Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-02-28
CHAPTER XXI.

IitootQ lHt NhAN tRph -AhoN-'fs
Il will wait until you are ready to
see me-" she read. 81 have a right to
clear myself 1t will be best to speak in
Miss Buffers presence"
"Oh, he is innocent !" cried the widow.
Julia" said Angela with tender anx-
! iety, "he is not innocent. He has come
to take advantage of your weakness. We
will admit him, and hear what he has to
say"
ORourke was shown into the room. He
was pale, but his manner was under
perfect control. He made no attempt
to approach Mrs. Spry, but, having closed
the door, bowed, and, advancing to the
center of the room, laid both hands on
the rail of chair, which he held firmly.
He looked then at Angela, and his brows
contracted ever so little as if in inquiry.
lie was playing to look as if he asked
himself what had induced her to adopt
role so extraordinary as the one she
had taken up. and his trained sense of
humbug came so to his aid that he asked
himself that question unfalteringly. Next
he looked at the widow and his glance
was full of appeal. Neither of the women
oPoAt Il NOiuf Dul AAEtlb, Will utl
fixed upon O'Rourke, reached out a hand
sideways, and took her friend by the
wrist, sliding her hand downward until
the fingers of both were inteHaced.
II have received a letter from you.
Julia" O'Rourke began, containing an
inclosure in the handwriting of n bitter
enemy of mine. political rival who is
enraged at his own want of success. l
am here to tell you that that letter con-
tains one innuendo which is based on
truth, and only one. I am indebted
to your friend, Mr.. Maskelyne. Apart
from that one truth l deny every state
ment the letter contains"
Then he paused, looking from one to
the other of his auditors. Mrs. Spry
drew her hand from her companions, and
half arose. nut Angela checked her.
Il begin to see sir. that | have made
mistake" she said. 81 fancied you
would not dare to come here | have
read the letter you speak Of" She could
90 no further.
Il supposedly returned O'Rourke
from the note which accompanied it
that you had done 50. I supposed, Also
AH@A gOu support us statements. / 90
not know how you have allowed yourself
to be persuaded of the truth of those
statements, but l declare them, on the
faith of an honest man, to be without
foundation"
Angela" cried Mrs. Spry, 81 knew
it. was sure of it. It's all mis-
take !"
~Thank you, julia :" cried the patriot;
"thsnlS YOU"
At this Angela took unexpected fire.
and rising to her feet in sudden self
Possession. faced the patriot with flushed
cheeks and gittering eyes.
Il do not rely upon much from YOU.
Mr.. ORourke, upon which might count
with safety from most men. But / will
ask you question or two, if you will be
so kind as to answer them"
Il will answer any question you may
ask me, Miss Butler" he answered. in
Ginning his head with grave courtesy.
Forgive me if l hurt you, dear" said
Angela, swiftly turning to her. friend.
You did not know, Mr.. O'Rourke. that
my friend Mrs, Spry was wealthy until
she herself told you so?"
Il knew that she was wel-to-do." re-
turned O'Rourke, "but l did not know
that she was wealthy. You will remem-
Der, Julia, that your statement took me
by surprise"
You did not suppose her fortune to
be greater than it really isl"
Il certainly did not" said O'Rourke.
lie actually smiled at this, as if the
thought amused him.
Angela rang the bell and sent for Mas
kelyne. who was in the hotel. When he
came Angelo told him Of what had occur
red, and he at once told of his conversa-
ton with O'Rourke about Mrs. Spry's
riches
ITS a lie," said O'Rourke, ERASER
and have Quarreled, and he has invent
ed this story to damage me with YOU and
with my friends"
The widow suddenly fell on her knees
and threw up her head with sbrielx an
shrek of laughter. Maskelyne raised
her, and rang the bell for assistance.
ORourke stood staring at the pair nc
much lost for the moment as if the whole
world had tumbled in ruins about b;s
ears. waiter knocked at the door and
entered.
Send a female servant here. and RIM
Tor doctor" Angela called to him ATrs
Spry's wild laughter ran through tbo
house. A chambermaid looked in at tbo
open door and ran to her assistance A
dozen people were in the corridor s+or-
ing with frightened faces. S''''
ORourke still retained a grain Of HE
customary self-government. Ha ,v.r, n'S
4 now tne corridor and out of the hotel.
ms ms caoman hailed him, and he threw him