The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-24
THE rive VANREVELS
BY BOOTH HARRINGTON.
Copyright by Mcclure, Philips & %,

crieu, savasely. II saw you sheah
through my hedge!''
didn't, either!'
Mr.. Carewe ground his teeth. what
were you doing there?r
"Nothing!"
"Nothing!'' mockei Csrewe. Moth
ing! You didn't carry this to the young
lady In there and get her answer!
NO. sir!" answered the captive, earn
estlS. Gross my heart dldh /
Slowly the currugations of anger were
ieVelled from the magnates lace, the
white heat cooled. and the prisoner
marveled to find himself In the pres
ehce OF an urbane gentleman whose
placidty made the scene of q moment
ago appear some trick of distorted yis-
lcn. And vet. curious to behold. Mr.
Carewe's fingers shook even more vlo-
lently than before, as he released the
boys shoulder and gave him a friendly
tap on the head. at the same time smil-
Ing benevolently.
There there he said. bestowing
wink upon the youngster. It's all
right; 1t doesn't matter-only think l
see the chance OF a Jest IN TINS. You
wait, while / read this little note, TINS
message that you found" He ended By
winking again with the friendllest
drollery.
opened the note: continuing to stand In
that position while lie read the two
messages. 1t struck the messenger
that. after this, there need De no great
shame In his own lack OF this much
vaunted art of reading, since 1t took
SO famous a man as Mr. CareWc such
length Of time to peruse a little note.
Eut perhaps the gentleman was i'll, for
1t appeared to the boy that he lurched
several times, once 80 far that he would
have gone over If he had not saved
himself by a lucky stagger. And once,
except for the fact that the lace that
had turned away had worn an express
sion of such genial humor. the BOY
would have believed that from IL issued
a sound like the gnashing OF teeth.
But when It was turned to him again.
4. bore the same amlable jocostty OF
mouth and eye, and nothing seemed TO
be the matter, except that those fingers
still shook so wildly. too wildly. indeed.
to restore the note to It's envelope.
There" said Mr.. Carewe. put 1t BACK
laddie, put 1t back yourself Take 1t to
the gentlemen who sent you. see he's
even disguised his hand trfle-ha!
ha!--and suppose he may not have ex-
pected the young lady to write his name
quite so boldly on the envelope! What do
you SUPPOSE
'.1 d'know." returned the boy. reckon
I don't hardly understand"
'.No. of course not said Mr.. Carewe.
laughing rather madly. "l1a, ha. ha! OF
course. you wouldn't And how much did
he give you?"
'.Yay!" cried the other joyously. Didn't
he go and hand me dollar"
How much will you take not to tell
him that 1 stopped You and read It; how
much not to speak of me at all.
WHAT"
ITS a foolish kind of joke. nothing
more. I'll give you five dollars never
to tell anyone that you saw me to-day"
Don't shoot Colonel" exclaimed the
youth. with riotous fling Of bare feet
in the air. "I'll come DOWN.
you'll do it,"
"Flve!" he shouted, dancing upon the
boards. Give! I'll cross my heart to die
+ never hear tell Of you or even knew
they was SIGH man In the world!'
Carewe bent over him. mo! Say: God
strike me dead and condemn me eternally
to the everlasting flames Of hell II l ever
tellv'
This entailed quick sobriety, though
only benevolence was in the face above
him. The jlg-step stopped. and the boy
pondered, frightened.
"Have got to say that?"
Mr.. Carewe produced a bank bill about
which the boy beheld halo. Clearly
this was his day: heaven showed its ap-
proval OF his conduct by an outpouring
of imperishable riches. And yet the oath
misliked him; there was SAVIOR Of the
Economical contract; such that was to be
borne and the plunge taken. for there
futterd the huge sum before his daz-
zled eyes. He took a deep breath. God
strike me dead he began slowly-"'if
ever"
mo. And condemn me to the everlast-
ing flames of hell"
Have l got to2'
Yes"
-" And condemn me toto the ever.
lasting flames of-of hell, If ever tell!''
He ran off, pale with the fear that he
might grow UP. take to drink and some
day tell in his cups, but SO resolved not
to coquet with temptation that he went
round a block to avoid the door OF the
Rouen house bar. Nevertheless, the note
was in his hand and the fortune in his
pocket.
And Mr.. Carewe was safe, He knew
that the boy would never tell. and he
knew another thing. Tor he had read the
Journal, though it came no more to his
house; he knew that Tom Vanrevel wore
his uniform that evening, and that, even
In the dusk, the brass buttons on an
officers breast makes a good mark for
a gun steadled along the ledge OF a win.
dow. AS he entered the gates and wnl.:
toward the house he glanced up at the
window which overlooked his garden from
the cupoIa.
(To ba Continued Tomorrow