The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-05-22
Stairs Of
Sand
By ERNEST De LANCY PERSON.
Copyright, 1901, by Street & Smith.
CHAPTER V.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER V.-CoNTINUED.
''It must be very old story that
you have to tell me-" he said; "some
force your way in for that? Tell
mel" recovering his arrogant man
ner.
Eyes; it was exactly to rehearse
some bits of ancient history that
came to see you, James Ellison" re-
turned the visitor, at the same time
fixing his bright eyes on the others
face. =.
For a moment their glances met,
but it was not the visitor who re-
tired first from the contest of star
ing each other out of countenance.
Ellison looked down on the floor,
twiddling his thumbs and twisting
uneasily in his chair. There was
something in the manner of his I'M
invited guest that made him think,
after all, it might be best to hear
him out, and have done with him.
you had a certain interesting
transaction with this Frale, nearly II
years ago." began the stranger.
Certainly, but what of those old
times? In the first place, the man
we are speaking about is dead" and
in saying this he seemed. to feel
certain satisfaction.
"How do you know he is dead?"
!"Eh, what's that?" this time star
ing at the little man as if he would
read the secrets of his heart.
st say, how do you know he is
dead? Did you ever take any great
pains to find out?"
81 heard it on pretty good author
ity," sullenly. Then, his voice ris-
ing, 81 wish you would be kind
enough to come to the point, and not
be beating around the bush in this
distressful manner"
ct don't distress me a Bit" and
the little man smiled. "Well, since
you wish it; we will come to the
point. If it pleases you to have it
so, Frale is dead, though 1 would not
be willing to swear to such a state
ment."
go on"
"Frale, these many years ago, be-
came involved in robbery. A fac
tory it was, and the foreman hap
pened unfortunately to be killed.
Frale was supposed to be guilty.
He managed at the time to escape
He came to YOU"
"Oh, why tell me everything that
I know already" said the banker,
testify.
81 thought perhaps you had for.
gotten. But 1 am coming to the
point. The object in Frale's escape
was to. find a home for his baby
daughter. 1t seems that he had been
reduced to robbery because he was
a ruined man, and his wife had need
of surgical aid, which he could not
procure. for her."
Ellison tried not to appear inter
ested, but he did not venture to warn
the other again not to- repeat mat
ters of ancient history.
Indeed, he could not keep his eyes
off the little mans face as he told
his story in calm and dispassionate
way.
Now we are coming to the most
interesting period in the lives of
these two men, whose paths lay so
wide apart" He drew a long breath,
as if to add emphasis to what he was
going to say. ELLISON had married
a short time before a rich woman,
but her fortune was in her own
hands,, and if she died childless, it
was all to go to her relations. All,
I thought you would be interested
sooner or LATER" for while he was
saying this, Ellison had leaned over,
and his heavy breathing could be
distinctly heard in the silence of the
room. Ellison at once sat up in his
chair with jerk and assumed an
air of Indifference. eff there was
child that survived, then the money
was to remain in the fathers hands
in trust. 1t was just about the, time
of Frale's trouble that the Ellison
baby died, while the mother was in
dangerous illness"
The last words, innocent enough
In themselves, seemed to excite the
banker beyond control, for he rose,
and going over, laid his hand on his
visitors arm.