Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-11-23

feet. But she quietly drew her hand
away. and laid it carcssingly upon the
shrivecd fingers before her.
Grandpa" she whispered, tenderly.
"no one shall take me away
II shall feel it my duty to take you
away, Nora" said DIR. Armstrong. In his
cold, smooth tones. IL will not have your
health injured through any false senti.
ment. What did that old man ever do
for you. that you should forfeit even one
single hours rest or happiness for MIN!
Those who really love you are left to you;
and while | live you never shall be lonely
or sorrowful. my darling"
lie saw that she had her hands pressed
tightly to her ears while he spoke, ana
an angry, passionate light came into his
eyes.
"Nora." he said. lifting her to her feet,
"if only as your physician and your
present guardian. | forbid this motive.
less conduct. Come away with me.
want you safe away. I want you safe
in your own room. before they all come
toto disturb you"
You will leave me here. Nucl. please"
! she said, ~ she brought broken chair
| from one corner Of the room aud took
her seat on 1t beside the bed.
lie saw that. gentle as the words were.
they were firm. aud that she was not to
| he tcmptcd. So. when he had fingered in
vain for another word or a glance. he left
the room. that he might. IL possible. pre-
vent anyone else entering.
| HIT apparently he could not do so.
Both Mr.. Pennington and Mr.. Foster
came in very soon. to urge Nora to go
| with them at once to the vicaragc. as
Trovccrc was not II fit home for her just
then. they said.
AS long ~ grandpa stays she said,
quite simply and quietly. II shall stay.
1t Is our home"
They pleaded long aud earnestly. using
every argument they could think of. but
all to no purpose. She and Kitty would
keep on this side of the house. The
fallen. chimney and broken roof were
quite far enough away. Kitty would not
20 away. and she and Kitty were used
to being together.
The vicar acccded to Marks suggestion
that he should send his daughter to Ira
vccre with Will ut once. and the two
drove away. Nuel Armstrong had taken
up his own station In the room where
Nora sat, In that wondering regret Of
| nprS, uurVIN tOUlIpT'H'UuIuS NuUt Ue"h-
dcrcd her. or for what she mourned.
But Mark had not started yet Passing
through the kitchen. because he knew
that from the back of the house he could
strike across the bog more directly for
Fintona. he bcthought him to question
Kitty and old l'rcn. rs they stood to.
ycther talking NJ the fire. turning their
backs upon the weak and chilly light of
dawn creeping into the house. II would
he wise for him. before he sought the
Fintona attorney, to he. IL possible. quite
sure that he was the man who would. IL
anyone. understand the affairs of Col.
st. George.
Kitty could give Mr.. roynz little In.
formation beyond the fact that though
Mr.. Doyle had come occasionally To Ira
vccre. he 'ivcr an alwis refused the bit
and sup" But Brccn remembered hear.
ing him an TIL Oull masthcr talkin' wan
day bchnt him an Borak bout signin' a
paper
That was enough for Mark to hear: and
after u little chat with the old servants
he went out into the faint, gray dawn.
lie need not have turned corner OF
the house at all on his direct way to
Fintona. and at the moment 1t would
have puzzled him to give motive fol
doing 50. But aftcrwari he knew that
slight as the sound had been. his quick
ears had detected Il even before he was
conscious Of doing 50. The first window
round the corner Of the house was tina,
OF the room where Col. IT. George had
sl0pt. and to this window Mark went al
once. Half way up IL was blocked by the
fallen bricks: hut 1t had been opened a.
wide rs il would go. ana Mark saw that
a man could. II he were very cautious
enter the room that way. But he saw
more. Knceliny On the debris, and On
crossed IN his iabors. u young man
whose figure even thus Mark recognized
In u mOmcnt-was clearing with his
hands. quickly aud cautiously. the rub
bish from before the iron safe: ant
though perhaps IL was done as quietly ~
possible, Ii was still done with an newt
able clattcr. Between his teeth MARI
saw that he held key. rs he worked Oh
swiftly aud eagerly.
1t took Mr.. Poynz but few seconds (,
regain the hall AMI turn the key which
was In the outer lock OF the door of tn,
destroyed room; AMI then, before ShaI
Corr had time to do more than lool
round from his height to recognize tn,
English gentleman, that English gentle
man had his fingers firm IN the lrishmun'l
collar. aud had quietly swung him around
to find his feet. II he could, upon lowcl
level.
The sound Of Shan's raised vote,
brought DR.. Armstrong out into the hall
and Just then Mark found himself watch
ing the physicians face very curi0usly
Could it be that he was so familiar with
this Irishman's rascalty that no new
phase of 1t could surprise him? Or wa,
he too sclf-containcd n man to betray an!
feeling ut all. except when jealousy wa'
aroused?
AS temporary guardian of Miss st
Georges intercsts-you styled yourself st
to me an hour ago, DIR. Armstrong-le,
me recommend you to guard Col. ~
Georges effects from thieves and vaga
bonds. Is this Col. st. Georges key,
That scoundrel dropped it from his moutl
In his fear"
Yes, that IL Col. It. Georges key,
replied DR.. Armstrong, without hookin.
beyond the key.
CrO he continucd.)
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kueW His lbntiss