Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-11-23
THE MARATHON MYSTERY
A STORY OF MANHATTAN
STEVENSON
Holladay Cadets of


What YOU are proposing TO me is in
famous. she said, through clenched
teeth
1T is not in the least infamous" he
retorted coolly Il a>l offering
YOU the future know you
sigh for. 1t is future that
sigh for. too, that / have sighed
for from the first moment | saw you
and which ] am going 70 make come
true Together, we will conquer the
world And my wife
Your WIFE" There was scorn, anger
fear IN the words, and IN the glance she
cast at him.
with emphasis. IF ! should prove 70
She stopped him by an imperative
,.Yon 20 too far. she said There is
q limit TO what even / viii endure.
DO not push me too far; do not rely
too much ON my forbearance, a man
capa hle OF any crime
He held her by the motion OF a
finger.
is a man who appeals 70 YOU he
concluded "To be capable OF any
crime. and yet to commit none. rs a
4 virtue
TO commit none" she echoed scorn-
fully.
\ lie looked at her without The flicker
/ Of lash.
ITO commit none, yes your own con-
I science acquits me" he repeated stead
ily. But / would pause at none 10
gaia possession Of you. Look a, me
DO YOU doubt IL?
! She locked at him with a little shlNeF.
( No" she said.
rs there amy other man you know
/ who can say as much"
/ she wrested her eyes away from MS
aud turned again TO the fire.
You strangely mistake me she
said in "a cold voice. You are reading
your own nature into me. / would
ask no man 20 commit crime for my
sake should abhor the man who
did
He ala not answer but stood gazing
at hen with "a gaze which seemed TO
envelop her, to pierce her through and
through Drysdale felt the perspiration
start across his forehead; he wished 10
cry out but could not
! door at the farther end of the hall
opened and bClToy came in. The bonds
iuoscued and Drysdale lied back 10 ms
room. He needed to compose himself
Mrs Delroy did not come down to
dinner pleading q headache. and ar
Ter the meal was over, Delroy carried
Trrmaine off TO the library for last
talk over the details of the railroad en-
terprise The intended going into New
York iu the morning for an interview
with certain capitalists that would be
crucial and they needed To arrange
their plan Of attack.
Drysdale. left to himself, threw away
his cigar and went straightWay TO seek
l.. 81
before the fire in the haN, gazing into
g. her head i'm her hands She did not
hear his approach and for a moment.
as he Eazed down at her, he doubted
whether he had really witnessed that
strange interview of an huur before.
Had he not rather dreamed IT? Was
u not merely a wild imagining? He
passed his hand before his eyes ana
dropped into the chair beside her.
She started at the sound turned. saw
him, and smiled But it was not the
smile that had greeted him the night
before, It was not from the heart. il
a,d not reveal II dissemblcd He saw
Ihe change and trembled as he guessed
Us meaning Then he put hesitation
behind him.
Grace" he said gently "as ] was
"oming down to dinner tonight ! hap
yened 10 see you and Tremaine stand
ing together, and. without Intending TO.
! overheard sentence which stopped
me up there at the turn OF the stair"
She looked at him, her eyes dark with
apprehension.
You mean that YOU listened?" She
asked
After that first sentence, it seemed
to me that | had right 10 listen
Her lips We're curling i'm scorn her
syes We're burning through him.
Oh. "A ri@ht!"
Yes, right" he repeated boldly
mo man should be permitted TO talk
go YOU as ne talked. Why he usulted
YOU, he threatened you-heaven knows
what outrage he was ready TO commit
Why did YOU permit it,
She turned away from him and her
arms dropped wearily by her sides
Your proper course is to inform Del
roy" he continued doggedly, Drawing
The certainty of offending her or
better stan, | viii. and then kick that
NCouudrCl out. I've already had one
quarrel with Dicl1ie about him
Have yod?' she asked listlessly
Yes, distrust him, Why did you
permit him to talk 10 you the way he
did ,"
II can't tell you. she answered
hoarse!y.
But / have right to know"
Yes, / suppose you have. WHY not
break II off Then YOU won't need tc
worry about me any more
He started from his chair at ths
words. but controlled himself and sat
down a-aIu.
DO you mean that YOU want Il
break il OFF," ne demanded. i'm duiv.
ing voice, Do YOU mean that YOU car
possibly care for that"
She turned uron him with blazing
eyes.
DO YOU Insult me too2"
For an instant he sat motionless a.
stone; then he fell at her knees anC
caught her hands and covered then
with kisses
Forgive mot" he cried. Forgive
me! II was unworthy. But oh. Grace
give me wordjust a word-tel
me-
I Listen" she said, bending over him
Instantly moved, Instantly tender
YOU told me last night that you trust
cd me"
II do with all Ihy soul"
And Kate the Queen needs you a!
she said she would Only | must hay,
time to think. to straighten out IN,
tangle. Tomorrow | win tell you-to
morrow night-tilI then"
He seized her and drew her down
to him and kissed her on the lips
i've never doubted you" he said
| And III fight the battle Of my life
before l give YOU up.
~ the farther end of the hall, a doc
closed very. very softly.
CHAPTER ~.