The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-11-25
CHAPTER Xxx.


l terminated my holiday with . med
actuated By the best intentloas. Every
neddleF and muddlsr is, otherwise be
might be forgiven.
l made my attempt with no success
on my last evening at ChaIlaeombS. when
the old man had taken bis tea, and might
reasonably be expected to be milder than
during the press Of business in the morn
ing.
l had not seen him for three weeks.
was struck with the change that had
come over him during this short period.
IL was that subtle change which We mean
when we say thar man has aged" In
Mr.. Leighan's case, his hands tremblsd.
he looked feebler, and there was a loss
Of vitality in his eyes
What DO you wantT' he asked. i'm
patiently. You are come for Mary7
Well. she isn't here. You ought TO know
that she always goes out after tea. You
will find her somewhere about-on N.
Ridge or down the lane. somewhere"
lie turned his head and took UP his pen
again | observed that be vas porias
ever a paper Of figures.
No. Dir. Leighan, / came TO see yoE.
l have come 10 see you about George
and Mary"
Go on, then. Say what you want to
say. When a man is tied 20 his chair he
Is at the mercy Of every one who comes
to waste his time
l spoke TO him as eloqusntly a.
could. | told him he ought to consider
how Mary had been his housekseper ana
bis nurse for Six long years, during which
he had been helplessly confined 70 his
chair II he refused his consent TO her
marriage she would go away, not only
from his house, but from the parish be
would be left in the hands Of stranger,
who would waste and spoil his sub
stance.
Young man." he said, Il never asked
Tor or expected any other service than
what Is paid for. Mary's services have
been paid for. IL she goes | shall and
another person, who will be paid for her
services. Mary has had her board and
her bed. and she's done her workHo paru
her board and her bed / don't see aoy
call for gratitude there: as Tor good fee.
ing, that's my business Now. younz
man. George SidcOte's land Il mortza god
As he says be can no longer pay the in.
terest, have sent up the case to Lon.
don and have got the usual order. he
has six months in which to par prf7ri.
pay and interest. At the end u tina,
time. because he can't and won't pay hi.
land will be mine. As for what il done
afterward, I promise nothing"
You will lose Mary for one thing
Il have told you that I. in that case
shall hire another person"
Mary's fortune to her cousin David be-
cause she viii marry Without your con
sent"
Have the goodness, Mr.. win Neither
cote. 10 leave me 70 my own AFFAIR.""
This affair is mine as well a. yours
DO you prefer David to MARY? You
must choose between them, Jon know. I
have read the will You think" I said.
that David does not know Of his aunt.
will Yoa hope that be will 20 away
presently without finding out" He start
ed and changed color. aud in hi. eyes
read the truth He thought that David
would never find out so. Mr. Leighan."
I went on. that is in your mind He
lives alone. aud speaks 70 no one. his
aunt died after be went away. it is very
possible that be does not know anything
about it. Good heavens Mr Leizaan.
were you actually thinking 20 hils lie
thing from hin, aud 80 to rob himl Yes;
To rob Mary frat and David afterward
Of all this money!
What business is It Of yoursT' be
askedl
VERY good, | shall tel David"
oh. If | were thirty instead If seven.
y. | would" he began. his eyes lash
Ing again with all their ancient FIRE.
Il shall ~ 10 David. Mr.. Leighan. r.
ns | believe, be knows ngthing about H.
you will see how he will receive tho
news. Yes; you shall be between the
two. You shall choose between David
and Mary"
Yes; I had stumbled on the exact
truth rs accidentally as had stumbled
on the canvas bag. David id not know,
nor had his uncle chosen to inform him
though he was certain from his talk
that he did not knOw-Of his aunt'a will
deeply a. It affected him. And lam now
quite certain that the old man thought
that David would not find out the truth