The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-29

lish army will come frst?"
"No."
Mr.. Vernon looked uneasily at Lor-
ing.
"Well," said the latter, 81 know it,
and you had better go fetch them back
at once"
Glow do you know?"
Lcring laughed, and his laugh was
like an open sneer.
cob, to be exact, expect to lead
those Jolly red-coats in by thatroute. "
eta! It Is nasty jest. Be serious
If YOU can. You have something on
| vour mind to SAY to me. Say it.
| please" :,
, "Well, then, I need some money" "
"Certainly-you always do; but how
mnch?"
"Ten thousand dollars will do"
Fix. Vernon, who had been sitting,
| rose sic WY and stood up before Lor-
ing.
II will not give you one cent" he
said, with the accent of finality.
eyes, you will, when you know
The. I do not mean to. gamble with i:
| aud that I am going straight to the
British, who will send mo out OF this
country"
eta" calculated Mr.. Vernon.
"You 10 not believe me? Well, on
| the whole, I do not wonder. But you
must trust me this time, at all haG-
ards"
"I have said no."
"To be sure, but that was before
you knew that you owed me hundred
field the amount"
:'Ta!"
Loring leaped to MS feet like tige-
suddenly aroused to fury; but there
was no particular change in the ex-
preston of his face. HIS eyelids may
have dropped triAe, so that the opon.
inGs through which the cold CLEAN Of
his eyes shot out were narrowed to
mere sl;ts under his handsome brows.
"Do you dream who I am9"
The question was put with sort of
grinding iutonation, and the speaker
snapped his thumb and forefnger i'm
patiently.
"Tsr
"I am Pierre Rameau, aud I wait
ten thousand dollars!"
sI sm Jules Vernon, and"
essay, rather" interrupted LorinS,
"tLat You are Thomas MacCollough.
I like accuracy in business matters. !"
Mr.. Vernon g!ared and stood speech
less.
"I know your whole past life,
Thomas MacCollough, as well as l
know my own. You need not become
excited in the least. I have known it
all these years of your acquaintance"
"I know your life, too, from your
cradle to this moment" Mr.. Vernon
presently said in q dismal voice; 81
have been told that your name Is Mac.
Collouch, too-Kirk MacCollough.
'Wo seem to be pretty well &C
nuainted, then, and possibly We are
kinsmen.
Alr. Vernon lifted his hands rs il to
ward of the suggestion, and stepped
back ward pace.
"l do not place my demand for the
money On that ground, however,
Loring went on with measured,
ncrciless manner Of speech; ''but
wholly on the ground that you are my
debtor. You have grown rich in deal.
ing with Pierre Rameau, and now that
YOU know who that mysterious man
is, you cannot object to his demand
for money, can you?'
Mr.. Vernon tottered into a chair and
sank into it with the air Of one who
co!lapses under deadly stroke; mis-
face withered; his eyes were dull and
sunken. At that moment lis age
seemed doubled.
.'I have no time. 1 am followed,
bounded. Two dogs scent every track
1 make" Loring continued. ''If you
cannot give money, why, OF course, l
must go without it. l have been
fool, played in hard luck. lost every
hing, and this internal war has
blocked every channel Of my opera
lions. You eau feel my condition"
"What DO I care for money!" cried
Mr.. Vernon, springing up again.
Take all I have-it is nothing-so
you 60 and never return!"
ooh, I promise. I think you can
depend upon that"
Mr.. Vernon gazed at him with
look curiously searching, wistfu!,
',oocless. The cold drops of powe:
al excitement were beading the ol':
;orehead. He lifted his hand ant
wiped them away mechanically.
TELL me one thing and tell me
truly" he demanded, husky tenor
N his deep voice. "Tell me on you'
life: Are the son OF Thomas MacCo!-
lough?"
"There's no time for explanations"
said Loring evasively. His face
seemed to soften in some strange
way. cit doesn't matter wac I an.
{ ain psessed. My life is at stake. ]
cannot parley."