Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-31

Mr.. Mercer, If all they say of you's true,
you're too much Of a man to think the
worse of a girl for wanting to stand by an
old friend. Me and Piety's been friends;
you know, since we was as high as my
knee. And though such as me amt for
the likes of her, she's too much of a.good
woman and true woman, not to want
for to do her best for me when she thinks
I'm down on my luck. That's about the
size Of it, amt 1t. Piety?'
His tone had gradually become tighten
and brighter as he went on speaking, holds
ing Piety's handkerchief, with which she
had tried to stanch the bleeding, pressed
to the cut under his left eye inflicted by the
signet ring on John MERGERS hand
John was for a moment taken aback As
Tor Ptety. dominated as she was 50 easily.
by peremptory tone. she stood in tho
middle of the floor, half way between the
two men, trembling and trying to stifle her,
sobs.
John. however, was not to be put off So,
1t annoyed him nightly to have the tone
OF magnanimity assumed toward him by!
this man. whom he considered he had q.
right to despise.
Stuff and nonsense" he cried. angrily,
when he had recovered from the first shock
or surprise. You've no right to take that
tone with me, and 1 won't stand it, neither.
And I won't be put off by fine words, and
SO tell you. I've come here for to searchs
this house for to find out something as T
suspect; and amt going to be put off by
talk. and SO 1 tell YOU
He made step forward as he spoke, and,
nigel at once put himself with his back
to the inner door,
What right have you to come and search
my house?' he asked, roughly. You amt
the p'lice are your Nor you haven't got
warrant, I'll swear! Search it If YOU
dare!"
1t shocked Piety to see that bold as his,
words were, Nigel had again grown Ivid,
nervous and uneasy. His daring front was
not that of innocence, 1t was that OF des-
peratfon. John Mercer saw this, too, ana
1t made him more persistent than before.
Warrant be blowed!" said he, short
ly. II am not going for to have you do
the grand and innocent when / know what
I know. So come, out with YOU
Nigel had been more than his equal wftQ
the fist on one occasion, but Mercer had
his revenge now. Making his superior
size and weight tell in violent and sudden
onslaught he seized the disorganized and
shaken Nigel and dragging him roughly
from the door, seized the lamp, and passed
rapidly through into the stone passage
beyond
AS he did so he stopped. and a slight
cry of triumph broke from his lips Next
moment he had his hand the door OF
the best parlor.
Nigel did not attempt to check his prog.
ress any longer actively. But as Johns
fingers touched the handle, he uttered these
warning words, as he placed himself quick-l
| ~ between Piety and the inner door: ~ GU d
best not go in-there-" =
Mercer took no notice. but turned tho.
handle and flung open the parlor door.
Raising the lamp high above his head he,
looked in Nigel drew a long breath and
turned to Pety with an agonized frown,
The next moment they both struddered,
thrilled through and through by the hoarsa.
cry which broke from the lips of the usuals,
ly stolid John. He had fallen back from,
the door. staggering, glaring, gasping with
horror which had pierced to the verN
marrow of his bones.
lTo be continued,l -