Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-07-01
CHAPTER xiv.-(Continued)

"You must make up your mind within
five minutes, Filton: I cannot sit gaping
at you oil night. Now thcn"-taking out
q gold rcpeatcr-"1 give you Eve minutes
(which IL five times too long"
Then the speaker closed his eyes, and
waited for the answer. Slowly 1t came.
as II spoken with infinite pain.
"All Gun arrange Is to give you five
thousand tonight, and five thousand-bor-
rowed money, mind-six weeks hence. The
rest I will raise before Mnbers wedding
day. Will that satisfy your
II will agree to those terms. II Is
large sum, but"--laughing eleefully--"I
don't imagine you will feel much grief In
reducing the portions due your son and
daughters. Ha, ha!'
"Stop thatw ihtcrposcd Charlford. "Re-
member, II you make me dcspcrate--if you
drive me to q last stand-l shall do as
Samson did-crush my enmies, even II
crush myself" =,
"Nonscnse--you won't do that" said
the man, assuming lighter tone. "And
old friends should pull together. 1t Is all
agreed thenT
'Sign this FIRST, to show you have receiv.
cd 1t. You have made life pretty hard for
me for a good many years to come.' said
ChaflfOfd.
"All right-here goes! Where shall I
get my next installment?'
I'm London. I will let you know. l
will meet you at the usual place In the
city. Now shall we have some wine after
all this wretched businessT
"'Tis anything but wrctchcd to me. FIJI.
ton" replied the other. "Winef To bc
sure, and bit Of that pie. too! ] am as
hungry % hunter. for I have not dined.'
Eat them" said his unwilling host,
carving the pie, and interrupting In order
to pour some wine into the glass which
Mabel had substituted for the one into
which he had dropped the liquid.
The visitor emptied his glass. saying:
THAT puts new blood into met
"Drink some more them" urged his COM
panion, whose face had grown very pale
and whose hands trembled.
'l'll eat now: keep me company" said
the man.
''Oh, I dincd In town--had capital din.
ncr, too--so I'm not hungry! And, to tell
the truth, business such as ours doesn't
help the appetite"
"Not yours, perhaps, but II helps mine.
Fifteen thousand pounds! I shall marry
again, Elton, and marry an hcircss."
by all means. I wish you luck!" re.
sponded Charlfori.
Don't be Q day over the time for pay.
ing the next installment, or shall con-
slider our bargain void"
mo fear" answered Mabels father
"Well keep faith with me. and I will
keep faith with you" replied the man.
Otherwise shall know how to retaliate.'
WHO doubts TIP said Charlford. laugh
ing. "There-don't be foolish! Get t.
the Crow and Eagle. and sleep Oh your
suspicious"
The man waved bis hand. and. withou,
response In words, went down the passage
crossed Tie threshold aud was lost to view
Mabel's father followed, and stood gas
Ing after him. Then be began to mutteI
incohsssetiy to himself.
The Crow and Eagle-the Crow ani
Eagle" hs brsathed. "What will Johr
think Of II when he reads the-the accouu,
in the papers? Let him think what b,
will, BE- will b. the gaincr!"
Muttering thus, be stole back along thu
passage toward bis own room. He wal
not In bis usual calm, cool temper, read!
for any emergency. eager to hnd fault
quick to assert his own will. For once h
was glad that no eyes were upon him; h'
must rest, collect himself, be armed at al
points for the coming day, and all that u
might bring.
II have borne with him long enough,
he murmurcd; 'and, fool as he In, be dit
not know where to stop! He goadcd mi
to It. II was his own doing"
Mabel, half hidden by the cabinet an,
by the intervening pieces OF furniture
could not be seen Immediately AZ he re
entered the room, and she caught the las
sentence which fell from her fathers lip
lit was his own doing" No doubt nov
remained In her mind as to his intentions
toward the man who had just left him
Her eyes grew dim. She tried to cry
'Tathcr-father!" but could not articu
late.
Then Mr.. Charlford. advancing into tn
room, caught sight Of her, standing, rs
transfixed with horror aud with grief.
"Mabel." he cried, his face assuming
livid hue. "why IRE you herey'
With q stifed exclamation she spran
toward him, then fell ut his feet.
"Why am I here?" she gasped. "Why
heaven must have sent me. father. In Of
der that I might save you! Oh, father
rest Of your life!'
save meg ne ecnOeu, cOMpieteIy over
whclmed for the moment, doubtful how I
answer her. uncertain Us to how much sh
knew.
Eyes. father-yes! Listen!" She spran
to her feet and spoke In a low and III
steady voice. "Already, unknown to yOl
have saved you! IL poured away-ths
which you meant him to drink! He ha
not drank It! Are you not thankful. fatt
err. And l will stand by you to the ent
II you will let me-"
At heP words he staggered backward
be could not speak In answer to her mil
gled pleading and accusation.
Pierced to the soul rs she was by th
mute confession Of his guilt Mabel boz
up bravely.
eyes, look up. father" she whispered
"yOu are saved! Henceforth let me tran
act all your business with that man. u
not allow yOurself.ever to see him agai
And IL will be as silent rs the grave
will never breathe hint of what has hal
pened to Dick or to any human creatur
Together We will get that enemy Of YOU
out Of the country, aud then you will be
peace. And will not ask to know WIFI
he has done; I will ask nothing, fathe
except that you should keep yourself FRI
from guilt. Take all my fortune, father
every penny-I do not need It now, for
shall never marry. never go into society