Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-02-19
CHAPTER XXIY.

" ~ my NouDll, ltOSSI Dullt
As those words fell from the lips of the
young man, the one who had so long been
known as Captain Grant started back,
both amazed and alarmed.
Feeling safe in the disguise he had as
sumed, he had been ready to defy Roger
in his teeth, but the very fact that his
identity had in some marvellous manner
been discovered was a bad omen, and
presaged disaster.
1t was indeed a dramatic sight to see
the positions of those two men, Roger
with his body advanced, one hand raised
threateningly, and his race full of the
fires of indignation and anger, while the
Captain had started back, holding out his
hands as though i~nvoluntarily warding
off the others attack, and his face full
of CONSERVATION The Captain found his
tongue first.
"Well," said he, grating the words out
between his teeth, "you have said enough.
It would be foolish to deny the truth to
you, for your eyes have read well. l am
your cousin Roger Darrell, the man you
hate with heart and soul. Come, what
will you do about itT
Just as 1 said before-expose, de-
nounce you for the villain that you are. A
light has been dawning upon me of late,
and | see the clear sky once more. To
you / W all the suffering of my life.
Not content with the past, whereby you
separated me so long from my father, you
must needs come back and finish the
work; but | have found you cut. Oh,
would that had the means of Furnishing
Won mnpto1lv hara az 7 miuht hn1i1y sf
| chose. Would / not wiring tears of
blood from you?-not for you action in
the past, but because Of your persecution
of the woman l love. Foul wretch! you
who have ruined many an innocent life,
the vengeance Of an outraged heaven
shall soon fall upon and crush you. Oh,
that | could open heavens ~floodgates of
wrath, and pour upon you sinful head
at once all the judgments laid up in store
for you. They would sink you deeper
than if a milestone were hanged about
your neck. Villain, you are unmasked;
henceforward you are powerless to harm
any one, and, sooner than you suspect,
the iron hands of the law will close upon
your throat with a death grip and choke
your accused life out, even as l could
do now"
In his excitement Roger took a step
forward, as though about to carry his
words into execution, his eyes blazing,
his hands extended, and the other start
ed back with a cry, his face almost grow
ing black.
Back! back! or your death be upon
your Owl head. l am always prepared
for such madmen as you"
A pistol flashed in the sunlight, and
Roger, deeming discretion the better part
of valor, and besides, having no real in
tention of doing the other bodily injury,
came to a pause
Il see you are always ready for foes,
and l cannot blame you, seeing the num-
Der Of enemies you have made. Go your
way, but remember, we shall meet again,
and when that time comes l shall be
gels will rejoice in your fall, and the spir-
downfall is near at hand, wretch. An
gels will repoice in your fall, and the spir-
its of your poor victims exult."
Cease, or you will goad me to des-
peration," cried the other, his hand trem-
bling, and his face changing to a marble
whiteness as the intensity of his emotions
drove the blood back to his heart. 81
hate you as man never hated man before.
You have stood in my way all my life in
everything | desired. What is to keen
my finger from pressing the trigger now,
and sending you to your long account?
Are you prepared to die, Roger Darrel?"
He meant every word he uttered. but
the other only laugherd carelessly.
Put up your pistol, man; you would
not dare to use it. Shall l tell you why?
Because your hand trembles, and Won
would fail to accomplish your end. Then
| would spring Upon you, and with these
hands rend you in pieces. You realize
that / speak the truth; your arm falls at
your side. You have met your master.
Now fire If you dare, sir"
The Captain could not have done so. trv
as he would. 1t seemed as though his
arms were shackled with bands of iron.
and, try as he might, he was unable TO
break loose from them. As Roger had
truly said, he was in the presence of his
master.
CTo be continued.)