Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-04-10
CHAPTER xxI.-tCont,pued0

CHAPTER XxI.-(ContinuedJ
"Where is the gentleman" he asked.
"In one of the small private parlors'
sir. I will show you the way. II you
please
The marquis glanced again at the
card which he held, and read:
Maurice Stanton Livermore:
"Give me private interview imme-
diately."
Lead me to the gentlemen" he SAID,
quietly, though there was tumult In
his heart.
AS he reached the door OF the biJou
parlor he saw man pacing restlessly
to and fro, much as Gagged tigers are
wont to exercise.
1t was Captain Livermore, but MS
friends would have been shocked at MS
appearance, for his hair was sadly lack
ing in order, his face flushed, as though
he dallied long over the wine, and his
whole aspect like that Of man VINO
has been on spree.
The marquis was disturbed; he an
ticipated bad news. but had not a glim-
mer of what shape it would take uhul
the captain, seeing him enter, advanced
to meet him.
Captain Livermore, what can DO
for your" the marquis asked, coldly.
"Sir, / have come for my wife!
The marquis started as If some ono
had fired a pistol shot close to his ear.
Even the most collected individual
might be a trifle ratified by such an
answer Still this did not prevent him.
while he was whipping his wits into
line, from excaliming:
pardon me, sir, but fail to exactly
comprehend the meaning OF what you
say"
Then | will explain further. My
first intention was to shoot you down
on sight, but l could not forget that
once you refused to avail yourself oil
the privilege of taking my forfeited
life, and l swore that the man who hao
been that generous should have at least
a chance to defend himself before
killed him."
Still l am in the dark. The first
thing / grasp is that she has told you
who am"
al was a blind fool never to have
suspected ii. You ruined me, marquis
but surely that should have satisfied
your desire for revenge. All that hat
might go and welcome, so long as
still call my wife and babies mine
Again l say, have come to you to de-
mand my wife"
"And / reply, sir. that have no
seen yR el re Mfg SiHpse last evening wheI
Eye looked into eye 1t was as though
the captains whole existence dependet
upon what he read there, his name
that of a distracted man holding hi
passions in check only through tn,
most desperate effort.
Jack Overton, do you swear t.
that?" he demanded. hoarsely.
II do, on my life"
Again the captain met his gaze anC
seemed to read his very soul through
those open windows.
After all, these were two men bull
pretty much upon the same model
both brave and frank by nature-suct
individuals can understand each Other
through the mysterious realm of tele.
pathy.
II cannot believe that the man whose
generous spirit caused him to fire above
my head on the other occasion would
look me squarely in the eye and speak
falsely. Yes, even against my will,
am compelled to believe you, and ]
prove it by Offering you my hand, mar
quis; but II you are not guilty, then, in
the name OF heaven, who has taken my
wife away?" / left home after dinner
to meet very important engagement
that had connection with my future
left there with the kisses of wife and
children warm upon my face, for Fe-
dora had told me all, and her distress
concerning your possible future action
lad drawn us closer together l re-
turned later in the evening, just as
speedily as cab could bring me from
the Victoria, to find her gone and my
little darlings motherless. This note
was left behind"
He handed the other a crumpled
sheet of paper, upon which had been
written in peculiar chirography, a
long, running hand, such as is taught
In Spanish schools:
ITO balance accounts.
"Guerre a mort"
When he looked up his face was ash
en- gray.
Those eager, bloodshot eyes saw that
the miserable and tragic little paper,
worthy of place on the comedy stage.
had struck home
"You have guessed" he exclaimed.
Il believe | know who wrote this.
and, therefore, who is at the bottom of
the outrage. In one way / am to
blame. Listen, and in the shortest
possible time will tell you about the
Senorita Juanita and the strange in
fatuation she has for me-"
Rapidly he sketched the romantic
story OF his life under tropic skies.
The captain might have imagined II
was leaf from such amazing tales as
the Arabian Nights. only that his own
deep interest in the matter forbade.
BY degrees he began to realize what
desperate woman they had to cope
with, and new fears for his wife's safe
ty assailed him. 1t was hardly to be
wondered M that tho husband uho