The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-04-22
CHAPTER XXIV.1ContinuedO

He turned aside, ana remalncu eHen'
for some seconds. When next he spoke
Il was in altered tones. Tell me "na'
You want? Is it money!
Money" she cried. money 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 90
with themw And she took out some
trinkets, and crushed them beneath her
feet. "Now will you ask me IL II Is
money l want Of your?
Her face was something awful to look
upon in its deathly pallor, and convui-
sive quivering. and those glarlng eyes.
That man, with all his iron will, Quailed
before her.
What do you want, then?"
Respect, and | will have 1t. 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
You saw no way to use me at the time,
but you were 10th to lose sight of SO ad-
mirable an instrument. You wormed
yourself into my confidence, and got
from me that l was discontinued with
a mode Of life which gave me but
bare living, and filed the pockets Of my
employer. l was vain of the attention OF
a fine gentleman-I who had been
brought up in back alley. You told
my father that il he liked to go to Bury
st. Edmund's you would help to set
him up In business-that you would rec
ommend him custom, as you possessed
some influence in the neighbour hood"
Have you ever had reason to repent
taking my counselY
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
man brains. But before you dared to
propose it to me it was necessary to
make me your slave. When you last
saw me was an ungainly looking, ugly
1;v
with good looks enough to have secured
several offers Of advantageous marriage.
But I was proud, ambitious; the life
/ led, and all it's associations, were hate
full to mel longed to be free Of them
all, and 1 waited and waited. You, with
your fendish cunning. OWNED my secret;
professed love for me. Blinded by am
bition and vanity. 1 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."
"Silence" 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 leaped! Could it be
Clara of whom she was speaking7 The
portrait l 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, listened now!
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 a charge against
mev'
II 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 I admit that intend to mar
~ her. what then?" he demanded. bold
ly "You will seek to thwart me?
II keep my intentions to myself. But
] 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 CAV de-
ceiver; yet, I 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 moi
unsuccessfully. 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. l rose up, and con.
fronted him. felt no fear of him al.
though l was too agitated to speak-too
overwhelmed by the thoughts Of nv
worse than powerless position.
He paused; then, with a look of M.
preme scorn, he turned upon his heel and
addressed Judith. Such an object is tor
contemplate to excite anger. However
I presume that for the future you will
restrain in him such rowing propensi.
ties, more especially after the confidence
you have chosen to repose in him tb;s
evening. Now let me understand. DE-
we part friends or foes?"
Il pledge myself to nothing eithe,
way. For years you used me as a fool
Now we have the reverse of the mat1sl