The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-15

till the end Of her days, without know
ing that her wealth was the price Of
her father s dishonor.
A mist blurred his sight; he
could not see. He steadied himself,
noiselessly. And how often he had
smiled at the drama on the STAGE,
ness, its impossibilities! Alas, what
did they on the stage that was half SO
weak as he had done: ruined himself
without motive or reason
The bell sang Its buzzing note; there
was the sound Of crunching wheels on
the driveway; the music ceased abrupt
~. Silence. A door opened and closed.
by the girl, came into the study. She
was grave because she remembered
Mrs. Chadwick. He was grave also;
he had various reasons for being 50.
Father, the count tells me that he
has an engagement with you,'' she said,
She wondered If this appointment in
any way concerned her.
give orders that we are not to be dis
She scrutinized him sharply. How
strangely hollow his voice sounded
Was he illa
"Father, you are not well. Count,
you must promise me- not to keep him
long, however important this interview
and her loving eyes caressed each line
Of care in her parents furrowed
cheeks.
Annesley smiled reassuringly. It
" took all the strength Of his will, all that
remained Of high order Of courage,
tat create re- ter this smile q Be w. aaa t.
Behind that smile his teeth grated.
II shall not keep him long, mademoi-
selle,' said the count. He spoke gent
", but he studiously avoided her eyes.
She hesitated for a moment on the
Threshold; she knew not why. Her lips
even formed words, but she did not
speak. What was it9 Something OPP
pressed her. Her gaze wandered indie
from the count to her father,
"When you are thru she finally
said, ..'.bring your cigars into the music
- ''With the greatest pleasure, made
moiselle,' replied the count. "Anl
play, If you desire; our business is such
t tdas ~ s' music will be as . pleasure
Her father nodded; but he could not
force another smile to his lips. The
brass rings Of the portiere rattlel, and
she was gone. But she left behind a
peculiar tableau, g. tableau such as Is
formed by those who stand upon ice
which is about to sink and engulf
them. ~ u
The two men stood perfectly still
I doubt not that each experienced tho
same sensation, that the same thought
CURED to each mind, tho it came from
different avenues; love and shame. The
heart Of the little clock on the mantle
beat Textbook, textbook; log. cracked
and fell between the irons, sending up 8
shower of evanescent sparks; one Of
the long windows giving out upon the
yeranda creaked mTsteriously. ~,
- Karloff was first to break the spell
Of his distaste Of the situation.
f'Let US terminate this as quickly al
possible" he said.
eyes, let us have done with it be
fore I lose my courage" replied the
colonel, his voice thin and quaveringg
He, wiped his forehead with his hand
kerchief. His hand shone white ant
his nails darkly blue: .
The count stepped over to the table
reached into the inner pocket OF hi
coat and extracted packet. In. thi:
packet was the enormous sum of ont
hundred and eighty thousand dollars il
notes Of one thousand denomination
that is to say, one hundred and eight,
, the government which had issued them
On Cop of this packet lay, the colonel
note for twenty Thousand dollars.
, Ut is true that Karlof never accept
| ed money from his government in pay
] ment for his services; but it is equal,
true that for every penny he laid GU
3 he was reimbursed by Russia
< Karloff placed the packet on the ia
-. BILE, first taking off the note, which h
, carelessly tossed beside the bank-notes
: "You will observe that have no
3 bothered with having your note dis
counted. I have e, fulfilled my part Q
E thrust his trembling hands into hi
2 trousers pockets. He desired to hid
? this embarrassing sign from his &C
8 complete. s. =
8 Annesley went to a small safe whic
stood at the LETT OF the fireplace an an
Q kier than the count IS. He dropped ]