The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-02-06
CHAPTER v.--(continued.)

-
to form a matrimonial alliance with
the young lady. Upon making inquir
les / found that Mr.. Brent was an ap'
%parently penurious old man living In
a cottage"
"yVhy do you repeat all this?"
Merely to show you that | no
harm to Miss Brent. | have since dis
covered that her father is able to
give a tremendous sum to be the pos
SCISSOR of a single diamond, and ]
therefore argue that one but a very
wealthy man would think OF indulging
such a within. Now, I am going to
marry Mary Brent, and you are going
to assist me-"
MARY Brent is already engaged to
Godfrey West, and I will go no farther
In this matter"
Winton rose from his seat and
crossed to her side.
Now listen to me, Kate Pilrig. I
am sorry to have to use the old name,
but I want you to understand that you
have got to do as you are told. have
no wish to remind you of days that
are past, when the beautiful Miss Pill
rig was common food for idle gossip,
nor yet to recall the scene at the Old
Bailey, where"
"Ahl You coward, Jasper Garlick,
when you know that l was only the In
nocent tool of yourself and your con-
federates. That horror is too wildly
impressed on my mind for me ever to
| foruat a. 4 laynA unt, In fhncn do NQ
and for the sake of that love you re-
lied upon my silence. l did not betray
you and | suffered the penalty. How
have you repaid me? When I was
again a free woman / set to work to
retrieve the past. ! built up a good
business and was prosperous and hap
by, and then you found me out. What
has my life been since? Blackmailed,
robbed, ~terrorized, and all for what?"
Because, my dear, you set such
value upon the fair name of Miss
Dauncey that you dare not run the
risk of having it associated with Miss
Pilrig. You are not strong enough
Kate; il would kill you to let the no
bility and gentry know that their
l uduBHtClo nave DCCh CuuCdtCu ny du
accomplished swindler. Your school
would be ruined, and you would be
bounded out of England"
why should / not denounce you as
Jasper Garlick?"
who would believe you, my dear
Kate? Who is there to associate Mon
tagu Winton, the future Lord Lore
muir. with the mysterious Jasper Gar.
lick?"
Joe Drawn and his daughter Au-
drey." AS Kate Dauncey rose and
faced him Winton recoiled with a
hoarse exclamation.
What"
"Ah! That surprises you. does it,"
How do you know Drawn? Where
have you met him?"
II knew him long before I yer fell
into your snares. I knew him in days
that were bright and happy, when Joe
Drawn had a heart full of honest love
for me. After long years l have met
him again, just the same simple, true
man that he ever was; and to talk
with some one who only knew me in
my happy days vas a draught of joy
ous nfe."
II see. And you are contemplating
the possibility Of materializing the
honest love OF Joe Drawn into the
substantially Of a happy marriage?"
mo, no; that can never be. | would
never marry a la unless he knew of
my misfortune and l would rather
die than lose the respect OF my old
friend"
"How did he come to speak OF me
of Jasper Garlick ?"
HE told me the story of his daugh-
ter Audrey and the Empire Dream.
He is spending his life in trying to
find you, and when he does"
when he does, Kate Pilrig. 1t will
be a bad day for you; 10 | warn you
that II you value the respect Of Joe
Drawn you will keep silent about me,
for l will have no mercy on you. DO
you understand"
You never did have any; you have
used my dread OF exposure without
scruple, you have taken my money
until l am on the verge Of bankruptcy.
Why should l go on?"
"There is no need to; come now. my
leaf Kate, and be reasonable. I am
giving you an opportunity OF getting
rid of me forever"
what do you meant" :.
Garry out the directions I have
given you. and when / am married 10
Mary Brent l will trouble you no
o Come Kate, 1t Is q small thing
l am asking you"
II have already told Mary Brent that
that Godfrey West robbed her father
o. the Empire Dream and that he Is
a fugitive flying from justice. The
poor girl believes me. and IL ready to
go after him to beg him to make
reparation. Intend to undo that lie.'
But II II is truef Godfrey West
and Joe Drawn are known to have
been In Brent's cottage at the time o.
the robbery. What is more natura
than that Drawn, having sold the dia
mond, should proceed to forcibly re