Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-03

| rake given up to wine and women, but !
man who could think and act. Only
| the lower part of his face betrayed
| the sensuality of his soul within. The
mouth and chin told their own story.
They spoke Of vice, without the ex-
cuse which vice can find in weakness,
and of strength, without the sense OF
morality which alone makes strength
/, a virtue in man.
He looked at her for a few mo-
ments with faint smile on his lips.
i Then he walked over to the door,
opened it, and looked out into the
empty hall. Apparently satisfied with
the result Of his inspection, he closed
the door, and returned to within a
few feet Of Laura Vane.
"Now look here, Laura" he said
II quietly, II have no time for a quarrel;
have come to see you on important
business. You are a sensible woman,
say to YOU"
i For reply, she turned her back on
him, and faint flush came into his
. lean, hard face. But he came closer
to her, and leant over her. 80 that his
, chin almost touched her hair.
, Are you going to listen to me,
| Laura?" he said in low steady
voice, "or shall 1 go straight from this
, room to the police and tell them that
I I saw John Shil murder a man in the
Y Round Plantation this EVENING""
l She whipped round on him, and
sprang back with a white face and
\ terror in her eyes.
r 81 cried haFcaIV
}. was an accident You lie, | tell you,
}. you lie! You know it was an accident,
i you know" She stopped, seeing the
fatal mistake she had made. William
J. Tankerlane smiled and shrugged his
v shoulders.
{ Il see you know all about 1t" he
d said John Shil has told you his own
e story. | do not wish to harp on SO
8 painful subject, but as my own mar
e rative will probably differ somewhat
h from his, think it is my duty to tell
you what actually occurred
d "You may tell me what you please,
o she replied slowly. 81 know the truth .
In a few words, simply, without lie
l. or exaggeration, William Tankerlane
l. told the truth. Save that he spoke as
II a mere spectator, and that feelings
e and motives had no part in his story
his account differed in no wise from
g. that which had been given by Johr
= Shil.
le And as the girl listened to his calm
and judicial narrative, her heart SAM
8 within her. She could have met liz
D. with scorn and contempt But here
~ was the truth, seen by other eyes
AZ viewed as other men would view it. 1
was terrible and damning, as told b.
the lips of William Tankerlane. Ant
he, subtle man that he was, knew tina
lie the very strength of his position de
le pended on this strict adherence t
q the truth.
le well, Laura" he said. when he ha
re finished his short narrative. What d
Oh you think of it all? l suppose you d
10 not believe me?"
IL 81 believe you," she replied quietly
10 "But should like to ask you on
rs question. Why did you not come t
q. the rescue Of Ben Holland when h
~ hung between life and death?'
Re IT might have shared the sam
u fate" he said. 81 am but child i
the hands of John Shil'
ne "Tell me the truth" she exclaime
III sharply. Il know well enough thu
er danger Is concerned. Why did 20
OF not come to the rescue of Ben Ho
IN N land?"
II because l love you," he replie'
ne "and because that brutal ruf1an il
as suited you. l was glad to see hill
Is. die"
mt She laughed scornfully and locke
into his dark eyes.
IN ben Hollands insult" she sal
er "was small compared to what you c
an fered to me two months ago. My gor
IN name Is nothing to you. Tell me II
as TRUTH Tell me why you did not int
On fere, why you watched, why YOU
ne She stopped and looked steadily in
his eyes. Then, as the truth dawnt
ne and she stood very white and stf
an The man gazed at her unflinchingly
'ut 81 see,' she said slowly, after loI
silence. 81 understand. John Shil is
AID you hands, and you do not To-
me John Shil."
no A faint smile crossed Tankerlane
'ou hard face, and then sudden storm
the passion swept across it; hot flu
rds came into his cheeks, the veins sto
out on his forehead, his eyes glow
ru- with a fierce fire. He strobe up to t
ed, woman and gripped her by the sho
cit ders.
ere Laura" he said passionately, "y
am know that / love you, that l long
pay you, that hunger for you as sta
ing man hungers for bread. And,
ing heaven, mean to have you. Now
ou' you understand why l did not int
ms fere to save Ben Hollands life?'
ell She did not answer him, but s
rae broke away from the grasp OF his
gers and looked at him as she mis
ON, have looked at dangerous bea
net Fear, contempt, loathing were
,ell, written on her face.
to II have reason to hate John Sh
the man continued, but my hiatt
lite for him is a poor thing compared
cui- my love for you 1t is besause IL
our you, and because intend to make J
ct mine, and because I am ready to S
an rifice all scruples to accomplish
u desire. that l let John Shil place