The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-10-05
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81 THE GIRL WITH ~
W A MILLION w s.
& = 8 By D. c. Murray SIS
: By D. c. Murray

I '~-e~>eA>AAs $1,000 s~Au ACoA W udt u0 mas 10
say"
| O'Rourke was shown into the room. He
was pale, but his manner was under
perfect control. He made no ATTEMPT
to approach Mrs. Spry, but, having closed
the door, bowed, and, advancing to the
center OF the room, laid both hands on
the rail of chair, which he held firmly.
He looked then at Angela, and his brows
contracted ever so little as if in inquiry.
He was playing to look as II he asked
himself what had induced her to adopt
a role SO extraordinary as the one she
had taken up, and his trained sense of
humbug came SO to his aid that he asked
himself that question unfalteringly. Next
ne looked at the widow, and his glance
was full of appeal. Neither of the women
spoke a word, but Angela, with her eyes
fixed upon O'Rourke, reached out a hand
sideways, and took her friend BY the
wrist, sliding her hand downward until
the fingers of both were interlaced.
Il have received letter from you,
julia" O'Rourke began, Containing an
inclosure In the handwriting of bitter
enemy of mine, a political rival, who is
| N"SSU ~ AAo OWh wait VI buCCc6S.
am here to tell you that that letter con-
tains one innuendo which IL based on
truth, and only one. 1 am indebted
to your friend, Mr.. Maskelyne Apart
from that one truth I deny every state
ment the letter contains"
Then he paused, looking from one to
the other Of his auditors. Mrs. Spry
drew her hand from her companions, and
half arose, but Angela checked her.
Il begin to see, sir, that have made
mistake" she said. Il fancied you
would not dare to come here. l have
read the letter you speak Of" She could
go no further.
| II supposed" returned O'Rourke,
from the note which accompanied it
that you had done so. 1 supposed, also,
that you support its statements. l do
not know how you have allowed yourself
to be persuaded of the truth of those
statements, but I declare them, on the
faith of an honest man, to be without
| foundation"
| angela cried Mrs. Spry, II knew
it. l was sure of it. It's all a mis-
| takev'
Thank you, Julia !" cried the patriot !;
| thank you"
and rising to her feet in sudden self
possession, faced the patriot with flushed
| cheeks and glittering eyes.
II do not rely upon much from you,
Mr.. O'Rourke, upon which l might count
| with safety from most men. But l will
ask you a question or two. if you will be
| so kind as to answer them"
II will answer any question you may
| ask me, Miss Butler" he answered, in
Ginning his head with grave courtesy.
Forgive me if hurt you, dear" said
| Angela, swiftly turning to her friend.
"You did not know, Mr.. O'Rourke, that
| my friend Mrs. Spry was wealthy until
she herself told you so?"
II knew that she was well-to-do," re-
| turned O'Rourke, "but / did not know
| that she was wealthy. You will remem-
Der, Julia, that your statement took me
by surprise"
You did not suppose her fortune to
be greater than it really is?"
II certainly did not" said O'Rourke.
| He actually smiled at this, as if the
| thought amused him.
Angela rang the bell and sent for Mas
| kelyne, who was in the hotel. When he
came Angelo told him Of what had occur
red, and he at once told of his converse
| ton with O'Rourke about Mrs. Spry's
| riches.
Its a lie," said O'Rourke, Eraser
and 1 have quarreled, and he has invent
| ed this story to damage me with you and
with my friends"
The widow suddenly fell on her knees
and threw up her head with shrek on
shrek of laughter. Maskelyne raised
her and rang the bell for assistance.
O'Rourke stood staring at the pair, as
much lost for the moment as if the whole
world had tumbled in ruins about his
ears. A waiter knocked at the door and
! entered.
"Send a female servant here, and run
| for DOCTOR" Angela called to him. Mrs.
Spry's wild laughter ran through the
! house, A chambermaid looked in at the
open door and ran to her assistance.
! dozen people were in the corridor, star
| ing with frightened faces.
| O'Rourke still retained grain of his
customary self-government. He walked
down the corridor and out of the hotel.
| His cabman hailed him, and he threw him
half crown and strobe toward his cham
bers, desperate, and half beside himself
| with rage. His chambers reached, he
| entered his bedroom without word, and
| locking the door, sat down to think. His
thoughts were too terrible to be endured
| without emotion, and in little time he
began to pace wildly up and down. Now
| and then he groaned aloud.
1t was dark, and O'Rourke was still
raging up and down his bedroom, when
the maid brought up note and knocked
at the door.
whats the matter?" he asked, un-
locking the door and thrusting a pale
| face into the light of the adjoining room.
"a note, SIR" said the girl, marked
| Immediate
| He took it and tore it open with pas
| sionate eagerness. 1t was from Dob
roski, and asked him to call upon the
morrow. He cursed Dobroski, for his
usual suavity and self-control had alto
| gether deserted him. Then, cilncning
| the note in his hand, he slammed the
door and locked it, and fell to pacing up
4