Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-06-11
Stairs Of
Sand....
Il ask YOU how your daughter is??'

Il ask you how your daughter is?'
said Job
she is we'll, thank YOU" replied the
other feebly. and he dropped into
chair from sheer fatigue, confident that
he had played his best card and lost
II am glad to hear it, for she must
have suffered greatly through this ter
rlble affair. Once the young man is
free, and he will be free, won't he,
| I1llison?n
"Oh, / 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 1t might be necessary for
me to refresh your memory and stir
up a bit of enthusiasm. You remem-
Der that when l met you first I stated
| that / was in possession of a 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 him
self and began to take a keen interest
IN The conversation.
Il have that paper which today
might deprive you of every cent you
now call your own. So l am not with
out reason, demanding that what
ask you to do shall be done"
Ellison WINGED at what seemed to
him such an insolent speech, but pres
entity he rallied, and said, with laugh:
"All that YOU tell me is Very inter
estlns-like page from one of Monte
pins novels. l should very much like
to see this document of which you
speak, and he leaned over the table
his face all eagerness, while Job, at
that moment, seemed suddenly over
come with cough. that caused him to
tuln his head. After he had settled the
paroNysm he turned around, facing the
banker, and said. pleasantly: And
so you shall--so you shall. OF course
have no reason to make a demand on
! you unless | have the papers to back
my statement up"
Ellison's eyes Frightened for, looking
| past his Visitors head. he saw q door
open few inches at the further end of
the room, and part of a face appear
He made some signs. and while Job was
fumbling in the pockets of his vest. a
man entered noiselessly and stepped be-
hind the curtains of closet, against
which the table was placed where the
| two were seated.
Ellison keeping his eyes steadily fixed
OH the little man, saw that he was still
trying to get at the paper, which he
had evidently concealed with extraor-
| binary precautions.
He finally extracted what he was
looking for, and, opening the document,
which seemed to be old and time
stained. stood up, and. leaning over the
table, opened 1T, 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 must
MT touch, waving Ellison back. See
| and read; there is DO reason why YOU
should take it In your hands.
Ellison read the paper over, which,
from the signatures and the wording,
left no doubt of It's genuineness.
He sat back in his chair, and sighed,
saying, after a pause:
Yes, there is no doubt that you hold
me in the hollow of your hand with
the document that 1 signed with Martin
Frale nearly II years ago. Come closer
and listen. / want you to hear some
thing that perhaps should be whispered
for a 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 q hand reached out from
behind the portiere over the closet,
took the paper quickly, substituting
another in It's place and then a man
out of the room without being heard
by the others. deep in whispered con-
versation. 1t was only after he had
gone that Ellison suddenly rose, and
changing the calm tone in which he had
been speaking, brought his fist down
on the table with a bang.
It's no use, Mr.. What's your name
your attempting to bully me. / don't
believe in the existence of thu. copy OF
the agreement
But you saw 1t before your eyes?"
II never Saw anything of the kind.
II laid 1t out before you. Here ii
is" and, reaching over, he picked u1
the paper that had been placed there
and opened 1T, while Ellison seemed to
enjoy his surprise.
THAT terrifying document! Where
is it?" he exclaimed, displaying wild
hilarity as Job opened the paper he
had picked up and showed that it was
blank.
Now, then" harshly, what do you
mean to 70, you scoundrel? You
threaten me with your pieces of blank
paper"
Job had retreated to the door. He
showed evidences of fear at the other.
vehemence.
1T was not blank piece of paper
that 1 showed you, Mr.. Ellison; it was
merely copy of the original, which
your confederate gathered in, ant
which he is privileged to keep" anc
then, with a laugh, he opened the dool
quickly and went out.