The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-10-05
CHAPTER XVII. continued,

portion, II l may inquire Sneereo
Mowbray.
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 $780, 900 each"
What" screamed Mowbray, jump
ing up n tearing up and down the
room raging like a wild animal. "A
quarter Of q million or more! Are you
mad, girl?-and do you imagine 1 Will
stand calmly by nj see you give away
in parcels h magnificent fortune l
have secured for you?"
THAT you secured for me?" repeated
Clarice, in a tone of u~ndisguised con-
tempt. You may, indeed, say so, fatn-
err, If lies and treachery can be CALEB
securing it; but I'm not sure It's Sc
cure-nor do I know what to do WIN
it. My intention is to divide it among
those who nave the best claim to IT,
and whatever is left over shall then De
made over to those most nearly related
to Mr.. Grayson. 1t was obtained py
lies, and fraud and murder, for If Mr..
Grayson had lived l would have LETT
his house OH the very. day I entered it.
Oh, would to heaven 1 had never en-
tered it-never have beheld his face! L
was a happy girl until he first saw me-
for nothing could have made me be-
lieve Shirley Austin false: n me-
indeed, been dead, as you have made
me believe among you. l would nave
mourned him as his widow all my life,
a thousand times happier SO than the
wife of any mar on earth, mad ne
made me a qucen!"
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!"
Eyes" said Clarice, her eyes kind
fling and her fair cheek flushing with
mingled Indignation and rage. his
name shout d blister my lips with
shame that I could ever have been
false to him, even believing him dead
with shame that I could SO easily have
been imposed upon by a money-loving
father, and a foolish, doting lover, who
was old enough to ave been my faith
er!"
"At least he knew how to win you!"
thundercd Mowbray, in his loudest
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. a
not the assassin's hand punished him
for:his treachery and falsehood to me-
"And that assassin was and Is Sh1r-
ley, Austin!"
ut is false!" said Clarice, in a low.
intense voice.
She rose and came toward her faith
- - ~k~~l -,,{ko o11oo RI him ana
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, a 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; and 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 n mo-
nient, and, if they met for one brief
minute, goodbye forever to Philip
Grayson's wealth and grand house and
tine 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 n
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, "and
you know that it is false!"'
"It is true" declared Mowbray. Il
know it to be true. and I can prove It,"
A low groan of horror. barst from
Clarice's lips. She became white as
marble, and, staggering backward, she
fell into the chair frem which she a
risen.
You can prove it?" she repeated, In
a dying voice. Father, have pity on
ire. for Gods sake! Remember, I ana
your child!"
The words came brokenly,. almost in
audibly, from her lips in a delirium OF
terror. For the first moment h for
got everything but her lovers danger
Ills crime, IL this was true; for till now
nothing but,vagues suspicious, based on
almost trivial circumstantial evidence.
aad been limited at against Austin;
and, except that his absence was mys-
terious and looked queer, even this
newspapers had ceased to connect his
name with the murder.
Mowbray was overjoyed at the suc-
cess Of his words. He had not counted
On overcoming Clarice SO easily.
Yes. he answered. t~riumphantly.
IT Gun prove 1t. All, my lady, you can
he humble enough when it suits you.
PERHAPS you had better remember that
you are my child. Il have never for
rottcneit. I have done the lest a faith
er could for q too su%ngratefuI daughter;
and had i not considered your feelings
TOO much. / would have already de-
:nounced your lover-wretched crea-
ture! unworthy Of the name or. Grim
sinal an he is, he wculc have songhtStc
profit by his crime 80 far az toaclaim
sou! But no! he - g coward, az well
a. an assassin, ana 70 barely hiding
somewhere 70 repent OF his wicked