Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-07-15
|Y Bound by a Spell $I

He paused, expecting an answer; but
Montgomery, with an unmoved face, re-
manned silent.
81 must tell you," he went on, that
before this girl was brought home was
regarded as my uncle's heir. But he
became infatuated with this silly doll,
and left everything to her, except a pal
try annuity. Well, the girls intellect
was always weak, and as she grew older,
this weakness merged almost into idocy.
One night she disappeared, no one knew
whittier. My uncle was almost frantic.
Rewards were offered; the rural police
put upon the search; ponds, rivers,
streams dragged far and near; but. as
you will anticipate, without any sue
cess. AS time passed on 1 did all l
possibly could to instill into his mind
that she must be dead to which belief
l really inclined; but he obstinately
chung to the idea that she still lived, and
that he should find her some day. In
the meantime l kept on the best of
terms with him. If she never turned
up, felt pretty confident that the bulk,
at least, of the old mans fortune would
fall to my share. Years went on, and |
began to feel quite certain that Clara
would never again be heard of; when,
fancy my CONSERVATION upon one day
receiving a letter from the old man,
which informed me that he was in the
city, consequent on having obtained some
trace of his lost granddaughter. He
lent some tramp money upon a suit of
clothes, and out of one of the pockets
had dropped a miniature of Clara. This
tramp fellow had told him that he was
going to the city, and thither my uncle
had set off at once to endeavor to gain
some tidings of him. He had not been
in town many days before he CHANGED to
see a picture of his own cottage in a
print sellers window. He bought it, and
found the name of Clara in the corner.
That l might check any further search
upon his part, l undertook to send round
to every picture dealer to make inquiries.
l called at a number of shops myself,
and L sent you to others; you know
with what result"
But I did discover her, after ALL" in
terrupted Montgomery, although in
quite another way; and had l not stay
ed at Bury so late into the Monday, you
would have known of it. However, moth
ing could be heater than the way we
managed it. Luckily you had such a
snug place to take her to-
Yes; have found the house useful
more than once. An old maiden Amt.
who used to reside there left it to me
as a legacy. Fortunately, it had only
been recently vacated. AS soon as l
had secured my fair cousin, l began to
consider what was the best thing to do
with her. After a mature consideration.
L came to the conclusion that marriage
was the best solution of the difficulty.
By making her my wife 1 should seal her
lips regarding the past, and secure my
uncles fortune in the future. To my
surprise, she received all my advances
with the utmost repugnance. The cause
of that, have discovered, is a connec-
ton she has formed with some low fell
low, who actually turns out to be Judith
Stokes husband. By the bye, how came
you to think of introducing those peo-
pie at my house? You must have been
made to have entrusted my secret in
the hands of a woman who has a spite
against meT
"A spite against your echoed Mont
gomery. This is the first l have heard
of it. Now, 1 was deeply interested
in getting him back into Judith's hands.
1 bethought me of the house that l had
taken the young lady to the night before.
l.
there, 1 thought; and as Judith and Mr.
Rodwell are old and confidential friends.
l don't see that he can possibly obj
to oblige her so far"
'And do you not think such an act
was a piece of impudence upon your
part?"
''Not at ALL" answered Montgomery,
coolly. 81 had my own private interests
20 ~.
1 thought of myself first, as you did
of yourself when, years ago, you enticed
away from me the girl who was making
my living. Tit for tatr'.
Rodwelf glared at him fercely. 'If
that is your mode of dealing with me-"
he said, chow do l know that you may
not one fine morning call upon Mr.. Jona
than Rodwell and blow the whole thing
to him."
mo, 1 shall not do that" answered
the other. quietly; "honor among thieves.
If the plot succeeds, l know that l
shall get more out of you than possibly
could out OF him. Besides, there is a
stronger bond even than interest that
binds me to you-revengew
Upon whomT"
upon Silas Carston."
''ln that case, 1 think we can work to-
gether better than l suspected; but as
you have greatly complicated my diff
culties by introducing Judith into the
same house, it is but fair that you should
be the more ready to help me in any way
out of them"
What do you meanY
'In the first place, my marriage with
Clara would have to be brought about
Immediately and as she is not likely to