The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-07-18
CHATTER xY111.-fcontInued.l

CHAPTER XVIII-(Continued-
Mr.. Parsons had been listening to the
conversation, with supercilious sneer
upon his face. "Oh, Mr.. Jerome is quite
right" he said, In his usual drawing
manner. "She looked awfully frightened"
Stafford felt greatly inclined to dash
his fist in the speakers face. But the
cold perspiration was starting from every
pore, and he felt sick at heart as he ask
ed the question, did you speak to herr
AS I told you," continued Jerome, Il
pressed forward as soon as | saw her, but
the moment she set her eyes upon me,
she hurried into the carriage, and the old
man after her. The servant banged the
door. ran up to the window, but it
was pulled down In my face, and the car
rage started. Had been a little more
prepared for SO suddenly meeting her, she
would not have escaped me quite SO
easily"
But what could you have done?' ask
ed Stafford.
"Shown her up before all her ser
wants"
But If she be really the person you be-
lieve, I should suppose her friends would
be quite willing to we'll remunerate you to
hush the matter up"
at is not money want, but revenge"
answered Jerome, savagely.
swell, well LET US drop the subject"
said Stafford, abruptly. After all. it is
nothing to me. But l wish to speak to
you on a little matter of business alone
for few minutes. Can we not go into
your bedroom"
AS soon as they were closeted alone,
Stafford gave way to the agitation that
oyer-mastered him. Jerome" he said,
with trembling voice and lips, II did not
wish those fellows to know that | had
any interest in the affair, but have
the deepest. Jerome, we have been friends
now of some years standing, and l be-
lieve we have a sincere liking for each
other-at least, l can speak for myself.
Let me, then conjure you, if you have the
smallest particle of respect for me, do
not modest this lady; leave the affair in
my hands, You do not know how much
my happiness or misery depends upon
the ISSUE"
why, my dear fellow, what ails you?"
cried Jerome. You don't mean to say
that this woman has wound her tolls
round you? If so, the greatest favor
could do you would be to unmask her,
and cure you of such an infatuation."
do not speak of her in that way; /
cannot endure to hear it." exclaimed Stat
ford, passionately. IF you knew her as
I do, a being so utterly opposed to the
vile coquette by whom you were deceived,
you would perceive, like myself, how i'm
possible it is that she should be the same
1ic+an tn rna During the
last two days 1 have been using every
knew as Katie Doran."
Your calculated Jerome.
any motive in doing so l had intended
to keep secret until, at least, | had OBJ
tanned some clue; but what l have heard
In your studio renders such secrecy impos-
sible." Then Stafford went on to tell
now he had discovered the picture of Gree
to be in the possession of Sir Launce
Penrhyddyn; how he had made sketch
of it. and traced the picture dealer who
had sold it.
Jerome listened to every word with the
most profound establishment, never once
lnterrupting the speaker.
"This mystery l was determined to
solve" Stafford continued. Even now
there is a strange, half-de6ned idea float
ing in my brain, at present too inexplica-
BILE to be spoken of; but it s clue that
1 shall follow up. Trust to me, Jerome
you know 1 am not easily turned aside
from any undertaking l once engage in 4;
and l pledge you my honor that il she
be the delinquent, which will stake my
soul she is not, you need not fear that
will shield her."
There's my hand upon the bargain"
cried Jerome 81 am heartily sorry that |
you should take any interest n this wom- |
an. who Is Katie Doran as sure as you |
stand there. But since you wish it, the |
matter shall be put aside for time; and |
now let us 90 back to the boys"
mo, not now" replied Stafford. who |
Is that fellow, Parsons, you introduced me /
to? Where did you pick him up?"
"Oh, have met him in different places, |
md. of late, he has taken to coming
here"
Stafford left the house in a miserably
depressed state of mind. There was some
thing terrible in these ever-accumulating
proofs. Bravely he fought against and
cast out every doubt; but the struggle
was a sore one.