The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1909-12-10
CHAPTER IU.--Continued.

Err Nl.-Continued
U~cst0pUed, cying C~arringtOn's sfupe-
faction. The son gnawcd his lips inn
uotcntly.
Il was Il master, after a fashion,,
resumed the old man, satisfied with
his dor0Uomont. II committed a
G01el splendid burglarios. | never left
a trail b hind. The police sought for
me-. but did not know me either by
name or by SIGHT. This was the sword
ny son kept over my neck. The Silght-
est rebellion, and he threatened to eX-
pose me. Oh, | know the boy well
enough; he would have done it in
those days. Once e~Xtradited to Eng
land, 80 years ago, no one would have
connected our names. Yet he was
afraid Of me he wasn't sure that at
any time the old desire would spring
up renewed. | robbed to crafty my
craving for excitement rather than to
fill my purse. | made al unhappy
marriage; something Kate nor Norah
shall do while | live. Henry was
clever. He made me an allowance of
two hundred a month. And how do
you suppose he arranged the pay
ment? On The first day of the month
he placed the cash in a safe in the
house and changed the combination.
If I got the money without being
caught it was mine; otherwise l went
hungry. Ingenious idea, wasn't it?
For l had all the excitement and none
of the peril of a real burglary. Henry
forgot yesterday that it was the first
of the month"
The millionaire found it impossible
to remain seated. He rose and paced
the floor, his brows knit, his hands
cleuched. He was at bay. Darlington
felt as if he were in the midst of some
mad dream.
sometimes I succeeded in opening
the safe; and sometimes, when luck
went against m for two or three
months, Norah tipped me the combina-
ton. She dared not do it too often. So
the months went on. Once a month l
was permitted to visit my grandchil-
dren. My son grew richer and richer;
for myself, l remained in the valley of
humiliation. | had no nance l had
never met any of my sons friends; he
took good care that I did not; SO they
were in total darkness as to my exis-
tence. But the ball and chain were
knocked off last night. Your papers
are, after all, only an incident. Caliban
r~eyolts. Mr.. Darlington, my son! Oh,
| am proud of him. l believed the
genius for robbery was mine. l am a
veritable tyro beside Henry. Half a
dozen millions from the pockets of the
Door at one fell swoop! Where's your
Robin Hood and his ilk? But it isn't
called robbery; it is called high IL
nance"
He applied a match to his dead
cigar and thoughtfully eyed his son
And there is a good joke on me
weaving in and out of all this. l reg
ularly invested half my allowance II
buying shares in my sons company, t(
insure my old age. 1t Jared me wher
read the truth last night. hate tt
be outwitted. Henry, sit down; yC'
make me nervous"
We'll, what are you going to O
asked the son. AS he faced his ia
ther there was something lion-like ii
his expression.
"Sit down, my son, and I will tel
you" answered the old man, quietly
He knew that his son vas a fighter
and that to win he would have t.
strike quick and hard.
Cavenaugh flung himself into hi
chair. At that moment he did no
know which he hated the most, hi
father or Darlington.
First, you will write out tina
check for fifty thousand"
"Blackmail!"
Nothing of the sort. For 20 year
you have kept your heel on my necl
could do nothing; opportunitie
came and I dared not grasp them; m
genuine ability was allowed to rus