The Irish standard., 1906-08-18

Father! Father, what is it?' cried
the girl. her voice keyed to agony.
Father"
The two men turned about. An
nesley had tainted in his chair Both
Warburton and Karloff mechanically
started forward to offer aid, but she re-
PEELED their approach.
DO not come near me: you have
done enough. Father. dear" She
slapped the colonels wrists and un-
loosed his collar.
The antagonists. forgetting their
own battle. stood silently watching
hers. Warburton's mind was first to
clear and without moments hesita-
tion he darted from the room and i'm
mediately returned with glass Of
water He held 1t out to the girl. Their
glances clashed; a thousand mute, an
CRY questions in her eyes. a thousand
mute humble answers in his. She ac-
cepted the glass, and her hand trem-
| bled as she dipped her fingers into the
cool depths and fiecked the drops into
the unconscious mans face.
arms. staring Internationally into the
crate. where his dreams had disap-
peared in smoke
BY and by the colonel sighed and
opened his eyes. For time he did
not know where he was. and his gaze
wandered mistily from face to face
Then recollection came back to him.
recollection bristling with thorns. He
struggled to his feet and faced Warbur-
ton. The girl put her arms around
him to steady him. but he gently dis
engaged himself.
Are you from the secret service
sir? If so, l am ready to accompany
you wherever you say. |. who have
left my blood on many battle-ground
was about to commit a reasonable act
Allow me first to straighten up my
affairs. then YOU may do with me as
you please. ! am guilty of crime:
have the courage to pay the penalty"
His calm was extraordinary. and even
karloff looked at him with sparkle
of admiration.
AS plummet plunges into the sea-
SO the girls look plunged into Warbur-
TOMS soul; and had he been an Of
fieer. of the law. he knew that he would
have utterly disregarded his duty.
II am not Il secret service man, sir"
he replied unevenly. IF wcre."-
pointing to the CRATE. your plans
would not have fed the fire"
who are you, then, and what do
you in my house in this guise?"--
proudly
81 am your head stable man-for
the present. 1t was all by chance.
came into this room yesterday to get
book on veterinary surgery. ac-
cidently saw a plan. have been Il
soldier. ] knew that such thing had
no rightful place in this house :.
l was coming across the lawn, when |
looked into the window. 1t is
not for me to Judge you. sir. My duty
lay in destroying those plans before
they harmed any one"
mo. ii is not for you to judge me"
said the colonel. II have gambled
away my daughters fortune To keep
her in ignorance of the fact and to re-
turn to her the amount 1 had wrong
fully used, | consented to sell to Rus
STA the coast fertilization plans of my
country, such as could draw from
memory No. it is not for you to
judge me; only God has the right to
do that"
Il am only n groom" said Warbur-
ton. simply. What have heard !
shall forget"
All had he but looked at the girls
face then!
A change came over liarloff's cOun-
tenancc; his shoulders dropped; the
melancholy fire died out of his face
and eyes. With an air of resignation
and clear sense of the proportion of
things, he reached out and took up tho
note upon which Annesley had scrawled
Ills signature.
Warburton. always alert, seized the
counts wrist. He saw the name OF n
tank and the suin of five figures.
What is this?" he demanded
"1t is mine" replied the count
hanghtily
WafDnftOn released him.
He speaks truly" said the colonel
1T is HIS"
THE hour of madness is past" the
Russian began. slowly and unsteady
The tone was musing. He seemed OBJ
livious of his surroundings and that
three pairs of curious eyes were lcvelcd
in his direction. He studied the note
creased it, drew It through his fingers
smoo'hed it and caressed it. "And
should have done exactly as ! threat
encd. There is, then, Providence
which watches jealously over the inno-
cent? And | was skeptic! :.
Two hundred thousand dollars,"-
picking up the packet of bank notes
and balancing it on his hand. "Wcll
1t Is sum large enough to tempt any
man. How the plans and schemes of
men crnmblc to the touch! Ambition
is but the pursuit of mirages
Mademoisclle, you will never know
what the ignominy of this moment
has cost me--nor how well | love you.
| come of a race of men who pursue
their hearts desire through fire and
water Obstacles are nothing; the
end Is everything. In Europe l should
have won. in honor or in dishonor.
But this American people, do not
quite understand them; and that is
why l have played the villain to no
purpose"