Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-14

OuHule OF paper, hung IL at the man
before her
They saw, to their amazement, that
it was bunch of crisp banknotes.
She had cast it at his feet in open de-
flance
Perhaps the money was the price
of her silence-money he had sent to
her or to her father to purchase Sc
crecy!
The old man gave a glance at the
notes crushed into bundle and lying
upon the carpet, and then. turning to
her, snapped his bony finger and
thumb in defiance, and laughed in her
face-a grim, evil laugh, which Char
lie knew from experience meant re-
taliation and bitter vengeance.
CHAPTER xLvIII.
Not Counting the Cost.
The girl turned to leave, but the old
man placed himself between her and
the door.
She stamped her little foot angrily
In command to be allowed to pass.
He saw her determination, and hest
tated. Then he seemed to commence
to argue, to place before her the prob
able result of her action in casting
aside the money, but she would hear
nothing. Her mind seemed fully
made up. She had spoken her last
word, and wished to leave him.
He saw in her decision an attitude
antagonistic to himself He was in
deadly peril. Though his wealth could
command all that was good and all
that was bad, though it placed him
| q
him immune from much, yet 1t could
not ensure her good will
Both Max and Charlie realized
plainly that Maud was in possession
of some great secret, and that she
man who had believed that his money
could purchase anything had discov-
cred, to his dismay, that 1t could not
seal her lips. He saw himself facing
an imminent peril, and was undecided
how to act.
He argued. But she would not lis
ten. He appealed. But she only
smiled and shook her head.
Her mind was made up. She had
decided to refuse the money. He
picked it from the floor and handed
it to her again, but she would not
take it in her hand.
Then he crossed to his writing
table, took out his check book and
scrubbed check-one for large
amount in all probability. Tearing it
from itS counterfoil he gave it to her.
| But with an expression of defiance
she torA it into four and cast 1t upon
the floo1 with gesture of disgust.
And in Triumph, before he could pre-
vent her, she opened the door, and
disappeared from the room.
"Wet must follow her!" whispered
Charlie eagerly.
"But, my dear fellow, we can't!
We're locked I'M"
Rolfe, realising the truth that they
were prevented from overtaking his
we'll beloved, for whom they had been
so long in active search, and that she
must again slip from them into OBJ
livfon, gave vent to forcible express
sion Of despair.
Lets remain here urged Max.
I'VE may learn something else"
"The old man will go to bed" was
Charles response. "And we will fol-
low and explore above"
"How?" asked Rolfe.
That remains to be seen. We
must, in this case, act discreetly, and
trust to luck.
But Maud? l must see her"
That's impossible at present. You
have seen her-that's enough for to-
night. Tomorrow we may discover
something further-or even tonight"
Both men, scarce daring to breathe,
were watching old Sam.
After the girl had gone, he placed
his hand upon his heart, and, with
face white and haggard, he sank into
his writing chair. He had collapsed
| as though he had received a sudden
blow.
Levi entered hurriedly a few mo-
ments later, and, finding his master
leaning forward upon his table mutter-
Ing to himself, tried to rouse him.
glance at his face showed that he
had collapsed Levi therefore rushed
across the room, poured out some
brandy from the tantalus, and com.
PEELED the old man to swallow it. This,
after a few moments, revived him.
The faithful servant, however, stood
by in wonderment. He seemed puz
zled as to what had occurred.
But the fragments of the torn
check scattered upon the carpet show
ed defiance on the part of the visitor
whom he had just shown out into the
night
Levi stopped as far as his rheuma.
tism would allow, and slowly, very
slowly, gathered up the torn pieces of
paper and placed them in the basket
his eyes the whole time upon his mas.
ter.
Strengthening himself again, he
spoke, making inquiry as to what had
occurred. But his master, with a
wave of his hand commanded his sill
ence. Then, sinking back in his
chair, he remained, staring straight
before him like man in a dream. He
seemed peering into the future-and
he saw only exposure and ruin.
Hands and teeth were clenched, for
he realised that he had taken a false
STEP He had misjudged his own pow
er and influence He had believed
that a good and truthful woman could
be purchased, as he might purchase
any other thing or chattel.
| She had hic cold into hi. f,,o