Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-13

Tankerlane, land make up your mind
what you are going to do"
80 you forced Laura to marry
you,' continued Shil coldly. You
persuaded her to do so by threaten
ing to tell all you knew about Ben
Hollands death. / am glad to know
this, very glad to know that she has
always been true to me, and more
faithful in her sacrifice than if she
had married me. l am glad to know
this, and yet, when | think Of what
she has suffered-by Heaven, Tank
erlane, if you ever come into my
hands"
"That'll do" interrupted Tanker
lane, You are in my hands now. |
will give you five minutes to decide.
At the end of that time, shall either
go to Laura, or else to the. police
well, we will spend the five min
utes in pleasant conversation" Shil
replied. Wont you sit DOWN."
mo, thank you. Do l understand
that you refuse to tell me where Laura
is?''
81 will decide at the end of the
five minutes you have graciously al
lowed me-" Shil answered. ''In the
meantime, would like to point one or
two thing out to you. in the first
place, Leonore told me that she had
bound your by solemn oath never
to speak of what you saw in the
Round Plantation. don't know what
you received in exchange for this
valuable promise. but I've no doubt
she paid heavily for it,"
at cost her nothing" Tankerlane
said with smile, land my promise
we'll, that cost me nothing either.
Under ordinary circumstances, |
should have kept it. But when a
mans wife it dying, and he is kept
from her side--come Shil. don't be a
fool, am not asking more than one
man should ask another. She is my
wife, and I love her dearly. I am
ready to sacrifice my honour for the
sight of her."
II am aware Of that" Shil answer
ed quietly, land it Is quite clear that
your oaths and promises are of no
value Therefore what inducement
have to pay you anything for them?'
ooh, will swear to you by all
hold most sacred--'
THANK you," Shil interrupted curt
", "you have doubtless done that al
ready to Leonore, and yet you are
quite prepared to break your oath.
But there Is another thing I should
like to point out to you, Tankerlane,
and it is more likely to appeal to you
| than any talk about honour. Suppos'
| ing you do tell the police about what
you saw in the wood. How will you
explain your two years silence? How
will you give them good reason for
| not interfering at the time? Do you
| think your evidence will be Of any
value?"
| 81 will risk that" Tankerlane re-
piled. Laura and Miss Jackson have
both paid me to be silent. All that
will count in my favour. And there is
Henry Burton"
"He will not speak"
mo, but I shall prove that he has
been paid to DE silent?"
"And you are prepared to go into
court and lay the whole story before
the public?"
Il shall certainly do So
"Well, I'm sorry for you," Shil re
Piled. Il shouldn't wonder If the
public don't try to lynch you, and it,
quite certain that you'll have to leave
the country, for no decent man O.
woman Will ever speak to you again.
"Tll take my chance of that,
Tankerlane said grimly. well, tn
five minutes are up, Shil, and wan
| ,bo+ NO n do ~
II have make up my mind SOM
time ago." Shil replied. "but l wish
ed to have little chat with you. l ar
solutely refuse to tell you where you
wife is
Think what you are doing erie
Tankerlane, "think of the conse
quences."
81 am not afraid of you,' Shil al
swered quietly. 81 don't think you ca
do anything. But even If were afrai
of YOU, and even If l were absolutel
at your mercy, I should anwser 20
: lust the same. The least l can do fo
the woman, who sacrificed her Who'll
life for me, is to make some sacritic
in return. The sight of you woul
kill her, and I have made up my min
that she shall not see you
81 implore you" cried Tankerlan
| "for Heavens sake let me see her.
| do not threaten; I ask pity of you.
; she should die-oh, If she should die!
I The mans face was distorted wit
) agony, and looked hideous in the fu
glare of the electric light. 1t we
| easy to see that he loved his wife wit
. all his heart and soul. But John Sh
< had not pity for him.
"Your entreaties are as useless
i. your threats, Tankerlane,' he reptile
coldly. 81 am sorry for you, but yc
have brought this on yourself. My oW
7 duty Is clear, and / shall do it,
q Tankerlane glared at him for m
i ment in horror. and then fury swel
Z all other emotions from his heart.
| You FOOL he said in harsh voic
r do you think cannot find out whe
Laura is hiding herself, l have on
!. to keep an eye on you. If she is dyi1
you will go to see her. And shall {
to see her too. And when | ha'
d found her-well, then l will let "
l see whether | am afraid to tell all tn
ol,