Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-09-26

can make II good. You Will not b,,
harmed-nobdy Will be harmed On
the other hand. prison for your $4,000
OF Whittaker's good cash.. disgrace
and the loss OF Sylvia"
A Wild look came into Marsden's
face. He was young. He had had no
warning OF the arrival OF this man be
suspected OF having stolen his auto
graph book, fad OF college days. II
was almost enough to condemn him
TO be seen with Weston. He drew
vivid pictures of his uncle's suspicion
And he knew that what Weston said
was true. He did have $1,000 Of Syl-
via Ford's money In the safe. He had
Intended TO invest II safely tor her the
next day. He loved her The thought
OF having her suspect him Of using
Whittaker's name maddened him.
She was so pure. so lofty in sentiment.
that he feared, even though the guilt
could not legally be fastened on him.
the doubt would turn her from min.
And there was the cool master OF the
situation, with his cold. pitiless eyes
bent on the young trustee. weakening
his power OF resistance every moment
you know IL Is safe" said Weston
In his soothing voice. you have the
power. You are merely borrowing the
money. You will earn enough To pay
interest on II, and 1t will be easy
TO avoid showing any securities. They
are elsewhere If your uncle wants
them-till you make enough to pay the
money back You see, would not rob
an orphan, Marsden. oh, no. am
only asking the money of you for old
times sake. and you can pay it back
TO Sylvia. You VIII be happy, Mars
den, with Sylvia's love, and shall al
ways be shut out of the sunlight of
congenlal companionship. Think Of
the difference, Marsden. between hap
piness with Sylvia and-the cold un-
feeling bars of a cell in Sing Sing
prison
"Man! Devil"
Hush They may come any minute.
and l must leave New York tonight
Quick! No one will ever know Do
1t nowr
Marsden suddenly awoke to the fact
that he was looking into the barrel
OF a revolver leveled at his head
'Take your choice" said Weston
coolly.
Thoughts that burned like molten
lava rushed through Marsden's brain.
He was no longer master of himself
Like a man In a dream he rose from
his chair. moved by the powerful viii
of the other, and crossed to the safe.
Instinctively Weston turned the lights
low. Marsdcn moved like man
walking In his sleep. Dimly he was
conscious of his lifelong innocence
but the words OF Weston were ring
Ing in his ears. And he loved Sylvia
as few men ever love.
He opened the safe. There lay Il
pile Of bank notes, notes he had drawn
from the bank that afternoon. He
vaguely wondered how Weston knew.
There was a dim recollection Of see
Ing man like Weston In the bank
when he drew the money.
He reached out his hand to take the
money. He started as he saw beside
It a small revolver. He picked 1t up
with the money.
that's right" said Weston. with
cold laugh. use that after / am
gone. You can't use II before. Raise
1t and will blow your brains outv'
With his right hand still holding the
revolver close to Marsden's head. he
reached with his left and took the
package Of bills.
This will get me west nicely. and
you will never hear from me again."
he said. "Shut the safe"
With groan- Marsden did so.
"Sit down In that chair with your
back to the door,"
Mechanically Marsden obeyed.
Don't move till I am out Of the
house. II you do. III shoot I'm too
rich now to give up, even II kill
you"
With another groan Marsden sank
Into the chair. Weston started toward
the door--then stopped. He had heard
noise that Marsden in his agony had
not heard. The outer door had opened.
People were coming In.
There's a light" said silvery voice.
Fired must be waiting for u.s.
Weston was perplexed. He glanced
around. In the library was large
screen Noiselessly he slid behind that.
Marsden did not know. The reaIiza-
ton Of what he had done had come
upon Marsden now and deprived him
Of reason How could he prove that
be had been threatened with re-
volver1 How could he prove that he
had not taken the money himselfl
Who would believe that Weston had
walked In ard then out again with
eb,0003
Hh brain whirlsd He was beside
himself.
4 beautiful girl in an opera cloak.
with smile on her lips. tiptoed to the
Library door 20 surprise the lover In
w6om che had 50 much confidence.
She stood horror stricken on the thresh-
Old.
Marsden sat with his head turned
away. with bis right elbow restin On
tho table. bis hand raised, and her own
revolver pointsd at his head.
She dared not startle him. She saw
that be was medjtating. There was
but second to spare.
With the flight Of q bird she sprang
10 hts side