The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-24


Ing, he'd take fit"
why? He doesn't think I'm after
the silyerY
"Lor bless you no, sir. 1t amt that.
What's valuable-silyer and gold and
Jewels and such likes down there"
Bart nodded toward the floor. But
Mr.. Norman don't like people coming
into his private rooms. He's never let
In any one for years"
Perhaps he fears to lose the fairest
jewel he has"
Bart was what the Scotch call quick
in the uptakep HE don't think so
much Of her as he ought to, sir" said
he gloomily But l know he loves
her and wants to make her a great
heiress. When he goes to the worms
Miss Sylvia Will have a pretty penny.
only hope" added Bart. looking slyly
at Paul, that he who has her to wife
won't squander what the old man
has worked for"
Beecot colored still more at this di
rect hint and would have replied, but
at this moment large, red faced,
ponderous woman dashed into the shop
from a side door. There" said she,
clapping her hands in childish way,
81 know'd his vice. an l ses to Miss
Sylvia, as is sittin' doing needlework,
which she do do lovely, l SEES That's
him. and she ses, with lovely color,
oh, Deborah, JUS see, fur m'earts
a-beating too loud for me tear is
vice So ses''-
/ Here she became breathless and
ciapped her hands again. so as to pre-
vent interruption. But Paul did inter
rupt her, knowing from experience
/ that when once set going Deborah
would go on until pulled up. Cant
/ go up to Miss Norman?" he asked
/ You may murder me, and slay me,
and trample on my corp" said Deb
orah solemn.y, but go up you can't.
Master would send me to walk the
streets If l dared to let you. innocent
as you are, go up them stairs"
Cant l see her in the cellarT he
asked. 'AIr. Norman said could go
down to wait for him"
"Slr," said Deborah, plunging for
ward a step like a stumbling bus
horse. don't tell me as you want
to pawn"
swell, I do replied Paul softly, "but
you needn't tell every one
Its only Bart" cried Deborah, cast
ing a fierce look in the direction of the
slim. sharp faced young man, land
! if he was to talk I'd take his tongue
out That l would. I'm attaining
! him to be my husband, as l don't hold
with the ready made article. and mar
ried he shall be by parsing and clark
if he's good boy and don't talk Of
what don't matter TO him"
81 amt goin' TO chatter" said Bart
with q wink.
"Come this way. Mr.. Beecot. to the
place where Old Nick have his home.
| for that he is when strikes"
You shouldn't speak of your mas
ter that way" protested Paul.
"Oh, shouldn't II" snorted the maid.
with a snort surprisingly loud. And
who have a better right, sir? I've
been here twenty year as servant and
nuss and friend and tumble we'll wish
er to Miss Sylvia, coming a slip of
girl at ten, which makes me thirty,
/ don't deny; not that it's too old to
marry Bart though he's but twenty
and makes up in wickednesS for twice
that age. l know master, and when
the suns up there amt better man
living, but turn on the gas and he's
an Old Nick Bart, attend to your bust
ness and don't open them long ears OF
yours too wide l won't have a list
I Inns oil g,
way. sir. Mind the steps"
By this time Deborah had conveyed
Paul to a dark corner behind the coun-
ter and jerked back a trap door Here
he saw q flight of wood steps which
led downward into darkness. But
Miss Junk snatched up a lantern on
the top step and having lighted it drop
ped down, holding it above her red and
tousled head. Far below her voice
was heard crying to Beecot to "Come
on" Therefore he followed as quick
ly as he could and soon found himself
in the cellar. All around was dark, but
Deborah lighted a couple of faring
gas jets and then turned. with her
arms akimbo, on the visitor.
Now then. sir, you and me must
have talk. confidential like" said she
in her breathless way. It's pawning.
is it? BY which l knows that you
amt brought that overbearing pa of
yours TO his knees"
Paul sat down in a clumsy mahogany
chair which stood near a plain deal
table and stared at the handmaiden.
II never told you about my father" he
said, exhibiting surprise.
'0h, no. Of course not''-Miss Junk
tossed her headline being 4 babe an
q sucking. not fit to be told anything.
But you told Miss Sylvia. and she told
me. as she tells everything to her Deb
by. God bless her for a pretty fowerr'
She pointed a coarse. red finger at
Paul. IF you were a gay deceiver, Mr..
Beecot, I'd trample on your corp this
/ worry T11{Dlrta If I was RI die 01J