Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-01

V,
Il see. Well, how much do you want ?
l am rich man now, Leonore. and vol,
can open your mouth wide"
I am very well off myself, thank
you, she replied. II earn quite a lot
OF money. I want something else from
you-something perhaps that you
won't care to give. But you've got to
give it. If you want to marry Laura
Vane.'
We'll, what is it?" he asked alb.
ruptly.
During the last few months" she
replied. Il have seen good deal of
a certain Mr.. John Shil"
"Oh, have you!" he exclaimed, and
then he looked keenly at her face.
But her eyes were fixed on the ground
and there was nothing. to be learned
from the rest of her features.
YES, she continued quietly. ''and
| have also met certain Henry Blur
ton. He once did you service, / be-
lieve, for which you paid him literally.
understand you have ceased the pay
ments"
William Tankerlane was silent but
his face was not pleasant to look
upon
MI Burton, however" continued
Leonore, is now completely happy
and satisfied. In other words, he has
told me all he has to tell, and have
paid him literally for the informa-
ton"
THE devil you have." exclaimed
Tankerlane.
The value of the information, :"
Leonore proceeded, appears to be ma
terially lessened by the fact that you
were also witness Of all that hap
p med on that particular occasion.
Shall tell you exactly what think of
the conduct Of man who induces
girl to marry him by threatening
the life or liberty of her lover, and
who then has to confess that he has
not married her? / hall l give you \
name to fit the act? Would you like
to hear what
Il don't want to hear anything about
1t, broke In Tankerlane. Your opin-
lon Is nothing to me. Get to the
poir
well, the point is this" said
Leonore. Before take you to Laura
or take any steps to make you free,
you must swear to me, by all you hold
most sacred, never to breathe word
of what you saw in the plantation to
any living soul-under any circum
stances whateyer-not even to save
your life or honor, or the life and hon
or of those you love.
Tankerlane frowned, and he appear
ed to be estimating the value of the
price he was asked to pay. Then he
y, q f,r,1u 70
laughed.
What are lou driving at?' he ask.
ed. What is this John Shil to you,
that you are so anxious about his
safety?"
That is a question I shall not an.
swer," she replied, "for it does not
concern the matter at all. 1t Is pos
sible that 1 wish to serve him for the
sake Of Laura, who loves him; or it
Is possible that I am only DESTROYS
of getting something out Of you In
return for what 1 am going to give
But my object is beside the question.
Do you accept my terms, or not?"
Il accept them, he said slowly,
with his eyes still fixed on Leonore's
face.
"swear the oath to me-" she said
sternly.
He swore 1t, and when he had fin
1shed, he burst into fit of laughter,
and held out his hand.
Shake hands, Leonore,'' he exclaim-
ed. by Heavens, admire you. You
are the cleverest woman l have ever
met. Well, if you can get Shil to
marry you, you'll do me good turn
as WE'LL
Leonore did not answer, but, cross
ing over to the table wrote Laura's
address on piece CT paper. and hand
ed it to him.
BE sure that you keep your OATH"
she said quietly, cor l shall know how
to deal with YOU
He laughed gaily and left the room.
But Leonore buried her head in her
arms and sobbed bitterly.
CHAPTER Xxx.
When John Shil left the dingy lit
tie house In Widely street, he walked
furiously till he found cab, and then
he drove to his hotel.
His thoughts were none of the
sweetest as he leant over the doors Of
the hanson and scowled vacantly at
the passersby. Laura was lost to him
foyer. The birth Of her son had
placed an insurmountable barrier be.
tween them. She might have been
willing to leave her husband, but she
would not leave her child, and even
If she consented to sacrifice her honor
as wife, she would not be able to
bear the thought Of the inevitable sep.
aration from her little boy. For Shil
who knew nothing of the truth, sup.
posed that the law would give the
custody of the child to its father.
He came to the conclusion that he
had done the right thing in leaving
the house without the interview for
which he had entered It. Such an in
terview could only argument his sor.
row, and would be nothing short of
cruelty to the woman he loved. Leo
more had undoubte lily acted for the
best when she declined to allow him
to see Laura Vane.
But as to Leonore herself? All.
there was another problem which
might have to be faced in the near flu
ture. Without any actual attempt At
deception he had deceived her, and
IL,