Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-10-08

! X
and that ! saw something"
Saw something! Saw what?"
"Ahl that Is what ! cannot tell
said Rich with shudder Il wa
letter this morning, and more hope
full My poor father seemed a littlc
clearer in his mind. but the past /.
all blank to him
He knew me, dear when / came
yesterday.
ooh, yes. anG he knows me well
enough. He talks sensibly about what
is gong on around him; but thai
night when he was struck down. the
blows seemed TO break away the
connection between the present and
the past. The physician, who has
seen him, says very little, but can
see that he considers the case hone
less"
"Oh, don't say that dear! We
must all hope. ] hope to be some.
thing better some day than a poor
teacher. Come up now, and help me
to persuade Mark to have in the
police.
No, no." cried Rich hastily.
why not, dear?" Think what it
means If it is true about the
diamonds, and we could get them
/ back"
| But 1t cannot be true, Janet: ami
as to the police, they make me shu r
der They were at our house this
morning to sec Hendon, and with
him my father, to try whether they
could revive his memory and, get hold
! of clue to those men who came to
our house that might, and they have
found out nothing. They say they
are strainlng every nerve now to find
that poor boy. They think he must
hold the clue"
Il think | could find it all out If
tried, said Janet. Had your father
any enemies?"
Richmond shook her head.
ANY one to whom he owed
money!
Richmond started, and her thoughts
reverted to Poynter.
mo, no, no-impossble. Let it
rest, dear. | have thought over It,
till it nearly drives me mad" che
cried cXcitedly.
1T is very strange" continued
Janet musingly. Il don't like to let
1t rest, and there is our trouble, too.
Rich dear, has ii ever occurred to you
that II must have been the same
night when poor Mark was found
wandering about"
No"
Yes, dear. | have calculated it out
from what the hospital sister told me.
IL was the same night
Rich looked al her wonderingly.
ut was, dear" continued Janet.
while you mad that horror at home,
was sleeping here comfortably, and
poor Mark was wandering about the
cruel streets half wild"
Rich made gesture to her friend
to be silent. and Janet passed her
arm about her waist, to lead her
upstairs, but with the full determine
ton to try and make some investga-
ton For though there were times
when the thought of her brother ha,
ing brought home a bag of diamonds
seemed mythical and the birth of his
diseased lmagination--espe as
he never named them noW-at other
times visions of comparative wealth
had come to her, In the midst of
which she seemed to see herself with
Hendon, aud her old companion and
her brother happily looking on.
Mark was seated gazing moodily at
the fire as Richmond entered with his
sister, and he rose to take her hands,
and lead her to a chair.
But somehow both seemed con-
strained and troubled by thoughts
which they kept from each other.
Il know" said Janet to herself, dts
that dreadful money which is keeping
them apart, and If don't do some
thing, Mark will be going off again to
seek his fortune, and it is like con
demning poor Rich and himself to
life Of misery and waiting"
She sat working, but furtively
watching the others all the while
This poverty Is killing us all" she
said to herself at last, and win
speak. 1t may be true, and he shall
do something to find out"
Mark dear" she said aloud Il
have something to say"
Indeed! Well, what is it,
I've come to the conclusion that,
now YOU are better, you ought to
speak out like man, and"
Stop" he said hoarsely
mo, Mark, | shall not stop" cried
Janet decidedly You say that You
went TO a friends house that night
with all Your money and-and
treasure"
Girl will you be silent?" he cried
sayagely,
No" said Janet. laughing. Il want
YOU to see this matter as | do. Who
ever this man Is, he ought to he
forced to give up what he must have
stolen from you. If you will not stir.
shall"
You will?"
Yes; shall take counsel with
Hendon again"