Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-06-03
CHAPTER XXIv.-(ContinuedO

IT was in altered tones. Tell me what
you want? Is it money"
Money! she cried. IN "ney from
you! Look here" and she tore open
lady's reticule that lay upon the table;
there are the two hundred dollars you
sent me enclosed in your farewell letter;
look what l do with them" And she
tore them into shreds. Here are the
presents you gave me; see what l do
with them!' And she took out some
trinkets, and crushed them beneath her
feet. Now will you ask me if it is
money | want of your"
Her face was something awful to look
upon in it's deathy pallor, and convul-
sive quivering, and those glaring eyes.
That man, with all his iron will, quailed
before her.
What do you want. thenT'
Respect, and | will have it. Let me
refresh your memory. You found me in
a travelling show. l was a mere child
then, possessed of a strange power over
certain minds-a power that to an am
bilious, INSCRIPTIONS schemer like your
self, might one day prove invaluable.
You saw no way to use me at the time,
but you were 10th to lose sight of so ad
mirable an instrument. You worned
yourself into my confidence, and got
from me that l was discontinued with
a mode of life which gave me but a
bare living, and filled the pockets of my
employer l was vain of the attention of
fine gentleman who had been
brought up in a back alley. You told
my father that if he liked to go to Bury
St. Edmund's you would help to set
him up in business you would rec
ommend him custom. as you possessed
some influence in the neighborhood."
Have you ever had reason to repent
taking my counselT'
my father hit upon a more easy and
profitable trade than shoemaking" she
went on. not needing the interruption.
Had we depended upon your promises,
we might have starved You thought no
more of them. and years elapsed after
our parting at Spalding before l ever
heard anything of you again. One day
we met in the streets of Bury. Although
years had elapsed, we recognized each
other instantly. You expressed great
delight at the meeting, which certainly
was not feigned. as it gave into your
hands the exact tool you required, to
fashion one of the most diabolical
schemes that was ever Matched in hui
propose. it to me it was necessary to
make me your slave. When you last
saw me l was an ungainly looking. ugly
girl; now l was a well-grown woman.
with good looks enough to have secured
several offers of advantageous marriage.
But l was proud, ambitious the life
led and all its associations, were hate
full to mel longed to be free of them
oil I nd OF cd Nth
your iendish cunning, OWNED my secret;
protested love for me. Blinded by am
bition and vanity, I believed you-be-
lieyed that you, the fine gentleman,
would marry me. But at that time you
simply lied to serve your own purpose.
You were very cautious. too-you bound
me down to breathe no word of your
secrets to my father. You said. once
in his power you would never be free
from his extortions."
''Silencev Numbered Rodwell, spring
ing to his feet
"Well, enough of that for the pres
ent. After the girls fight, you left
Bury, and | did not see you again for a
long, long time. At last, you returned.
So you have got her into your clutch
again. What is it to be this time-mur-
der or marriage?"
How my heart leapedl Could it be
Clara of whom she was speaking? The
portrait | had seen in his namesake's
cottage-the likeness to her, forgotten
until that moment, flashed upon me with
the force of conviction. Oh, how eager
ly, how breathlessly, l listened nowi
How dare you speak such words to
me in the presence of a stranger?" he
cried. you are venomous enough to en-
deavor to establish such charge against
mel'
81 believe you to be capable of any
crime, John Rodwell," she answered, dis
painfully; although you would give the
preference to that which compromised
you least"
Suppose l admit that 1 intend to mar
ry her, what thenY he demanded, bold
ly. you will seek to thwart meT'
81 keep my intentions to myself. But
1 had forgotten; perhaps you are not
aware you have a rival?" she said, mock
ingly. "You would not imagine Mr.
Carston in the character of a gay de-
ceiver; yet, l can assure you that, dur
ing a short absence from his loving wife,
he was making violent love to Miss
Clara as a single gentleman, and not
unsuccessfully, l believe"
This is no subject to jest upon" he
said, haughtily. "Do you mean to say
that this fellow has dared"
He advanced menacingly towards me;
but, weak as l was, 1 rose up, and con-
fronted him. 1 felt no fear of him. al
though l was too agitated to speak-too
overwhelmed by the thoughts of my
worse than powerless position.
| He paused. then with q look OF su-