The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-04-19
CHAPTER xXIv.-ContInuedJ

CHAPTER XXIv.-ContlnuedJ
He turned aside, and remained silent
FOR some seconds. When next he spoke
It was In altered tones. 'Tell me what
you want2 Ia It money!
Money! she cried. money from
you! Look here" and she tore open q
lady's reticule that lay upon the table;
there are the two hundred dollars you
sent me enclosed in your farewell letter;
look what 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. Nov will you ask me II IT 10
money I want OF Your
Her face was something awful to look
upon In its deathly pallor. and convul-
sive quivering, and those glaring 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 . mere child
then, possessed Of q strange power over
certain minds power that to an am
bilious, interruptions schemer like your
self, might one day prove invaluable.
You saw no way to use me ct the time.
but you were 10th to lose sight Of 40 ad-
mirable an instrument. You wOrmed
yourself into my confidence. and got
from me that was discontinued with
. mode Of life which gave me but q
hare living. and filed the pockets Of my
employer. l was vain Of the attention Of
a dne gentleman--I who had been
brought up In . back alley. You told
my father that II he liked to 60 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 nslghborhood."
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 Spaldlng before I ever
heard anything Of yon again One day
we met ia 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 1t to me It was necessary to
make me your slave. When You last
saw me l was an ungainly looking, ugly
girl; now I was q well-grown woman,
with good looks enough to have secured
several Offers Of advantageous marriage.
but was proud. ambitious: the life
] led. and all Its associations. were hate
ful to mel iouged to be free Of them
all, and l waited and waited. You, with
your fendish cunning. OWNED my secret !;
protested love for me. Blinded by am
bition and vanity. I believed you---be-
Neved that you, the fine gentleman.
simply lied. to serve your own purpose.
You were very cautious. too-you bound
mo 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."
"5ilence!' Numbered Rodwell. spring
Ing to his feet.
"Well. enough Of that for the pres
snt. After the girls flight you left
Bury, and I did not see you again for a
long. long time. At last. you returned.
81 you have got her into your clutch
again. What IL 1t TO be this tlme-mur-
der or marriagef"
How my heart leaped. Could It be
Clara of whom she was speaking? The
portrait | had seen in his namssake's
cottage-the likeness to her. forgotten
until that moment. flashed upon me with
the force OF conviction. oh. how eager
ly, how breathlessly, 1 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
mel"
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 l admit that intend to mar
~ her what then Z" he dema nded. bold
~. "You will seek to thwart me?"
II keep my intentions to myself. hut
aware you have a rivalF' she said. meek
W8iy. lVu NuHkIut NIT.
Carston In the character OF gay 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 4 single gentleman. and not
UNNECESSARILY. l believe"
This IL no subject to Jest upon" he
said, haughtily. do you mean to say
that this fellow has dared"
lie advanced menacingly towards me:
but, weak a. | was. rose up. and con-
fronted him. l 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 a look OF SUI
preme scorn. he turned upon his heel and
addressed Judith. such an object IL too
contemplate to excite anger. However.
/ presume that for the future you will
restrain in him such rowing propensi-
ties, more especially after the confidence
you have chosen to rep0ss In him this
evening. Now let me understand. DO
we part friends or foes!'
81 pledge myself to nothing either
way. For years you used me as q tool.