The Washington herald., 1908-06-23
SYLVIA'S FORTUNE.
By GERARD HOPKINS.

trustee, weakening his power OF resist
ance every moment.
You know 1t Is safe" said Weston IN
his soothing voice. You have the power.
You are merely borrowing the money.
You viii earn enough to pay interest on
II, ana Il Will be easy 10 avoid showing
any securities. They are elsewhere II
your uncle wants them-tin you make
enough 10 pay the money back. You
see l would not rob an orphan, Marsden.
Oh, no. / am only asking the money OF
you for old times sake. and you can pay
II back 20 Sylvia. You viii be happy
Marsden, with Sylvia's love, and I fRil
always be shut out of the sunlight Of
congenial companionship. Think Of the
difference. Marsden, between happiness
with Sylvia. and-the cold. unfeeling bars
OF cell in Sing Sing prison"
Man, Devil"
'Hush-they may come any minute, and
l must leave New York tonight. Quick
no one VIII ever knOw-do II nowt''
Marsden suddenly awoke 10 the fact
tnat he was looking into the barrel OF q
revolver leveled at his head
Take you choice" said Weston coolly.
Thoughts that burned Ike molten lava
rushed through Marsden's brain. He was
no longer master Of himself Like a
man in a dream he rose from his chair,
moved by the powerful viii OF the other
and crossed 10 the safe. InstinctIvely
Weston turned the lights low Marsdcn
moved like a man walking IN his sleep.
Dinly lie was conscious Of his lifelong
lnECcencs but the words Of Weston were
ringing IN bis ears. And he loved Sylvia
as few men ever love.
He opened the safe There lay q pile
lp lur H., T-r.a
the bank that afternoon He vaguely
wondered how Weston knew. There was
a dim recollection Of seeing a man like
Weston in the bank when he drew the
money.
He reached out his hand 10 take the
money. He started as he saw beside It
a small revolver. He picked It up with
the money.
That's right" said Weston. with a
cold laugh. Use that after I an gone.
You can't use It before. Raise IT. and I
VIII blow your brains out"
! With his right hand still holding the
revolver close 20 Marsden's head. he
reached with his left and took the pack
/ age OF bills.
This viii get me West nicely. and you
viii never hear from me again" he said.
shut the safe"
sit down IN that chair with your back
( 70 the door"
| Mechanically Marsdcn obeyed.
Don't move till I am out Of the house.
! IL You dom shoot I'm too rich now
/ 20 give up. even II I XIII you"
/ With another groan, Marsden sank into
/ the chair. Weston started toward tho
door-then stopped. He had heard a noise
/ that Marsden, IN his agony. had not
heard. The outer door had opened. Peo-
/ pie were coming IN.
There's ight. said a s!lvery voice.
/ Fred must be waiting for us"
/ Weston was perplexed. lie glanced
| around. In the library was a large
screen. Noiselessly he slid behind that.
| Marsden did not know. The realization
/ of what he had done had come upon
/ Marsden now and deprived him OF rea-
! son How could he prove that he had
/ been threatened with a revolver? How
could he prove that he had not taken the
money himself? Who would believe tha.
Weston had walked IN and then out
again with 5000?
His brain whirled. He was beside him
| self.
! A beautiful girl IN an opera cloak. with
| a smile on her lips. tiptoed 10 the library
/ door 10 surprise the lover in whom she
| had so much confidence. She stood hor-
/ ror-stricken on the threshold.
| Marsden sat with his head turned
away. with his right elbow resting on
| the table, his hand raised, and her own
| revolver pointed at his head.
! She dared not startle him. She saw
\ that he was meditating There was but
a second 70 spare,
With a fight Of a bird she sprang
| 10 his side.
| Fred" she cried, and knocked down
/ the hand that held the weapon.
! 1t exploded. There was a cry from
/ behind the screen. It fell toward them,
and the body OF Weston, stiu with his
own revolver IN his hand. but with a bull
| let from Sylvia's pistol In his heart.
| plunged across the screen 10 The floor.
| MY Cod" said Marsden, and then he
/ lost consciousness.
In Westons pocket was found the al
/ bum from which Whittaker's name had
been torn. Marsden's explanations were
! clear and convincing.
a month later he and Sylvia we're mar
/ ried, but she shudders when she recalls
/ that night and thinks what another mo-
ment OF delay IN reaching home would
have cost her.
Copyright, 1908. By Jessie SIurEan.l