Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-14

in the night and entangle us in his
plots? Oh, that were mani" She
was now Gagged tigress. and giving
freedom to long-suppressed fury. at
would be nothing less than the cow
hide!'
You forget Frances"
II forget nothing! / realize, on the
contrary, sir. that both Frances aad
her doctor are at my mercy now He
dare not betray her! And this comes
of your shameful dallying with that
woman-you!-my son!--the puppet,
the plaything. the slave of "a
wait, mother! You forget your
self, at least-and me. lam not child.
little more. and | shall leave this
house not to enter it again. Be care
full what you say-and be careful of
Frances. Prove her guilty of any
crime and you defeat your own plans.'
No amount of pleading, no love or
affection on the part of her boy, could
have swayed the tempestuous woman
as quickly as open defiance. In such mo-
ments he resembled the one human be-
ing whose fiery temper and relentless
brutality had ever awed her. Ray
mond played his part we'll: You shall
not denounce me for one infamy only
to link me to another"
"If you had shown such spirit with
Brodnar," she said, bitterly.
IF l had! Words-blows-a duel!
Then the truth would have come out.
TO accept the responsibilities of the
will afterwards would be contempt
lbe. No, mother, you women see but
one side of such matter. What would
become of us should Louise make her
self known? Start the police upon
this matter, and they will ferret her
out"
Why have you not taken her away
You have been imprudent in delaying
that"
Nervous prostration. I have a
nurse with her. Tomorrow, if she
may travel. shall get her out of the
city. For Gods sake give me time to
do that. You have no idea what YOU
are risking.'
doctor out, ma'sm." said William,
returning at this moment Young
doctor say he will sem i'm roun' des
soon as he come back-dere now! front
do bell ringin' dis minute like some
body tryin to pull it tru' de do. OATS
de doctor, ev'ytilne."
Stand behind the portiere in nv
dressing-room, said the mother to her
SON, who was preparing to depart.
"and under no circumstances let YOUR
self be scent" Almost Immediately
DR.. Brodnar entered the room
You sent for me. madam, he began.
Where is Frances?"
Asleep, l suppose. I have been
guilty of a fiction, but my intentions
are good. DR.. Brodnar. who was the
man you took from my house wounded,
and for what purpose was he here? |
demand an instant answer
Il decline to make any statement,
madam, touching my professional bust
ness or to discuss this matter with
you. Good evening""
Hold, sir, or shall place the affair
in the hands of the police"
Hardly, 1 think. But proceed in
that way if you prefer. Good evening"
"You think that | am afraid of pub
licity; wait and see! Ishall denounce
you, sir. over my. own signature. 1
shall make your name a football for
scandal mongers in every town in this
state"
"And how about your sons. madam?
You desire above all things that Ray
mond Holbin shall marry your step
daughter and inherit under the will
of the man you coddled and bullied out
of his senses. The name of the man
who was shot shall not tell you, but
/ will tell you the name of the wcm-
an who shot him-I thought you were
the woman. was mistaken, and Cor
this error owe you an apology"
This is infamous!"
Il was mistaken, | say, honestly.
For l thought that the woman who
would retreat from her dying husband,
appealing to her with his heart in his
eyes, who would link an orphan girl
to libertine, might easily pull trig-
ger to remove lesser obstacle" The
woman rushed up to him with hands
clenched.
"Scoundrel! If 1 had the weapon
now l would prove your Judgment!
Out of my housed" DIR. Brodnar smiled
wickedly.
Il was mistaken" he continued,
coolly; 'the woman who shot this un-
known gentleman lies, half delirious,
in room 90 at the Spotswood, and her
name is Louise. And, madam, / will
do her full justice; she erred in, her in
formation and her aim. For the man
she hoped to destroy was this liber-
tine, cashiered, swindling, cheating
son of yours. Denounce me, but
breathe word against the fame of
Frances Brookin, and shall go before
Richmond with my cause. Good even
ing"
He bowed 1nockingly, and was turn.
ing away when the portiere was flung
violently aside and Holbin rushed on
him from behind. A keen knife in his
hand flashed in the gas light and fell,
but once only. Maddened with the
pain and enraged at the cowardly at