Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-28
Copy right.)
CHAPTER XIV.
PUT TO THE QUESTION.

PUT TO THE QUESTION.
Life ebbed low tor brief space; and
though did not quite lose conscious
ness, the figures that moved about me
were dim and unreal as il l had only
seen their reflection in a clouded mir
ror.
Your aim wasn't quite what you
boosted" / heard the master villain say
to one Of his two men. you shouldn't
have got excited. | was never SO for a
second, though knew l played tick
lish part. That first shot of yours went
through the lungs, or near them, unless
I'm much mistaken. | trusted you to
remember my precautions, and all that
/ had told you was at stake. You
boosted that you would wing him and
nothing more"
81 confess lost my head little when
] saw him go for you,'' said voice,
which / dreamily recognized as pertain
ing to the late driver of the private
hanson.
"You did, indeed; but with his phys
ique and constitution, if it proves adj
visable to save him, he may pull through
yet. Give him this. and hold his head
while he drinks it,
felt the cool glass rim of a tumbler
pressed against my lips and presently,
a sweet, strong fluid trickling between
them. I was forced to drink or choke,
and chose the former In moment
the sluggish blood coursed faster
through my veins. The dimness passed
from before my eyes, and saw clearly.
Mr.. Smith was bending over me, while
the Jew and the man who had driven
me from Stanhope Gate to the house,
stood together in the background.
GLOW do you feel?" solicitously in
uuired the old man, who had not taken
the trouble to restore wig or beard,
and who stood above me, grizzled,
younger than he had seemed before,
more commonplace of type, changed Of
feature, gross, and above all, essentially
foreign.
sStrong enough to try another turn
with you, if you will give me fair play"
/ said, my muscles swelling rebelliously
under the tightly-knotted ropes.
He laughed. "You will do" he pro-
ceeded to remark. 81 don't believe
after all. It has merely ruptured some
blood-vessel, and you will be wise to
keep quiet until you can see better
doctor than /, or until" He did
not finish the sentence, but I under
stood without words, as / think he
meant me to understand. "You are at
liberty to choose your own fate" he
went on. This night may be your
last on earth, and you may carry the
condolences / have pleased myself by
reposing in you, ito the grave; or, you
may remain to decorate this earth dur
ing long and useful life Your rash
ness and imprudence cut short my ex
plantations a short time ago, and pre-
cipitated the march of events, but l
will not continue them. 1t was neces-
sary for you to comprehend my control
of affairs before you could fairly come
to the decision desired you to reach.
I NsKed nothing in letting you know
the truth, because it was previously
settled before doing so, either that you
should leave this house as a confed-
crate, deeply involved in my affairs,
or else that you should never leave it
at ALL This question still remains
OPEN"
/ looked full into his eyes, but did
not speak.
will you authorize me, in writing,
to act for you as agent with Lord
Hardhurst?"
4 mo, you devil in the shape of man!
thousand times mol" l shouted
y
slider that matter concluded then. But,
as | mentioned, | have another propo-
sition to bring forward. Will you, if I
liberate you. do your best to become
the husband of a certain young heiress
whose affections you have, doubtless,
already gone far towards gaining-and
bind yourself, by contract, to hand over
nalt OF her fortune TO me Ca grateful
tribute for my introduction, incest pas)
one month from the date OF marriage?
or course, any evasion of such a con-
tract would be punished in manner,
which, pephaps, you can divine"
| flung the word dog at him, and,
beyond that. left the wretch unan-
swered
you are very certain that you will
not see fit to change your mind?"
AS certain as that you deserve to
be hanged thrice over
Thanks for being SO explicit. Well
then, you will hardly be surprised at
the alternative. Mr.. Napier, l and my
assistants will be under the painful
necessity of sending you to another
sphere, less material if possibly more
elevated
Kill me and have done with it." l
muttered sullenlg l had risked all this
when first | had engaged in the ad-
venture; and had it not been for Lance
/ could have shrugged my shoulders
in indifference, considering that, when
the present pangs of dissolution should
be passed, Mr.. Smith and his obedient
confederates would have saved me a
great deal Of trouble
All in good time, my dear SIR" the
man answered with unruffled urbanity,
despite the marks of vengeance which
were traced in sanguinary colors on his
face. I'VE have still little prelimin-
airy work to do. 1t will rest with you
to say whether our methods must be
earned TO extremes. You have taken
on yourself the responsibility of hiding
Miss Seaford from her sorrowing rela-
tive and friends. In the end we shall,
of course, be able to discover her
whereabouts. But l am always ready
to save trouble when convenient:
therefore, as you would, of course, feel
1t against your conscience to die and
leave her unprotected, you will see
how wise it would be to give me her
address before-er-before more active
measures are TAKEN"
Needless to say, l had not the faint
est intention of hatravi,c tba ob;1d