Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-10-18
CHATTER xxrr.

"
The silence. but for the ticking of .he
slock upon the n.antel, was unbroken.t
In vain Grace strovc to think. She
could only follow the n;onotonons sound
which recorded that the tinaesfor which
she had prayed was swiftly flying.
She pressed her hands to fiAr eyes TO
strive for calm and thought. At last
she let them fall, and. With shuddcr,
allowed her gaze to rest upon the man
whose dark eyer hnd not for asalinstant
beer withdrawn from her face.
She had felt their glance burn even
while her own eyes had been hidden.
You speak Of. proof" slo said. what
Is your proofT' se
HAIRY Reynolds 'eonfessian,. was
the quiet answer. IA -
The mQInents for which she had
pleaded with Harvey Barclay had not
been lost to him. He had planned his
campaign: ghe had drawn up his forces:
md now be lad given. the first fire
which opened the battie-the battle
where defeat ment death. and victory.
life And shonots. They were high stakes
and nottto be lightly forfeited. {.
Nor had the FIRE failed OF its aim.
The shot had sped straight TO It's mark
Grace quivered convulsiyeiy as IL tore
Its BAy through her poor arfhor and
buried Itself In her shrinking flesh.
"Harry's confession!" she repeated.
IT could not be. argued her reason.
Why should ne make confession? This
was but new Fs,sc to extort the truth
from, her.
Her indignation lent, her mpmcntary
strength. She proudly threw back her
head. ai
Il tell you that signed the rrote. Mr..
Barclay What. then, could Harry con-
Her flistener smiled M
Poor child, How poor were. the wea-
pors ahclshad at her confnaitd! Only
her Innocence. and yoath, and candor
against experience. and subtelty, and
guile. -
AS well might swordssnan use
wooden sword against blade of Da-
nascus steel and hope to win. the day.
Let me tell you the story. Miss
Grace" he said. Perhaps then you
win Judge me more fairly. and win give
me the confidence shali.esteem so high
. gift. have not been, I am not. q
saintly man. have led. as perhaps
you know, a somewhat wild and dissi-
pated life. There has been. perhaps.
some little excuse for this, In the abb
sence Of home ties and woman;s infiu-
ance.
"But let that pass. I will not here
make excuses for my faults, only bold
ly avow them. II is for you, Grace, to
wipe out their record. IL you win.
well, among them, ilrst and fore.
most. was the Vice OF gambling. First
I played for small stakes. but lost and
got heavily In debt--so heavily that
saw NO way to escape from Its conse.
qucnces and entailcd disgrace.
AT last, one night ] grew desperate
and dcteriained 10 hazard alto win
al or lose ALL played more recklessly
than 7 had ever played before: but luck
had turned. Every card ! touched
turned into gold. 80
Beside mo stood man who lost as
I won. 1t was the man OF whom we
have been speaking. 1t was Harry
Reynolds. He was no stranger at the
gaming table. had met him often be-
fore, But this night he was pale. and.
like myself, played with q reckless
abandon which proved some strong me-
ceseity. Es
AS the pile OF gold grew at my place.
from time to tine he drew upon IT,. /
signifying my consent by q nod. did
not fear him az o creditor, I rose from
the table ten thousand dollars richer.
He was Iny debtor half that amount.
Next day he sent me check for the en-
tire sum-"
Y Grace involuntarily smoaned
Piece by piece the proof was fitting
into place, and forcing out the doubt
which made so brave a fight against it.
Go on" she said.
II viii make the story short he con-
tinued. my, luck from that night
turned for the better-his for the worse
From time to time he BORROWED money
from me until he owed me ten thousand
dollars. 90. f98 q
v"once my debtor. nc seemed To el-
most dislike and avoid me. r bore with
this. for reasons, Grace, perhaps you
can understand. At last my luck. too.
changed. and iost--lost--lost. need
ed the money had loaned him. I was
forced TO ask him for Il. He put me
of, until threatened to demand It of
his father He promised then to pay 1t
that same night. fty
Again he played. and again he lost.
He.rose owing the bank large sum. II
was then that he drew this note from
his pocketbook and tendsfed IL IN pay
ment OF the amount. He was well
known TO the bank officials. and they
had nc hesitation in accepting Il. We
We're both somewhat under the infiu-
ence OF wine, and at the same time the
whole transaction, seemed natural 10
me; but, as we walked out together into
the open air, the cold, clear atmosphere
sobered him, and dissipated the fumes
OF alcohol and tobacco which had
ciouded my brain. We walked a few
blocks In silence, and then turned and,
selling his arm, forced him to face me
Harry Reynolds. said, that mote
you gave the bank just now was a
forgery
The moon was shining above u.s. and
by its light could see the deathly pail
Tor on his face.
You lie!' he answered AZ
:" You shall answer to me for that
was my reply; but irst I win prove
good my assertion ! win go to Grace
Hawthnrfia IN the tnornfuc ana tell her,