Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-10-03
CHAPTER XVII. (continued.>

"And What do YOU consider a suitable
portion, if 1 may inquirer" sneered
Mowbcay.
II shall make over by deed of gift to
Bertha and Lefty the amount named
by their uncle, and to Mrs. Martin and
Mr.. Grayson the sum of 100000 EACH
What screamed Mowbray, jump
ing up and tearing up and down the
room raging like wild animal. "A
quarter of a million or more! Are you
mad, girl?-and do YOU imagine I Will
stand calmly by and see you give away
in parcels the magnificent fortune l
have secured for you?"
THAT you secured for me?" repeated
Clarice, in a tone of undisguised con-
tempt. You may, indeed, say so, faith
err, if lies and treachery can be called
securing it; but I'm not sure it's Sc
cure-nor do know what to do with
it. My intention is to divide it among
those who have the best claim to it,
and whatever is left over shall then be
made over to those most nearly related
to Mr.. Grayson. 1t was obtained by
lies, and fraud and murder. for if Mr..
Grayson had lived 1 would have left
his house OH the very day 1 entered it.
Oh, would to heaven I had never en-
tered it-never have beheld his face!
was happy girl until he first saw me,
for nothing could have made me be-
lieve Shirley Austin false: and had he,
indeed, been dead, as you have made
me believe among YOU, 1 would have
mourned him as his widow all my life,
a thousand times happier so than the
wife of any man on earth, had he
made me queen!"
Don't name that wretch'!' Now
bray cried out, Infatuated beyond all
control. Miserable girl, have you no
sense of decency or Iropriety? Your
lips should be blistered with shame to
utter the name of Shirley Austin!'
YES" said Clarice, her eyes kind
fling and her fair cheek flushing with
mingled Indignation end rage, Ibis
name shout blister my lips with
shame that 1 could ever have been
false to him, even believing him dead
with shame that could so easily have
been imposed upon by money-loving
father, and a foolish, doting lover who
was old enough to have been my faith
er!''
cat least he knew how to win you."
tones. "And if he had lived, poor fell
low, he would have known how to
make his wife obey him.
Never, I tell you! I would have
left Philip Grayson within an hour had
not the assassin's hand punished him
for his treachery and falsehood to me-"
ley Austin!"
intense voice.
She rose and came toward her faith
er; she stood quite close to him, and
her eyes met his in a glance of uncon-
querable defiance.
Her face was pale, but her lips were
firm, and her whole appearance was
beautiful, commanding and strong.
Mowbray saw that he had no longer
q child, girl, to deal with, but a wo-
man whose whole heart and soul were
aroused in defense of the man she
loved.
If Shirley Austin had entered the
room at that moment, Clarice would
have placed her hand in his, and would
have gone with him to the end OF the
universe. ~
Her father saw it, and felt it;zand he
recognized, as he never had until then,
that some strong measure was neces-
sary, and must be taken instantly-for
Shirley Austin might come at any mo-
1nent, and if they met for one brief
minute, goodbye forever to Philip
Grayson's wealth and grand house and
iine horses.
In that single moment he thought Of
everything-of the Injuries he had of
late enjoyed, luXuries that were al
ready necessary, and, as he felt that all
this was imperiled, the imminence of
his danger steadied his nerves. He had
the courage of despair, and he was
ready to say or do anything that would
serve forever to keep his daughter and
Shirley Austin apart.
They looked strongly alike, the faith
er and daughter, as they faced each
other, and his face became as defiant
and resolute as hers.
''It is false!' Clarice repeated, land
you knew that it is false!"
lit is true" declared Mowbray I
know it to be true. and can prove it."
A low groan of horror burst from
marble, and, staggering backward, she
risen.
You can prove it?" she repeated, in
a dying voice. Father, have pity on
NE, for Gods sake! Remember, am
your child!'
The words came brokenly, almost in
audibly, from her lips in delirium OF
terror For the first moment she for
got everything but her lovers danger
his crime, If this was true; for till now
nothing but vague suspicious, based on
almost trivial circumstantial evidence,
aad been limited at against Austin:
and, except that his absence was mys-
FERROUS and looked queer, even the
newspapers had ceased to connect his
name with the murder.
Mowbray was overjoyed at the sue
cess of his words. He had not counted
On overcoming Clarice so easily.
Yes" he answered, triumpIantly.
II can prove it. All. my lady, you can
be humble enough when it suits you.
Perhaps you had better remember that
you are my child. I have never for
gotten it. ] have done the best faith
or could for too ungrateful daughter;
and lao I not considered your feelings
100 much, I would have already de-
Nolnced yOur lOyer-Wretc hed crea