Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-03-12
Stairs Of Sand
ERNEST DE LANcY pIERSON.

truth to his story"
Several times Ellison opened his
lips to speak, but not word came
from them.
''That was what you wanted to tell
me, was it not, and yet somehow
the words stuck? Well, that is all
there is to it. You should thank me
for having relieved your mind
Ellison was nonplussed at the cool
ness of the statement. Surely the
whole story must have been lie,
or this man would not have carried
it off with such brave air.
''I ask you how your daughter is ~
said Job.
''She is well, thank you," replied
the other, feebly, and he dropped
into chair from sheer fatigue, con-
fident that he had played his best
card and lost.
II am glad to hear it, for she must
have suffered greatly through this
terrible affair. Once the young man
is free, and he will be free, won't
he, Ellison"
ooh, I suppose So" carelessly.
"You don't seem to take much in
terest in the case, my esteemed and
moral FRIEND and for a moment the
black eye of the little man flashed.
perhaps it might be necessary for
me to refresh your memory and stir
up bit of enthusiasm. You remem-
Der that when met you first stated
that I was in possession of paper
showing that you had adopted the
daughter of Martin Frale in order to
keep the fortune in the family, in
case of the death of your wife"
"Yes-yes," and Ellison reused
himself and began to take keen in
terest in the conversation.
81 have that paper, which to-day
might deprive you of every cent
you now call your own. So I am, not
without reason, demanding that
what ask you to do shall be done"
Ellison WINGED at what seemed to
him such an insolent speech, but
presently he rallied, and said, with
laugh:
"All that you tell me is very inter
esting-like a page from one of
Montepin's novels. I should very
much like to see this document of
which you speak," and he leaned
over the table, his face all eager
ness, while Job, at that momC 1T,
seemed suddenly overcome with a
cough, that caused him to turn his
head. After he had settled the
paroxysm he turned around, facing
the banker, and said, pleasantly:
"And so you shall-so you shall. o.
course, I have no reason to make a
demand on you unless [ have the
papers to back ny statement up"
Ellison's eyes frightened, for, look
ing past his visitors head, he saw
a door open a few inches at the fur
Their end of the room, and part OF
face appear. He made some signs,
and, while Job was fumbling in the
pockets of his vest, man entered
noiselessly and stepped behind the
curtains of a closet, against which
the table was placed where the two
were seated.
Ellison, keeping his eyes steadily
fixed on the little man, saw that he
was still trying to get at the paper,
which he had evidently concealed
with extraordinary precautions.
He finally extracted what he was
looking for, and, opening the docu-
ment, which seemed to be old and
time-stained, stood up, and, leaning
over the table, opened it, holding it
in one hand, while with the other,
extended he seemed to be guarding
his possession.
"Here is the document in the
case" he said; ''you may look, but
you mustn't TOUCH" waving Ellison
back. ''See and read; there is no
reason why you should take it in
your hands,
Ellison read the paper over, which,
from the signatures and the word
ing, left no doubt of it's genuineness.
He sat back in his chair, and
sighed, saying, after pause:
eyes, there is no doubt that you
hold me in the hollow of your hand
WIN Cno uOCuUuOuU UudU Sly LIEU
with Martin Frale nearly II years
ago. Come closer and listen. I want
you to hear something that perhaps
should be whispered, for hotel is
all ears, as one might say"
Job leaned forward to hear what
this revelation was, leaving the
precious document on the table. He
had hardly moved when a hand
reached out from behind the portiere
over the closet, took the paper quick
ly, substituting another in it's place,
and then a man emerged from his
hiding, and slipped out of the room
without being heard by the others,
deep in whispered conversation. 1t
was only after he had gone that Ell
hson suddenly rose, and, changing
the calm tone in which he had been
speaking, brought his fist down on
the table with bang.
cts no use, Mr.. What's-your-name,
70 1>1111xy