The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-05-06
CHAPTER XXVII.-(Continued)

that of puny man."
So solemnly did she speak the words,
that for moment she awed her oppo-
nent, and he moved aside without a
word, to allow her to pass out of the
room.
What occasion was there to tell that
woman of my past lifeT' angrlly de-
manded Judith, when Madame Berne had
departed. =.
II told her to suit my own purpose,
he retorted, in the same tone.
And what injury have l ever done TO
you, Mr.. Montgomery L asked. that
you should seek to be revenged upon
mef'
"You have done me no injury" he
said, averting his eyes; but she has,:
us it just to punish me for the faults
of others!" l asked.
HAS that old tigress gomez" cried
Mr.. Porter, putting his head in at the
door, and looking round. Ocularly sat
isfied of her disappearance, he hustled
eagerly up to Judith.
He turned the conversation upon other
subjects. By and by, he said to Mr..
Montgomery, in a careless tone, Il have
something to show you. l want to ask
your opinion Of the worth Of bit of
jewelry l have here. l know that you
are judge of those things"
He produced locket, which instant
ly recognized as the one he had once
shown to me, and which l believed to
contain a portrait Of my mother.
| can now understand his cunning de-
sign. 1T was to try if Mr.. Montgomery
would recognize the portrait without be-
ing previously put upon the scent. The
locket would not open.
Give it to me-" said Montgomery
'I'll do it."
But before he had time to examine it
a man, looking like a servant, hastily
entered the room, without knocking.
Looking about him for a moment, he
went up to Montgomery and whispered
something in his ear.
Where is hep cried the latter, lock-
Ing very scared.
The man whispered again.
Come along, then; do not let us lose
an instant, exclaimed Montgomery. ex-
citedly. And before the other occupants
of the room could recover from their
establishment, the two men had rushed
out.
Whats the meaning of this?' cried
Mr.. Porter, somewhat alarmed. There's
mischief brewing!'
Something is wrong" said Judith.
"But, at all events, we have nothing to
fear; we have had nothing to do with
the abduction. The worst they can do to
us is to turn us out Of the house as tres
passers."
Where's the locket?" suddenly cried
Mr.. Porter. why, that scoundrel Mont
gomery has walked off with it!''
And away he went in pursuit.
80, Silas," said Judith, when we were
alone, you are gentleman with an in
dependent income"
l could only YEARLY shake my head.
Even money has no charm while your
happiness is clogged by me-" she said,
bitterly. ''Well, l will make a bargain
with you. Settle half of the money upon
me for life and will free you of my
presence forever"
"You have blighted my whole life. All
the money in the world can never buy
me back one happy moment" g
Mr.. Porter's entrance interrupted our
further conversation.
Hes OFF, he said, looking very fur
ried. 'They both jumped into a trap
that the man came in, and galloped off at
a pace fast enough to break their necks.
And he has taken my locket with him.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Little less than an hours furious driv-
ing brought Montgomery and his COM
panion into a suburban district. They