Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-12-09
Chapter 5

<SOR n moment there was
T6T dead silence In the
rl@4n room. Harry's breath
".I caught in his throat.
~ and the old mans eye
again impaled the hap
less son. Hugh threw up his head
with an attempt ut jauntiness, but
with furtive apprehension In every
muscle, for he could not solve the look
he saw on his fathers face. and said:
'You act as IL it were cool million.
I'm no worse than II lot who have bet
ter luck than l. Suppose did draw
the five thousand. You We're going to
give me ten for II wedding present.
had to have the money then, and you
wouldn't have given 1t to me. You
know that as we'll MS do. Besides, !
was going to take it up myself. and
you would never have been the wiser.
He promised to hold 1t. It's low
trick for him to round on me like this.
I'll pay him off for 1t some time. l
don't see that it's anybody else's bust
ness but ours anyway" he continued,
with surly glance at Harry.
Harry had been staring at him, but
with vision turned curiously back
ward-a vision that seemed to see
Hugh standing ut n carpeted dais In
flower hung room. while his own voice
said out of lurid shadow, witt thon
have this man to be thy welded hus-
| band"-
"Stay, Sanderson." said the old man;
then turning to Hugh Who advanced
you money on this and promised to
hold it?'"
"Dr. Moreau."
"He profited by it?"
"He got his margin" said Hugh sui
lenly.
"How much margin did he get?"
"a thousand"
"Where is the restg' David Stires'
voice was like n whip OF steel
Hugh hesitated moment. he had
! still few hundreds In pocket. but he
, did not mention them.
~ used most of 1t. I-had few
, debts.'
"Debts Of honor. presumed"
: Hugh's sensibility quiyered at the
, fierce, grating irony of the inquiry.
"If you'd been more decent with
spending money" lie said with flare
al, rig,,I Ever s,nce i coma home
von,va irent mo str.nned va.
Z ash,med tn st;ck nm onv mora of M,
friends Ana of co,,rsa i conldn.t hor.
row from Jcssico ."
q aAsbnmadw oyc,nimed tho old m,u,
], with harsh stornress ..yon nre With
0 ont the decency Of shame, n Won wert
] capable Of feeling II Won would MOI
e mention nor name, nowwa ~
j. Hnph .thonpl,t no saw plimme
I thronob tho storn, cloud aJcss;c, wa,
Ills anchor tn ,vind,y.rd What hur
e rim womb hurt bor No womb NJ,
thronp,,i
s ",NeIl" ha said ..It's dome nnt
Z there's no good making such. n row
D abo,,t 1T. She's nv wife and shell
4 stand by me. if nobody else tions,-
i. No one Ind ever seen such a look o,
David Stires' facc;as came to it now
sudden blaze of fury md righteous
scorn that burned ii like n brand.
"You impudent blackruaru, 70,
drag nv name I'm the pntter and thel
try to trade ON nv self respect an,
Jessica's affection. You thought yo
would take ii M Yourself and l woul
be. none the wiser, And If I did fin
1t out YOU counted ON NV love for til
moor. deluded girl Won have marrie
to make.mc condone YOUR criminalit,
to periure myself to admit the sir
nature and shield YOU from the conse
quences. You imagine because yo
are my son that Won can do this thin
and all still 70 o.. as before. Do yo
suppose don't consider Jesslca? d
you think because YOU have fooled an
cheated her and me and married he
that | will give her now to a caugt
thief, n common iailbird:"
In the thoughts that were dartin
through Hugh's mind there was non
now of regret or OF pity for Jessie,
His fear was the fear of the trappe
spoiler who discerns capture and II
ST consequent penalties in the patrollin
bullseye flashed upon him. He studio
ID his father with hunted, calculatin
to eyes us the old man turned to Harr
ID sanderson.
a. "Sanderson," said David Stires ono
Or more in his even, deadly voice, Jess
NJ Gu is waiting in the room above thi
lg She will not understand. the della,
" Will you so to her? Make some e,
lie cuse-any you can think of=Etfff-'
n come"
Harry nodded and left the room
Of shutting the door carefully benin
Is him, CARRYING with him the GOVERN,
e, helpless look with which Hugh sa,
d. himself left alone with his implacab
IL Judge What to say to her? How |
ST say 1t. He mounted the stair us IL
=, PUCK swung from ms shoulders q
~ i pauseu hlol,en. ~ Tue aoot, uie
" A1 n'.n .a,leu .ne hiiop ''nu ,, ei' .s
.neie ~ .ie liliuule y, .ne Due nun
~ .oom ~ her Weuu,ns uless' WIN -n'
-.