Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-08-04

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so It's you, Are you out of your
mind?' and he flung the match away
and allowed Stephen to rise.
Trembling and struggling for com.
posture, Stephen brushed the dust from
his black coat and stood rubbing his
chest, fer Jack blow had been
straight from the shoulder.
What have you got to say for your
self" said Jack. sternIy. Il asked
you If you had gone mad. What are
you doing here with candle, and be,
having like a lunatc?"
Stephen made a mighty effort for
composure, and a CHASTITY smile strug.
gled to his face.
MY dear Jack, how you startled
met" he gasped II was never so
frightened in my-my life!"
80 1t appeared" said Jack, with
strong disgust in his voice. Pick up
the candle--there 1t Is
And he pointed with his foot But
Stephen was by no means anxious for
light.
Never mind the candle, he said.
You are quite right must have
seemed out Of my mind. Il am very
much upset, my dear Jack"
Are you hurt?" inquired Jack but
with no great show of concern
mo, not" gasped Stephen; don't
distress yourself, my dear Jack-don't,
/ / beg CT you, 1t was my fault entire.
~. The-the fact is that +"
He paused. for Jack had got the
candle, lit it, and held it up so that the
light fell upon Stephens face
Now" he said, his tone plainly in
timatmg that ne would prefer to see
stephens face while he made his eX.
PLANTATION.
THE fact is" Stephen began again,
III have had the misfortune to lose a
pocketbook- not pocketboolI,
that is scarcely correct, but a paper
which fancied I had put In my
3pOckctbook, and which must have drop
ped out lit was a draft OF little
legal document which my lawyer had
sent me--Of no value, utterly value.
loSS-On quilt
so | should Judge from the calm
way in which you accused the first
man you met of stealing 1t, said Jack
with quiet scorn.
Stephen bit his lip, and a glance OF
hate and suspicion shot from under his
cyelids
pray forgive me. my dear Jack he
said pressing his hand to his brow, and
signing. IF you had sat up for SO
many nights, and were SO worn and
overweight, you would have some
sympathy with my overstrained nerves
| am much shaken tonight, my dear
Jack-very much shaken"
And indeed he was, for the Savage
fist was by no means a soft one.
Jack looked at him in silence for a
moment, then held the candle toward
him.
"You had better go to the house and
get some of the servants to help you
look for the paper, he said. Good,
night"
"Oh, It Is of no consequence" said
Stephen eagerly Don't go-stop a
moment my dear Jack. II will walk
with you as far as the inn"
mo. thanks" said Jack, curly;
then. as a suspicious lock cleaned
In Stephens eyes, he added: oh. |
see! you are afraid | should pick II up
in the road. You had better come
stephen smiled, and laid his hand
on Jacks arm.
"You-you are not playing a joke
with me, my dear Jack? You haven't
got the-document In your pocket all
the tlme?
III said that hadn't you wouldn't
believe me, you know" he replied.
There take your hand off my coat
stop! stop" exclaimed Stephen,
with ghostly attempt at laugh,
Don't go my dear Jack; stop al the
house tonight | should feel very
much obliged. indeed. II you would
am so upset tonight that II want
company. Let me beg of you 10 stop"
And in his dread lest Jack should
escape ont of sight he held on to his
arm,
Jack shook him with so emphatic a
movement of disgust that stephen was
in imminent danger Of making a
further acquaintance with the lawn
go indoors" he said sternly, and
leave me alone. I'd rather not SLEEP
under the same roof with YOU As for
your lost paper, whatever II may lie.
You had better look for II in the morn.
tng. unless YOU want to get into further
trouble" aud he turned ON his heel
and disappeared,
Stephea waited until he had got at a
safe distance, and blowing out the
candle following down the road with
stealthy footsteps keeping close
watch on the rapidly-stridng figure,
and examining the road at the same
time But all 20 no purpose; Jack
reached and entered the inn without
stopping, and neither going nor return
ing could stephen see anythiag Of The