Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-10-11

tel to tell Nat Sullivan the truth about
Tom. She found that worthy in his
usual state when in town. Ginger
complained that there was no doing
anything with him. And SO powerful
" did the blear eyed, thick Tipped sot
repel Peggy. now she saw him again
and IN this condition, that she had told
him nothing when Daintree's message
was brought to Mats rooms.
Nat read 1t in his shirt sleeves and
staggered off to achieve measure Of
outward decency, leaving Peggy in a
strange turmoil. She could have be-
trayed Tom herself so she still
thought-but the idea OF the master
turning traitor In this way was to her
Etolerable. She had heard the mar
,iage was put off, she OWNED some all
sufficient cause and with the ebbing
of her last hopes of Tom her first gen
erous good will to him returned. She
looked Mt Ginger and found Ginger
looking at her. AT Castle Sullivan he
had been a furtiye admirer. He was
an open one now Nat was in the next
room.
Well, Ginger, an what is 1t y, IN
tind to say? 2"
Il shall have to swear to him, though
I'd never have let this out in my sober
senses. He saved my life. meant
to save his.''
AN You will do that same-say you
made mistake. It's his life ye'll be
swearin' away!'
"But it's true, Peggy!"
"An' it's meself'll be thruer still,
Ginger darlin', If you will but say the
word an do by Tom as he did by your
She had not thought Of it before. It
was sudden inspiration of the quick
Irish brain, sudden impulse Of the
warm Irish heart. When Nat came in.
with wet hair piastered over his thick
skull, the coal black head and the fiery
beard were far enough apart. But 1t
had not been SO during every minute
OF his absence. And a pretty fasco
awaited him in the ballroom.
Led UP to Erickson, the overseer
shook his head.
mo-" said he. 1.-THE bushranger was
inches taller. I can't swear to him
after all"
Not swear to him?" roared Mr.. Nat.
why, you took your oath he was the.
man.!
Not swear to hlmY' said Daintree..
stepping forward. Happily, my good
fellow
But Toms eye was on him, and the
police We're in the room.
"Try the girl" said one constable.
Ginger is right said Peggy prompt,
". "It's taller man he was entirely"
But you're looking 1T his feetg'
Peggy raised her eyes, and calmly
and coldly they met Toms for the last
time.
NO. said she. This is not the man
| atall."
.sThe liars!' Natlsullivan scream
ed. They've made up their minds to
lie, and you two fools stand there and
listen!" He stormed and wept grew
violently abusive and was put out by
the constables before they left them
selves. In the scuftie and confusion
Ginger found IN opportunity both to
grip Toms hand and to whisper that
one good turn deserved another. But
Peggy O'Br1en turned her back with
i out word or look Warm heart and
nimble brain had done Tom Erickson
their last service, had undone their
first andronly injury, and this was the
end between these two.
|
| When the three men had the great
| room once more to themselves Tom
turned quietly to Daintree, who was
now perfectly livid with rage and cha
grin, and inquired whether he still de-
MED his own crime.
Deny itl' cried Daintree. ut is too
preposterous to be. worth denying.
Show me what you have stolen. Let
us see this precious proof!'
II nave live witness, too, If you
| force me to call him In,
Tom Went to a window and had
thrown up a sash before the other two
Joined him. Outside was the curricle
and Wyeth seated at Fawcetts side.
stop! Stop! Don't call to him"
whispered Daintree in choking voice.
"I-killed him."
L Good God!' cried Nicholas Harding.
Tom shut down the sash
Eyes, I killed him." cried Daintree,
recovering his spirits, land I'd do 1t
again this minute. Why? You shall
hear-dnd then Claire shall hear-for l
mean to see her. twill take all sgd
ney to keep US apart That night she
refused me. God alone knows why.
She loves me now and will stick to me
IN spite Of you all, but she refused me
then. I stayed for an hour where she
left me. Then / got ont by the back
why and wandered through the fields
lust as I was thinking of her. At
last-I hardly knew where was or
what I was doing heard voices. His
was one. Yours was the other, Erich
lsen--I didn't know 1t then--and you
were just leaving / heard him say
1 he was thinking Of being married. /
/ Joined him when you had gone and
asked who the happy lady might be.
What do you think he said? What do
you think? What do you thinkY
"Claire ~ said Nicholas Harding.
Yes, Claire!' screamed Daintree.
'That incarnate deyil-and my angel!
HE said he loved her-that smooth
hound and she had limited she did
care for somebody. God knows what
more he said! You would consent.
He had you In Ills power. Either he
said that or ! saw 1t. At any rate he
tainted me maddened me-and when