Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-07-05
- VI
5 DOOMED. y
a BY WILLARD MACKENZIE M
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BY WILLARD MACKENZIE
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CHAPTER XvIII.-(Conti,

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Mr.. Parsons had been listening to the
conversation, with a supercilious sneer
upon his face. "Oh, Mr.. Jerome is quite
right" he said, in his usual drawing
manner. "She looked awfully frightened" :"
Stafford felt greatly inclined to dash
his fist in the speakers face. But the
cold perspiration was starting from every
pore, and he felt sick at heart as he ask
ed the question, "Did you speak to herr
"As told you," continued Jerome, "I
pressed forward as soon as saw her, but
the moment she set her eyes upon me.
she hurried into the carriage, and the old
man after her. The servant banged the
door. l ran UP to the window, but it
was pulled down in my face, and the car
riage started. Had l been little more
prepared for so suddenly meeting her, she
would not have escaped me quite 80
easily"
But what could you have done? ask
ed Stafford.
"Shown her up before all her ser
wants"
But If she be really the person you be-
lieve, should suppose her friends would
cS tuiIc WhilIis W well Tenu0eTdIe you TO
hush the matter up"
1T is not money 1 want but revenge"
answered Jerome, savagely.
well, well; let us drop the subject"
said Stafford, abruptly. after all, it is
nothing to me. But l wish to speak to
you on q little matter of business alone
for few minutes. Can we not 60 into
your bedroom?"
As soon as they were closeted alone,
Stafford gave way to the agitation that
over-mastered him. Jerome" he said,
with trembling voice and lips, 81 did not
wish those fellows to know that l had
any interest in the affair, but have
the deepest. Jerome, we have been friends
now of some years standing, and l be-
lieve we have a sincere liking for each
other-at least, l can speak for myself.
Let me, then conjure you, If you have the
smallest particle of respect for me, do
not molest this lady; leave the affair in
my hands. You do not know how much
my happiness or misery depends upon
the ISSUE"
why my dear fellow, what ails your
cried Jerome. "You don't mean to say
round you? If so, the greatest favor l
could do you would be to unmask her,
and cure you of such an infatuation."
"Do not speak of her in that way; I
cannot endure to hear it." exclaimed Stat
ford, passionately. "If you knew her as
I do, being so utterly opposed to the
vile coquette by whom you were deceived,
you would perceive, like myself, how i'm
possible it is that she should be the same
person. Now, listen to me. During the
last two days 1 have been using every
means to trace the woman whom you
knew as Katie Doran."
"You" calculated Jerome.
"My motive in doing so had intended
to keep secret until, at least, 1 had OBJ
tanned some clue; but what have heard
In your studio renders such secrecy impos-
sible." Then Stafford went on to tell
how he had discovered the picture of Circe
to be in the possession of Sir Launce
Penrhyddyn how he had made a sketch
Of 1t, and traced the picture dealer who
had sold 1t.
Jerome listened to every word with the
most profound astonishment, never once
interrupting the speaker.
"This mystery I was determined to
solve" Stafford continued. Even now
there is a strange, half-defned idea float
ing in my brain, at present too inexplica-
BILE to be spoken Of but 1t g clue that
I shall follow up. Trust to me, Jerome
you know 1 am not easily turned aside
from any undertaking 1 once engage in;
and l pledge you my honor that if she
be the delinquent, which will stake my
soul she is not, you need not fear that
will shield her."
There's my hand upon the bargain"
cried Jerome. II am heartily sorry that
you should take any interest IN this wom-
an, who Is Katie Doran as sure as you
stand there. But since you wish 1t, the
matter shall be put aside for a time; and
now let us go back to the boys
"No not now," replied Stafford. "Who
Is that fellow, Parsons, you introduced me
to? Where did you pick him up?"
"Oh, l have met him in different places,
and, of late, he has taken to coming
here"
Stafford left the house in a miserably
depressed state of mind. There was some
thing terrible in these ever-accumulating
proofs. Bravely he fought against and
cast out every doubt; but the struggle
was a sore one.
CHAPTER XIX.
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