The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-12

you did. Yes. send for the police. Your brother, the doctor, will thank you. It Is only six or seven years ago, after all. The same police magistrate IS still at East Dene, from whom I asked advice-the mayor and his sec retary are still alive. Though they have knighted him, the Town Clerk will remember me. Even the Engineer Johnemann, I have reason to believe, will not deny me-"
 The harsh rubicund face-genera1ly Peterhead granite, had turned into granite of Aberdeen. MT. Romer was livid to the lips.
 He pointed to Rose and Philip Cal mont.
 Miss Nunsby is my friend brought her, certainly. As to the gentleman, l know nothing of him. or he of mey'
 So fierce was the Romer blood when aroused that Vida seemed to take a real pleasure in trampling on hearts even PhiPs. Particularly PhiFs, in- deed.
 Well, it does not natter retorted the other Romer. since they are here they must take the consequences"
 At this exceedingly opportune mo- ment Gregson, calm and deferential as ever, announced MT. Kahn" At once the tempest broke forth.
 
 suddenly among the sheafs of paper, send up the servants, the kitchen maids. the stable boys. Send up the gamekeepers. Rouse the nightshift, and have up the village scavengersl My family matters are not widely enough known. You have chosen well, young woman. But all the better. I know how to protect myself. Thank heaven, there is a law against inn posters in this landr'
 He turned upon MT. Kahn, who, with keen, foxy eyes and suave cum ming of expression, seemed to under stand the whole scene as if he. too, had been listening at the door. Yet he was entirely in the dark. He was a clever fellow, this Serb. He had understood, weighed proba bilites, oriented his pol icy decided on his course of action all the while standing serene and grave as ever, waiting for his master to address him.
 "Who Is this woman, Kahn?" de- manded the old man fiercely. He went up1to James Kahn as if to take him by the collar and shake the truth out of him. Have you lied to me2 Heav- ems, if you have-better for you that you had gone down with the Good In- tent! Is it true what she says? Speak out, man."
 Entirely master of himself (which goes a long way toward being equally master of others), James Kahn replied, T do not know if the, presentation has already been made. But if not, permit me to have the great pleasure of 1n- troducing you two-Mr. Romer. your only daughteri Miss Vida Romer, your father"
 And he stood back little, smiling and rubbing his hands as if entirely satisfied with himself. He knew that his life hung on a hair. He saw Jacob Romers hand go towards the loaded revolver in the drawer of the desk. He stood smiling, bold swift knave. It was almost as If he had been at home in Servial He liked 1t so--to play with life and death as men play with cards and counters. His own or another's, what matter!
 MT. Jacob Romer's hand moved down to the broad solid hilt of the navy re- volver. His fingers closed upon It. Some color had come back to his face and his eyes were fixed upon those or James Kahn. The Serb did not move. He stood still smiling gently, his head thrown back with a certain bravura of expression which was as distant as possible from bravado.
 You lied to me, sirl" said Jacob Ro- mer, calmly "adjusting" his victim Gas they say in the abbatoirs of great cities)
 q lied. indeed" said James Kahn, but 1t was for your good. My silence of five years proves 1t. Have l not watched over your daughter? At that time would you have welcomed her? Then you had projects with which she would have interfered. Now it is diff ferent. You need companion. l give you a daughter"
 '.You lied to me-you, whom I trust Ia ID a1ara " n now I am going to shoot you like dog!"
 DO itr said Jalnes Kahn, and he folded his arms.
 Then the other Romer stepped in front of the levelled tube, between James Kahn and his angry master.
 "Father," she said, "give that to me!
 There was an instant battle-easie and falcon, peregrine and sparhawK. Vida styetched out his hand. She walked towards MT. Romer.
 "Out of the way-he has lied to me! cried the fierce owner of the Incubus properties.
 And pray, did yoo never lie?'. de- inanded his daughter, to my motnei, whom you promised to love, honor aru protect? You sent her to the pocr side of the East Dene Asylum. She would have died there but TOT me Now give me the pistol
 Thus defied, Mr. Romer stood frreso- lute. But the next moment the re- volver was in Vida's hand. and she hau moved aside, leaving master ana man face to face. 44,. t.
 'Now," she said, t"you can settle 1t between youl
 And she slipped the loaded weapon into the pocket of her dress ana turned towards the door. . ,.,
 "Good-bye, father" she said. dld not come to ask anything from you. Only I had to tell you-lest thefe should be misunderstandings. Tomor row I will take my proper name. But because I know only two men who nave been true fathers to me, l will be their daughter still in all acection. Not yours now-no. nor ever yours, save in name. I will go to your pitman. DICK F-innan. and to Billy Bryan, the light houseman l will accept my liveiihood from tn em-not from you!
 And she went down the stairs of Gorm Castle, lowing in stately fash ion to Gregson, whom, curiously enough, they encountered on the land ing with . tray in his hand.
 (Ta he coutiuuedl