The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-08-19
parbara refllned 10 .hare that fulure

Barbara refused 70 share that future
with him.
"There IA still one more chance" ho
reflected. zone more interview with
Barbara. one more hope that may
win her. II That fails, the other thing
won't matter much. III horsewliIp
Tnndy and then 90 AWAY No: won't
no away, | won't desert ~ tho pres.
ence OF the enemy. won't-0h don't
know what | will or won't do! Al TINT
must wait till ! know my fato with
Barbara"
This was on the morning after bis
evening with i,arbaru-~the morning on
which Temple frat made acquaintance
with Tandy. Duncan was sllllug ~.
IN his oillre. mechanically toying with
a paper cutter. Presently he over.
turned the inkstand. spllllne It's con.
tents over some legal papers that he
had drawn up the day before
"Thats fortunate" he calculated as
with biottlng pnds he sought TO save
what hc could Of the documents. III
gives me something better to do than
sit here Idly incoming. Those puperi
must 10 off by the afternoon mall. and
I must rewritc them first"
lie set 10 work nt once. and close lp,
plicatlon 20 the task for several hours
brought him into healthier condition
Of mind. When he hnd finished the
task aud hAd taken the papers 20 the
postoiiico he realized that his state OF
mind bud been morbid one. lie real,
ICED. too, Tint he must end the sus.
pcnse IN quickly as possible IN order
that hc might take up work and grow
sound OF soul again.
Returning 10 bis office. he sent note
70 Barbara:
shall so 10 see you tonight. unless you
forbid. must hear what more you have
70 tell mo. and ] must In my turn tell
you something of myself. When that IA
done shall renew my efforts 10 win you
70 myself Please send ms word that
may come.
For answer be got the single word
Come" written IN the middle OF n
page. without address or signature.
Thus Il came about that while Temple
was sitting N his hotel room in nego.
tlatlon with Tandy over a matter that
lnrniNad nnunuatu f,.tur. ..xwa .,t,att,,
than amy other event had ever done,
Duncan himself sat With Barbara, try.
Ing 10 adjust another matter which
seemed 10 him OF even greater conse-
quence.
Barbara had her emotions In leash
now. Without hesitation and with a
bravely controlled utterancc she went
at once 10 the marrow OF the matter
u told you" she began. that am
the daughter Of thief. My father
was trusted absolutely by my grand.
father. lie betrayed the trust. lie
made use OF bis authority as member
Of the banking house not only TO wreck
Il In speculation. but also TO rob all
the people who had intrusted their
money TO II. don't understand such
matters very well: but at any rate, my
father ruined the flrm and robbed Its
customers. AZ q single stroke he re-
duced his father to poverty and for.
ever disgraccd his honorable name.
When no found that the facts must be.
come known at once my father went
home and blew his brains out. was
born that day, and my mother died Of
shock and grief within the hour. My
poor grandfather lived for a month.
without speaking q word TO anybody:
then he quit living"
ut Is terribly sad story" said Dun,
can, II should not have let you tell II.
poor child"
"0h. but was obliged 10 tell you"
slic interrupted. lit was my duty.
You sce--well. you have been so good
10 me, aud ! am obliged to say no to
what you asked me before you knew
this horrible thing. II wouldn't have
been fair Just to say mo- and not tell
you of thing that explains. thing
that must make you wish you hadn't
asked me that"
"But II does not make me wish any.
thing OF the kind, Barbara, II makes
me more eager than ever tc win YOU