Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-04-28
CHAPTER xXvII.-tContinued.,

muscle until he had finished speaking;
then she answered, Poor. weak fool, l
pity you'll You may one day know that
vengeance is held by higher power than
that of puny man."
So solemnly did she speak the words,
that for a 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 life" angrily 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 ever done to
you, Mr.. Montgomery" l asked, that
you should seek to be revenged upon
me?'
"You have done me no injury he
said, averting his eyes; "but she has!
rs it just to punish me for the faults
of others?" l asked.
"Has that old tigress gone" cried
Mr.. Porter, putting his head in at the
door, and looking round. Ocularly sat
is6ed 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 a bit of
jewelry 1 have here. I know that you
are a judge of those things"
He produced locket, which I instant
ly recognized as the. one he had once
shown to me, and which 1 believed to
contain 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 losl
an instant" exclaimed Montgomery. ex
citedly. And before the other occupants
Of the room could recover from theil
astonishment, the two men had rushed
out
''What's the meaning of thisT criet
Mr.. Porter, somewhat alarmed. There
mischief brewing!
Something. Is wrong" said Judith
But, at all events, we have nothing tt
fear; we have had nothing to do will
Oh <boxy 10
US is to turn US out of the house as tres
passers."
Where's the locketY' suddenly criei
MIR. Porter. "Why, that scoundrel Mont
gomery has walked off with it!''
And away he went in pursuit.
so, Silas," said Judith, when we wer,
alone, "you are a gentleman with an in
dependent income"
could only wearily shake my head.
Even money has no charm while you,
happiness is clogged by me-" she said
bitterly. "Well, I will make a bargain
with you. Settle half of the money upol
me for life and will free you Of m.
presence forever"
'1Take it all if you will," I answered
:'You have blighted my whole life. al
the money in the world can never bu,
me back one happy moment"
Mr.. Porter's entrance interrupted on
further conversation.
Hes off!' he said, looking very fur
ried. '.They both jumped into a tral
that the man came In, and galloped of a
q 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. The
pulled up before a handsome villa res
dence. A gentleman, who had evident
iy been watching for their coming, az
peared at the door.
How long you have been" he sait
irritably.
Come as fast as horsefesh could g,
sir" answered the man, respectful.
IsT..% Lob of fha mara sir. Sho,c fr