The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-05-08

80 = "0HS OAsJ q UoUy ~ 0TMS WuCuEAt
occurred. My mother, who survived
him by ten years, told me about lit
She was always rather bitter about
John Sfsterson. dare say. it wasshe.
cause she resented his success-wlie
father was not there to share IT.
As Norman went on Christabel's
face took on more and more
thoughtful aspect: her brightness and
gaiety grew overcast. 1t was curious
that Norman's father had been Sir
Johns unfortunate partner-the man
who was now the subject of the fright.
full delusion that nightly obsessed that
injured brain. She could even hear
Sir John saying, Down, down, fifty
feet" 1t certainly was strange!
my mother was wont to declare, y
continued Norman, but perhaps l
am only boring you, Miss Joyce. and
it is undoubtedly very old story,
Let's talk of something else"
No; please go on replied Christa.
bel; Il am deeply Interested"
Norman smiled assent. discerning a
good sign for him in her interest in
his father, and little suspecting that
she had double interest in what he
was saying.
We'll" he said. "my mother always
declared that there was something
wrong about Sisterson's wealth. Per.
haps it was that she grudged him his
success-a human touch of c1fvy and
jealousy which would not be surpris.
ing in her circumstances; but she was
possessed Of a very singular idea
suspicion would be the better word.
1t seems that my father was of an in
ventive turn of mind, and was forever
trying to find out Or make things
there are men like that-and just a
few days before he was killed lie had
told her that after working ON it for
two years he had lighted on wonder
full thing-a great discovery, but he
did not tell her what it was, which
was most unlucky for us. as the secret
died with him: so far as we know"
Yes, most unlucky." said Christa-
bel In Ter ears was the sound of Sir
Johns voice addressing the unseen
man. 1T has taken YOU two years of
experiment, Ton? WHAT'S that, now
you've got it? Nothing-just nothing s
1T ALL" Christabel spoke SLOWLY in a
Eesitating tone. very different from
that usual TO her, as she added, ques-
tioninely, "The secret died with him p
so far as was known" answered
Norman. MY mothers idea, howev-
hot CT
my fathers discovery, and that it had
something to do with what was after
ward known as 'Sisterson's cement
the stuff out of which Sir John has
made his gigantic pile. 1t was an alb
surd idea, no doubt" continued Nor.
man, with a smile, but mother be-
lieved in it thoroughly. She even
went so far as to declare that Sister
sons cement should have been
Forbes cement, and that Sisterson
had robbed her and me-
"Yes?" queried Christabel. excited
ly. Was there any proof of that??''
What was this Norman was saying?
What did it Enthusiastically suggest
when taken in connection with Sir
Johns deluSlOn?
Not a particle of proof" replied
Norman. yet it was striking CO.
incidence that almost Immediately af-
ter my fathers death 'Sisterson's &C.
ment' was put Oh the market; it was
soon seen to be superior to other &C.
men,s, and for years it has been
used far more than any other. But
my mother was so convinced that
father had found out the materials. or
the process, or whatever it is, that
makes Sisterson's cement better than
the rest, that she actually went to
John Sisterson and as good as accused
him of having stolen it from the
dead
And what did Sir John say" asked
Christabel, eagerly.
"Sisterson told my mother that she
was mistaken, that the discovery was
entirely his own, and that father had
nothing to do with it. Mother would
not and did not believe him, and af
firmed to her dying day that Sister
son was thief
Ito Be Continued.)