The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-03-10
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUED.

For n moment she hesitated, then,
turning with quick motion, as il to
have it soon ot .r with, she said:
at was only that you promise me
that, except where this business de-
mands it, you will never, in any way,
In public or private, admit TO me or 10
anyone that you ever saw or heard Of
me-"
"Wby, MADAME"
"That was part OF the bargain"
mot speak TO you or write 70 your"
"Never. / should never respond IL
you did. Wasn't that the wife you
wanted and the wife / promised to be-
Gomez"
MADAM, was detestable fellow TO
suggest it. God grant that some day
you may come to think better and for
give me-"
Don't put 1t So" she said 81 am
bound to do my part and you are bound
TO do yours. Such a condition will help
us both. How could / possibly have
anything to forgive? With all my
heart am glad that was able TO help
You in thwarting one who would have
wronged you. You have done more
than that, and avenged wrong he did
you long ago. Listen. / am going TO
trust you with n secret which would
place me helplessly at your mercy If
you chose to take advantage of il 10
discover me-" She stepped nearer,
took his hand in hers, and, leaning for
ward, added, in low tone: "You have
married the afiianced bride Of Richard
Raymond. The engagement was
broken this afternoon"
Before he realized that she was GO
ing, Stanton stood alone. Hundreds
we're passing, but he was alone. Later
the waiting-room was almost deserted,
but he was no less or more alone. The
night Waterman stopped before him
again and again, and at last, assuring
himself that at least the man was not
drunk, he shook him gently and asked
II he was i'll.
Stanton looked up, thought for q
moment, and answered.: "No." Then
he looked up at the clock 1t was after
two. With start he turned away and
went back to New York and to his Of
fee.
II was a relief to the night man to
have him out of the waiting-room. IL
was n relief to Stanton TO be in that
great empty building.
He had fought battle and won vic
tory. His accounts with Richard Ray
mond were settled. There was no more
anxiety, no more anger. He was free
to think of the past, the present, and
the future, and all conferred in Esther
Thorndike, the aflianced bride of Rich
ard Raymond, his wife. He rcmem-
bered each of those sentiments and
sensations, and in memory they be-
came, or seemed 10 become. more real,
deep, and intense. But the more he
thought, the more the mystery grew,
and the morning sun streaming into
his Office window found him as help
lessly entangled as ever.
He recalled her warnings Of horrors
he would have TO face, when the first OF
them appeared in the person of the Of
flee boy. He was too full of curiosity
10 contain himself, and ventured n
question distantly relating TO wife.
For the first time in Robert Stanton's
Office an ofiice-boy received an almost
savage rebuke.
The next came in the form of press
reporter asking for an interview. Be
ing abruptly refused, he proceeded
very calmly 20 lay before the lawyer an
array Of facts and fancics relative TO
the subject. which were simply bewil-
dering to one who thought the secret
was all his own.
With broadening smile Of satisfac-
ton. the scribe closed hisnote-book, rc-
marking:
~vhcre's stuff for a racy half-page
there, and rousing card for me for an
exclusive. / didn't want TO take up
your valuable time, of course, but
you're sure TO be interviewed by every
reporter in town before tomorrow, and
II may save you something to give me
your side IL once. AZ any rate, man
Of you, prominence eught TO have an