The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-02-07
CHAPTER V.-(Continued.)

firSt saw the charming Miss Brent at
your excellent school | Immediately
came to the conclusion that, providing
the p%aternal handbook was sufficient
ly heavy, it would be highly desirable
to form a matrimonial alliance with
the young lady. Upon making inquir-
les l found that Mr.. Brent was an APP
parently penurious old man living in
a cottage"
why do you repeat all this?'
Merely to show you that mean no
harm to Miss Brent. l have since dis
covered that her father is able to
give a tremendous sum to be the pos
J SCISSOR Of a single diamond, and l
+ therefore argue that none but a very
wealthy man would think of indulging
such a whim. Now, l am going to
marry Mary Brent, and you are going
to assist me-"
Mary Brent is already engaged to
Godfrey West, and l 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. l have
no wish to remind you of days that
are past, when the beautiful Miss Pill
rig was commo food for idle gossip,
nor yet to recall the scene at the Old
Bailey, where
"Ah! 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
forget it. l loved you in those days,
and for the sake of that love you re-
lied upon my silence. / did not betray
you and | suffered the penalty. How
have you repaid me-? When I was
again a free woman I set to work to
retrieve the past. l built up a good
business and was prosperous and hap
Ply. 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: it would kill you to let the no.
bility and gentry know that their
daughters have been educated by an
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 ros 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?"
Il knew him long before l ever 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 was a draught of joy
Jul life."
II see. And you are contemplating
the possibility of materializing the
honest love OF Joe Drawn into the
substantially Of a happy m~arriage?"
mo, NO; that can W. be. I would
never marry q man unless he knew Of
my misfortunes: and l would rather
die than lose the respect of my old
friend"
'1How 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 q bad day for vow; so I warn you
that II you value the respect Of Joe
Drawn you will keep silent about me,
for I 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 I am on the verge of bankruptcy.
Why should l go on?'
There is no need to; come now. my
dear Kate. and be reasonable. l am
giving you an opportunity Of getting
rid ~ ma f~nrovor
What do you mean?"
Garry out the directions I have
given you. and when l am married to
Mary Brent l will trouble you no
more. Come Kate, It 10 . small thing
am asking you"
II have already told Mary Brent that
that Godfrey West robbed her father
Of the Empire Dream and that he is
q fugitive flying from justice. The
poor girl believes me. and IL ready to
go after him to beg him to make
reparation. l intend to undo that lie."
But II It is true? Godfrey West
and Joe Drawn are known to have
been in Brent's cottage at the time Of
the robbery. What Is more natural
than fhot pr0Wn hov,tr0 anId fhn do.