Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-12-03
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER M.
Gideon Hope stood petrtied-abashen
He was transfixed with CONSERVATION and
ncredulity.
"You-you are not" he began.
II am not-what?" came the sharp,
quick inquiry.
From the lips of the woman upon whom
he had advanced the words issued. New
er for an instant had his gaze left her
face-the conformation, unreal as was
it unexpected, fascinated him.
There she stood-a woman to admire.
to wonder at; for most men to worship.
for she was queenly in form and bearing,
her eyes were dazzlingly piercing. her fea-
lures statuesquey radiant. She was
naught to Gideon Hope, though-for she
was not the woman he had expected to
meet was not Claire Tremaine-or rath-
er, Claire Kane. as he had expected to
greet her and find her.
The discovery was a puzzle, and the
puzzle a shock-but as yet no ray of the
true light flooded his mind; only sheer.
profound mystifcation and bewilderment
permeated.
You are not his--ths mans wife,
stumbled Hope indicating the manacled
arch-plotter with movement of his band
backward
Indeed ~
A change went over the tragic face OF
the woman-a scornful defiance was pre-
sented and he could not but note these
rapid changes, the intense power of ex-
preston. The most superb and skilled
actress could no better portray the emo
tions that were apparently quick-kindllng
fuel to a strongly unique temperament.
And. too, Hope fancied in the queerly
iridescent eyes there was token or
strange import, as though this creature
lowered on a distorted mental balance.
"Ask-him." :" she said. and power and
triumph greighter her tones that were
part mocking cry, part a malignant hiss.
With that-a quivering indication OF
her index finger in the direction of the adj
joining room where Kane sat-she turned
coldly and unceremoniously from Hope,
and as she swept past portlered door
way the overwhelmed intruder slowly,
obviously moved around, and with vague,
dulled steps returned to the presence or
the man he so hated.
Kane sat as before in the luxurious
armchair-as before, the stout chain en-
circled one wrist. running to the heavy
marble pillar. and holding him captive.
The pallor that had been occasioned by
the first startling and unexpected appear
ance of Hope had departed. His lip was
curled with a mockery that seemed born
of some mysterious innate confidence. He
regarded his visitors face sardonically.
Then he burst into short, harsh and de-
risive laugh.
Kane poised motionless and silent, try
ing to study out the situation, striving to
analyze the jarring elements that had dis
tracted all his original ideas and purposes.
With cool and contemptuous demeanor
Kane laughed twice again. Then he reach
ed over to the dainty stand at his elbow,
selected a fresh cigar, lit it, sank back
with a chuckle and a grin, and calmly
puffed out the blue leisurely smoke to-
wards his enemy.
In all this, Hope suddenly fancied he
detected trickery-some diabocal efront-
erv that had for its ends the battling OF his
cherished project to discover Claire and
wrest her from the power and presence OF
this unpunished scoundrel. His muscles
relaxed to grow instantly rigid again, but
menacinglv So for he had both hands
clutched above his head his eyes atiame,
his white. regular teeth bristing, and he
posed as if to spring upon Kane.
What" jeered the other-"wouId you
jump on a helpless man" :"
(To be contnued.)