The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-10-24
CHAPTER xv.-(contInued.)

tremulous, claw-like hand, blazing
with rings, upon Gouldesbrough's arm
She was q scandalmonger who hat
ruined homes, a woman who had new
err done an unselfsh action, or evel
had a thought that was not sordid
~malevolent, or uncharitable. Yet she
was a great lady, a princess In Vanity
Fair, and even Sir William could mo-
disregard her, SO great and important
was this venerable nag.
WELL" she began, In her high, i'm
pertinene voice; $50 you have outdone
Aladdin, / hear, Sir William. Really
I congratulate you on your thought
trap, or whatever 1t is. I suppose we
shall have you in the upper house
soon! I wish you could manage to
catch some thoughts for me on the
stock exchange. Couldn't you have
your machine taken down to Capel
Court? should very much like to
know what some of the gentlemen
who deal In South Africans are think
Ing just now. The market Is really in
the most abominable state. And dc
bring the machine to one of my
at homes 1t would give me In.
tense pleasure to know what Is going
on In the minds Of some of my friends.
We could install 1t in one OF the
smaller drawing rooms, behind a
No one would know, and we
could catch thoughts all the evening
l expect the machine would
want d~isinfecting after the first half.
hour. l will see that there is some
.nody's Fluid ready"
She moved away, chatting shrilly.
Lord Landsend succeeded her.
That nobleman showed very evident
traces Of living as hard as his purse
and his doctor would let him, and his
pale, countenance was
stamped with the imbecile grin. "Pon
my soul, Sir William" he said, this
thing you've made Is really awfully
you know. Topping idea. really.
Hope you won't go fishin' round for
my thoughts!"
There was a general laugh at this.
and some n was heard to remark
that he didn't think Sir William
Gouldesbrough would make any very
big hauls in that quarter!"
"But how splendid of you, Sir Will
said Mrs. Hosken-Heat a pref
~, dark haired women with beautiful
eyes. 1T Is really marvellous. Now
there will be a real meaning in the
"A penny for your thoughts!'
Shall you have penny-in-the-slot ma
on all the stations of the Two
penny tube? So nice while one Is
waiting for a train. Just imagine how
sweet 1t would be to let your cher
lmi know how much you like him
without any actual compromising
You are a public benefactor,
Sir William"
Another voice broke in upon
Iouldesbrough's impatient al
"How do you do, Sir William? II Is
! great pleasure to meet you on such
In occasion as this, an occasion which,
I l may say so, is really heroic. You
nay not remember me, but / had the
privilege of meeting you at Brighton
not long ago. My name is Charlie
.ood-Sir Miles Charliewood; we met
IN the melancholy occasion Of my
second son's-er-death. You
we're very kind and helpful"
Gouldesbrough shook hands with
he old baronet. A shadow passed
over his face as he did SO. and he
would have given much to have avoid
ID the seeing OF him-not to have
known at all that Sir Miles was in
Portland Place on this night of tri-
lmph. Gouldesbrough was one of
hose men who have solved the chief
problem OF life. Like Napoleon. he
was master Of his own mind. His
mind did not dominate him. as the
minds Of most of US do. He con-
1t absolutely and never allowed
thoughts Of m part Of his life to in
rude upon those Of another.
And now, with the frightful egotism
of supreme self-will, he actually felt
aggrieyed at this sudden meeting. II
was, he thought. hard at this radiant.
happy moment! He did not want to
be reminded of tho past or OF the ter
rible and criminal secret of the pres.
emit. Why should the pale ghost OF
Eustace Charliewood come to trouble
him now? His partner in IN unspeak.
able infamy. the tool he had used for
he satisfaction of his devilish desires,
was dead. Dead-gone away-no long
Or In existence. That he. Gouldes'
brough, was morally the murderer OF
The distracted man whom he had fore.
I'd into crime, troubled him not at all,
It never had troubled him-he had
learned to be lord OF himself" And
now, in this moment of unprecedent'
ed triumph. the wrath of the dead
man rose up swiftly and without warn
ing to be q specter at the feast. II
was hard!
But he turned to Sir Miles Charlie
wood and was as courteous and charm
ing as eve His marked powers oil
fascination did not desert him. That
strange magnetism that was able to
draw people TO him. to make them hii
servants and slaves. surrounded hin
now like the tabled laura" Of the the
ooophists.
he bent over the pompous little mar
NTH I smile Of singular sweetness
sForgekf~ ~ said my dear sir
lcw could I forgstf Il h charming 4
- you again. hadn't a idea yoy