.
WEAK nave they got In their heads?" auei
'' She' Whatever it is. it NAV serve to oc
.a.y 'h"m iii tho two weeks OF your probr
Hon have passed"
"' HId not answer. A new difficulty ha
~"ea MS G,rendy over.rrowled life.