The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-07
MYNHEER JOE.
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BY ST. GEORGE RATHBoRNE
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ROBERT
CHAPTER XXI.
TContinued1

baron steps into the little parlor Of the
spider. He sees luscious morseI there
and is tempted to devour it. Just then
his feet are entangled in the web and
he finds himself powerless. After
that he leaves the country on board
q sailing-vessel, to be landed perhaps
on a desert island or conveyed to
South America. The chances are ten
to one he will never care to indulge in
any more Of these games in case he
lives to reach Russia again"
"Your idea is good one. OF course,
It must be understood that under no
circumstances will the hand Of the
British authorities be seen in anything
we undertake."
THAT can be arranged easily enough.
Things are often done sub rosa, and
nothing left to tell the tale"
"Ah! A thought strikes me; let US
have it out while I find it fresh on my
mind. You spoke Of an attractive
bait"
Mr.. Grimes bites his lips.
"That was it, joe"
"You had something definite on your
mind when you spoke In that way?
81 did for a fact" watching his COM
panion out Of the corner Of his eye.
Someone I know, sir"
"Well, am free to confess it."
"Plainly, then, Mr.. Grimes, you had
reference. to Miss Tanner"
'"To be equally frank with you, l
did, my boy. You frown. under
stand your feelings to a dot. You
have my sympathy, my dear fellow
If that will do you any good"
Mynheer Joe frowns savagely now.
"Give up the idea, sir"
"Why 500"
Because I put my foot down upon
it."
At this, the other arches his eye
brows and pFetends to be taken aback.
Not that he. Is at all convinced that
his plans must be altered, for it
chances that Mr.. Grimes is quite
stubborn man in his way,
Pardon me, Mynheer Joe, but for
once I must decline to see your au-
thority. This young woman has a
father, and he is one Of the party. I
have had q talk with him. He gives
his consent to the plan I sketched for
his benefit"
"ConfuSion! Well, what if he does?
Because foolish father agrees to en-
danger his child's happiness, her life
even, is thattany reason I should also
consent? Not for Joseph, sir. I come
down fat-footed against the idea"
And the traveller looks as though he
might annibilate the person who could
thus propose such thing to him.
"The young lady agrees to it," says
Grimes, in q most nonchalant manner.
"What! You have spoken Of it 10
Molly?" flashes from Joe's lips. This
hot-shot really crumbles his last bu!-
wark away.
"Yes. You remember we three were
left last night. I was about to retire,
as had lame ankle and headache,
when a native servant came with q
message from Tanner. I hobbled to
his room and found Molly there.
1T struck me at once that there
was something in the wind, for while
the young lady's face looked serious,
that of the Illinois legislator was black
as a thunder-cloud. Before cne word
had been spoken, was able to under
stand that trouble was in the air, and
could give q shrewd guess as to who
was to blame. In his own peculiar,
blunt way, the senator began to tell
me, now and then calling upon his
daughter to refresh his mind. Thus I
was soon in possession Of the whole
story.
ITO be brief in telling you, it seems
that the audacious baron has gotten
ahead Of you. Perhaps you noticed a
native hand Miss Tanner letter while
you were admring the great temple OF
Mahaluxmee?"
"Jove! 1 do recollect it! Heard hiE
say in good English: Read it when
alone, lady, and saw Molly mechani-
cally slip it into her bosom. Then /
\forgot all about it, you know" says
zoe, somewhat eagerly, his curiosity
excited.
'That was a lost opportunity, my
dear boy. Had you asked Molly to
open it then and there, you could not
have failed to tell her your secret"
MY secret, Mr.. Grimes" turning
pale.
Certainly. You love the girl and
dare not tell her. Good heavens, man!
The fact is patent to us all. Faint
heart never won fair lady I'm as
founded! YouA as bold as a lion in
everything else,\ to be a laggard in
love. 10 in and win, my boy. You've
got clear field, and the game is yours
If you only show nerve enough to put
out your hand and take it."
do you think so, my friend?"
~Why should you doubt it?"
II will tell you, frankly: Ever since
Molly learned that 1 wax Joe Miner
Carringford, she has not been the same
toward me-" the other says seriously.
at which Grimes laughs with the air Of
q man of the world.
Naturally so, Joe. There are two
reasons for such a change on her
part. In the first place, the fact that
you are the heir makes her feel diff
ferently toward you. She fears lest
people may suspect that she angles for
you"