The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-03-12
The Empires Dream
Amazing Adventures Of a Gang of Thieves
Who Stole a World-Famous Dia-
mond of Fabulous Wealth.
CHAPTER XII.

III a Ahi1N lOhSAhS az
pale, haggard woman paced ceaseless-
ly to and fro. Lines of suffering
marked her face and a deep scar
glowed crimson under the transparent
skin OF her left temple. Any one who
had known her when she was a hap
py woman at Lechmere House school
would hardly have recognized this
griefshaunted creature as Kate
Dauncey.
Seated in a %noncnalant manner,
with hands ciasped round his knee
and a cigarette tip-tilted In his mouth,
Montagu Winton eyed her with a faint
smile of amusement.
MY dear Kate, pray don't exhaust
yourself with that lion-cage walk; you
remind me of a tragedy queen at a
fourth-rate theater."
you may mock; / am used to your
gibes and sneers, and they will avail
nothing. | am determined to go no
farther with you In this matter, and
I will do all | can to undo the mischief
! have already wrought"
II am afraid that knock on the head
has been more serious than we
thought, as It appears to have touch
ed your brain a little. To what mis-
chief do you r%eferg"
II led Mary Brent TO think that the
Empires Dream was stolen by God
frey West
Listen to Me, Kate. When you told
Mary Brent that, you eve spoke
truer words in your life. DC YOU think
the girl would couseat to marry me
of her W free will unless she was
absolutely convinced of Vests guilt?'
Her own free will! Has any wo-
man that falls into your hands any
free will, when you set her about with
snares and pitfalls, lure her on with
smiles and Kind words, and then cast
her off without pity or remorse when
she has served your ends?"
when | tell you that Mary Brent
has consented TO become my wife, !
am speaking nothing but the truth.
and wnen you told her That Godfrey
West was the guilty man you were
speaking the truth also, although you
did o know It,"
Il cannot believe you
~ do not ask you to, my dear Kate;
we have known each other so long
that mutual suspicion is only natural.
I presume, however, that you would
accept the word of Mary Brent her
self"
IL do not know"
'My dear girl, don't be foolish, and
I must ask you TO carry out my in
structions without any nonsense. |
am going TO London to-day for he
purpose of obtaining a special license.
In order that we may be married with
out delay. AS the prospective Lord
Loremuir this viii be a matter of no
difficulty. You will take Mary Brent
an your charge and follow me as soon
as convenient. and meet me at a GER
tain place in accordance with direc-
tions which | will give you. Carry
this out successfully, and, as | have
already promised you, | will never
trouble you again"
your promisesl"
"Well. perhaps they have been
somewhat of the pie-crust order in the
past, but | am going to settle down
now. Kate, and become a model mar.
ried man. My uncle is an old man.
and | may inherit any day, sc can't
afford to run any risks"
you take good care of that. In al
most all your transactions, honest or
otherwise. you are always somewhere
in the shadowy background"
"weii. never mind that you are go
ing to see me through this?'
II will see Mary Brent first. and IL
she can convince me of Godfrey
Vests guilt IL will do what | can,
but even. il her lover is the scoundrel
you make him out. | cannot reconcile
her intention to marry you of her W
free will"
"My dear girl. there is such a thing
as catching love on the rebound
can assure you that she Is so disgust
ed with Godfrey West that I am a per-
feet hero by comparison"
How low he must have TALENT"
sWeil. enough of this. I will send
Mary to you and then you can con-
vince each other. Before | go. howev-
er, I will give you your instructions as
to where 20 meet me. ! have chosen
he spot. my dear Kate. because it is
reminiscent OF days when we were
u and full of tender follies with
which happy lovers beguile idyllic
hours. You remember the smiling
hifls and dales. the nower-strewn path,
and the gorgeous sunsets as we stroll
ed across the heath. the
cease your taunts. unless you wish
to drive me mad. When you remind
me OF the years I have lost--years
that might have been happy-ycu
rouse such a fury in me that could
kill you where you stand"
Bravo! That was very good. my
tragedy queen. Ali what the stage
has lostl"
Go: leave me now. ! I'm too weak
to bear any more. Send the poor CIR
to me as soon as you cen,s
As Montagu Winton left the room
Kate Dauncey sank down upon heI
knees BY the armshair and. bury
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