Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-05-08

SuHft w H. ACAAoAS - eA"~J" via
~. She Is an impartial Nemesis; she
dogs the steps Of the righteous and
the unrighteous. 70 obliterate mem
DRY. that is II! And where might !
hnd this obliteration, save In this
life? Drugs? Pah! oh. have given
Haggerty royal chase. 1t has been
meat and drink to me to fool the
cleverest policeman in New York. TIL
yesterday my face. as criminal. was
unknown to any man or woman, save
William here, who was my valet in the
old days. | have gone to my clubs,
dIned, played billiards; fine comedy,
q fine comedy! Tomorrow William
and | sail for Europe. Miss Haw-
thorne, you wear one Of the most ex.
1uisite rubles have ever seen. Per.
init me to examine It."
The girl tore the ring from her fin.
ger and flung 1t on the table. | made
move as though to push back my
chair.
Il wouldn't do 1t, sir" warned VIII
liam quietly
My muscles relaxed.
do not commit any rash action, Mr..
Comstalk," said the girl, smiling
bravely into my eyes. The gentle
man would not appreciate It."
The master rogue picked up the
ring and rolled 1t lovingly about his
palms
"poon+;evI haov4,P,1In - rnur.
INJURED. Finest pigeon-blood, too. It
is easy, worth a thousand Shall l,
give you my note of exchange for it,"
-humorously The girl scorned to re-
ply. He took out little chamois bag
and emptied its contents on the table
How they sparkled, scintillated, glow
ed; thousands in the whitest Of
stones! How he ever had got his
fingers on them is something ! shall
never learn. Aren't they just beauti
full" he asked naively. Can you
blame me for coveting them?" He set
the ruby on top of the glittering heap.
1t lay there like drop of blood. Pres
entity he caught It up and--presented
1t to the girl, who eyed him in aston
ishment. Il only wanted to look at
It," he said courteously. Il like your
grit as much as admire your beauty.
Keep the ring"
She slipped it mechanically over her
finger
But you. my dear Mr.. Comstalk!"
he cried, turning his shining eyes
upon me, while his fingers deity re-
placed the gems in the bag.
Il have no jewelry," l replied, toss
ing aside the cigarette.
But you have something infinitely
better. l am rather observant. In
Friard's curio-shop You carelessly ex-
hibited wallet that was simply chOk-
Ing to death with long yellow-boys.
You have it still VIII you do ms
the honor? "-stretching out his slim
white hand.
] looked at William; he nodded.
There wasn't the slightest chance for
me to argue. So drew out my wal
let. extracted the gold-bills and
made q neat little packet Of them. 1t
hurt, hurt ike the deuce, to part with
them, But!
Game, William, isn't he? Most
men would have flung the wallet at
my head"
''Oh, he ts game, sir; never you
doubt It. sir" said the amiable VIII
liam.
Il have some silver in change" +
suggested with some bitterness
Far be it that i should touch sill
YER" he said generously, did this
rogue. Besides, you win need some
thing to pay for this little supper and
the fare back to New York" My Bills
disappeared into his pocket. You
will observe that trust you implicitly.
haven't even counted the money"
William staggered.
And is there anything further" l
inquired. The comedy was beginning
TO, weary me- It was so one-sided
st am in mo particular hurry the
rogue answered, his sardonis smile
returning. 1T is so long since | have
eHatted with people Of my kind"
I scowled
B Pardon me, / meant from social
point Of view only. admit we would
mot be equals in the eye Of the Pres
Dyter."
And then followed scene that re.
minds me to this day of some broken,
fantastic dream, fragment from
some bewildering nightmare.
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