The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-02-20
The Empires Dream
Amazing Adventures of a Gang of Thieves
Who Stole a World-Famous Dia-
mond of Fabulous Wealth.

bestrews every path with unhappiness
and sordid greed; IL deals death and
murder, kills friendship, and incites all
the degrading passions of greed and
covetousness. 1t ruined your happi'
ness as It ruined mine. It Who's
there"
She broke off suddenly as some one
knocked at the door.
IF you please, a gentleman asked
me to bring his card up to you, and
can you see him for a few moments
81 can see no n this evening"
"He was very insistant, madam,
and said his business was of the high
est Importance"
Eyes, they all do. What is his name?
Mr.. Twist don't know the gentle.
man."
Something about an accident, |
think he said. madam"
"Oh! l suppose it is one OF these
stupid police officials. Very well, will
see him for a moment. Now, you sit
there, dear, in your big armchair, and
he can't see you. / will get rid of him
in a minute"
She pulled the chair a little more
round the fireplace and undid another
fold of the screen, and then Percy
Twist was announced.
"Ah! You have come about the &C
cident, | presume? Well, | am glad TO
say that the poor lear girl is not hurt,
and is now resting"
Twist looked at Judith Ballard
with an amused smile upon his face,
and stroked his moustache for a mo-
mept before speaking.
Il am sorry, but | am afraid the ac-
cident was only an excuse OF mine to
obtain an interview"
What do you mean?"
81 mean that | wished TO speak to
you of a more personal matter"
The time is most inopportune, and
your method is impertineut. | will
ask you to leave sir"
Please do not do anything that
you may regret. I have come here as
as your friend, Miss Drawn"
"Sir!"
"Ohi that look of naughty disdain
may do all very well for the stage, but
I'm sorry you think it fit to try upon
me. AS I said before, I have come
here as your friend, and it may be in
my power to do you a great service.
I saw your performance at the Hippo
drome this evening, and as o o as
you stepped upon the stage / was
haunted by the thought that / had
seen you before"
1T was some time before I could
strike upon the right trail, and, strange
to say, your stage name gave 1t to
me-Ballara; add a single letter and
there stands revealed, Audrey, daugh-
ter of Joe Drawn of Ballarat."
And IL / grant that your deduction
is correct, may / inquire how the fact
interests your"
TN coming here this evening l am
merely actuated by purely friendly
motives. Do you know that your faith
or is in E~ngland?"
." have lately become aware OF the
fact"
"a short time ago I was In Ballarat,
and spent a few weeks at the old tav-
ern, and had many opportunities for
conversation with your father. We
also came to England in the same
ship. Do you know that he Is travel
ing the world over to find your"
1T is quite possible, but that Is a
matter entirely between my father and
myself. If you have nothing further
to tell me"
81 have told you nothing yet, but
please have patience. Do you not
wonder how I recognized you this
evening, although I have never seen
you before?"
II am not In the least interested"
But possibly you will be. It was at
the end Of your Spanish dance, when
you posed with your face over your
shoulder and the rose between your
lips. I then remembered a photograph
--
"A photograph! Where did you see
It? There is Only one In the world,
and that"
"And that is in the possession Of
Jasper Garlick."
Jasper Garlick! You know him!
Where Is he?"
"Ah! I though I would interest you;
yes, I know Jasper Garlick-and l also
know that Joe Drawn has entered
upon an ~rnceasing quest to find him
end is filed with the determination to
wreak his vengeance both upon him
and you. unless
"Yes-unless-"
Unless you are Jasper Garlick's
wife,"
His wife! No. no; thank heaven
I escaped that. / committed an appall
ing error in leaving Ballarat under his
Establishments, but / can never be toe
thankful that I found out my mistake
in time. I was young and full of the
foolishness of youth when he frs
crossed my path; / listened to his
sweet honeyed words of love. and like
q child l believed them. I thought hin
noble, chivalrous. grand. l exalted hin
to a height SO far above ordinary mer
that I felt mea and unworthy to b.
singled out as his love; my whole sou
was wrapped up In that one man. ant
so enthralled vas by his, presence
and the sound Of HE voice tia. Ger
got the world. my fathers love. thu
ties Of housekeeping; and at the
touch of his hand I forsook them ALL