Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-09-19

O'Rourke was shown into the room. HI
was pale, but his manner was under
perfect control. He made no attempt
to approach Mrs. Spry, but, having CLOSED
the door, bowed. and. advancing to the
center of the room, laid both hands on
the rail Of chair, which he held firmly
He looked then at Angela, and his brows
contracted ever so little as IL In inquiry
He was playing to look as II he asked
himself what had induced her to adopt
role so extraordinary as the one she
had taken up, and his trained sense OF
humbug came so to his aid that he asked
himself that question unfalteringly. Next
he looked at the widow, and hts glance
was full of appeal. Neither Of the women
spoke a word, but Angela, with her eyes
fixed upon O'Rourke, reached out hand
sideways, and took her friend by the
wrist, sliding her hand downward until
the fingers Of both were interlaced.
II have received letter from you,
Julia" O'Rourke began, containing an
inclosure in the handwriting of bitter
enemy of mine, a political rival, who is
enraged at his own want Of success.
am here to tell you that that letter con-
tains one innuendo which is based on
truth, and only one. am indebted
to your friend, Mr.. Maskelyne. Apart
from that one truth I deny every state
ment the letter contains"
Then he paused, looking from one to
the other of his auditors. Mrs. Spry
drew her hand from her companions, and
half arose, but Angela checked her.
II begin to see, sir. that have made
a mistake" she said. II fancied you
would not dare to come here. I have
read the letter you speak off, She could
go no further.
II supposed" returned O'Rourke,
from the note which accompanied IT
that you had done so. I supposed, also
that you support Its statements. l dc
not know how you have allowed yourself
to be persuaded of the truth of those
statements, but 1 declare them, on the
faith of an honest man, to be without
foundation"
Angela 20 cried Mrs. Spry, II knew
it. l was sure of it. It's all a mis-
take !"
Thank you, Julia ~ cried the patriot
thank you"
At this Angela took unexpected fire,
and rising to her feet In sudden self
possession faced the patriot with flushed
cheeks and glittering eyes.
II do not rely upon much from you,
Mr.. O'Rourke, upon which l might count
with safety from most men. But l will
ask you a question or two, if you will be
so kind as to answer them"
II will answer any question you may
ask me, Miss Butler he answered, in
clning his head with grave courtesy.
Forgive me if I hurt you, dear" said
Angela, swiftly turning to her friend.
"You did not know, Mr.. O'Rourke, that
my friend Mrs. Spry was wealthy until
she herself told you SOP"
II knew that she was well-to-do," re-
turned O'Rourke, 'but I did not know
that she was wealthy. You will remem-
Der, Julia, that your statement took me
by surprise
you did not suppose her fortune to
be greater than it really is?"
II certainly did not" said O'Rourke.
He actually smiled at this, as il the
thought amused him.
Angela rang the bell and sent for Mas
kelyne. who was in the hotel. When he
came Angelo told him of what had occur
red, and he at once told of his conversa-
ton with O'Rourke about Mrs. Spry's
riches.
Its a lie," said O'Rourke, Fraser
and | have quarreled, and he has invent
ed this story to damage me with you and
with my friends"
The widow suddenly fell on her knees
and threw up her head with shrek on
shrek of laughter. Maskelyne raised
her. and rang the bell for assistance.
O'Rourke stood staring at the pair, as
much lost for the moment as If the whole
world had tumbled in ruins about his
ears. A waiter knocked at the door and
entered.
"Send a female servant here, and run
for a DOCTOR" Angela called to him. Mrs.
Spry's wild laughter ran through the
house. A chambermaid looked in at the
dozen people were in the corridor, star
ing with frightened faces
O'Rourke still retained a grain of his
customary self-government. He walked
down the corridor and out of the hotel
His cabman hailed him, and he threw him
half crown and strode toward his cham
bers. desperate, and half beside himself
with rage His chambers reached, he
entered his bedroom without a word, and,
locking the door, sat down to think. His
thoughts were too terrible to be endured
without emotion, and in a little time he
began to pace wildly up and down. Now
and then he groaned aloud.
1t was dark, and O'Rourke was still
ra ging up and down his bedroom, when
the maid brought up a note and knocked
at the door.
whats the matter?" he asked, un-
locking the door and thrusting a pale
face into the light of the adjoining room.
"A note, SIR" said the girl, marked
Immediate
He took it and tore it open with pas
sionate eagerness. 1t was from Dob
roski, and asked him to call upon the
morrow. He cursed Dobroski, for his
usual suavity and self-control had alto
gether deserted him. Then, clinching
the note in his hand, he slammed the
door and locked 1t, and fell to pacing up
and down again.