Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-07
CHAPTER Y.

that night.
CHAPTER v.
For man who has never had the
leisure to appreciate the uses of n social
club, absolute inaction, on the very
verge of intense action, is intolerable
torment. Thinking of anything was
utterly out of the question. He did
not dare to return to his office. lie was
afraid of the elevator boy. The sun
was never SO procrastinating. lie
dined slowly and mechanically at the
city club, and still it was not time. He
ordered carriage and drove to the
main entrance of the Office building.
Still there was time; but there might
not be later, and, to avoid unnecessary
delay or conversation at the last mo-
ment, he carefully instructebthe driver
that when he returned and entered
the carriage he was to start at once,
without word, and drive as rapidly as
possible to the ferry.
when we reach the other side
will tell you further where to CO." he
said, and turned away; and still there
was time to kill.
The driver laid the instructions away
in the vacant corner of his brain where
he stored such things, and forthwith
went to sleep.
Stanton shrank into the darkest
corner of the gloomy entrance and
went on waiting.
The shrinking was only matter of
instinct. His course and his chances
had appeared more and more doubtful
with each half hour. There's nothing
like immoderate waiting to make q
coward of man; and, besides, IT began
to appear quite possible that if John
Qlmstead could speak he would say,
"Let the other one have it, Robert,
rather than try to save 1t in such a
way as this"
For the hundredth time he tried to
fashion Esther Thorndike-the poor
deformed creature who was to throw
herself away just to serve his pur-
poses.
"Confound it, it's shame" he NUT
tered. "Ive been blind, selfish brute.
III tell her SO, when she comes, and
send her away again. 1t must be eight
o'clock. Ha! there's the clock strik-
ing, at last. She's late. Women are not
to be trusted, anyway. L"
A messenger boy touched his arm
repeating the name "Alalcolm2" in a
questioning way, and holding out an
envelope.
With shrug of his shoulders the
young lawyer took it and turned i,
slowly over in his hands. There was nc
doubt about whom it came from or that
she was not coming herself. He forgot
that moment before he had beer
earnestly planning to set her free al
once, and, muttering fragment of the
lines containing Women and the fools
who have faith In them" he actually
put the envelope in his pocket, un
opened, end was turning away, wher
the boy asked him for the answer.
Answer" he remarked, looking
down in surprise. Then he slowly drew
the letter from his pocket again, and
retreating farther into the shadow
opened it, lighted match, and read:
"Mr. Raymond is in carriage round
the first corner. He was following
yours when you came. His driver sit.
where he can see it. If shall come al
once, send me word by the bearer. I
not, I will wait where am till he i,
away. p. T."
With low whistle Stanton returned
to the messenger and asked: "Do YOU
want to take rider" The boy grinned
and he continues: Here's a dollar
for your time. Get into that carrlag,
rs quick as you can and slam the doc,
after you, but don't speak to the driver
When he stops on the ferry and ask
you where to go next, tell him to driv,
back to the stables and that I will
pay him in the morning. See?"
The boy saw, for he was in the car
riage in no time. The dor closed witt
q bang that thoroughly woke thu
driver, whose educated brain caught VI
the thread precisely where he hat
dropped it. Before his eyes We're wei
open, the blankets were off the horses
the whip had cracked over them, an,
they had started most satisfactorily.
Stanton watched them from tn
SHADOWS, A moment later the tips o
his teeth appeared under his mustach
Us carriage came from the side stree
and followed his own with the messen
ger boy.
"Dat's him." he muttered, and wa
still looking after the lost Interest
when another hand touched his arm
and another voice, softer than the mes
senger's, repeated:
.'A[r. Malcolm?"
| It was Q time Of swift vicissitude
for one guided by instinct. In the frs
quiet thoughts of his waiting he ha
honestly determined to give up tn
plan for the sake of her who was to b
the sacrifice. A moment later he wa
turning away, Disguised that he ha
ever thought Of trusting her. 1t too