The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-09-25
THEIR / TWO STORIES

completely absorbed 10 their occupa-
tion were they on there I'm the library
that even mine host appeared obliy-
ious Of the important fact that the
portals or bis mansion were about 10
be thrown open - receive the gcsss-
who had been bldden to dine &C Haw-
thorne that evening.
''Of course you viii understand II all
much better when you have seen her,"
said Nelson. "In relating the story TO
you in advance I do not feel that |
have betrayed her confidence, since
you are so entirely out OF our little
world"
Here Nelson looked at his watch.
1--WE have a little time. must tell
you the rest. The story" he said.
'was written at desk literally heap
ed with evidences OF her hopeless pen
ury, for the mornings mail had
brought demands for immediate pay
ment from more points than a COM
pass could possibly indicate. or course
this environment was responsible for
her very desperate thoughts. but she
found herself regretting for the first
dine tho loss OF an opportunity for
averting all this financial disaster. an
opportunity then half a dozen years
beyond recall"
He fairly shuddered at the thought.
'You see. Jack. cannot bear to
think even OF her miraculous escape
from that temptation.
"The passionate outburst of feeling
found expression In her pen, and she
wrote her own story-told how man
who was a great power In his commu-
nifty, who had position, wealth, infiu-
ence and, above all. fascination ana
magnetism that made him difficult to
resist, had offered them all TO her. He
had been married many years and was
about 10 sail for Europe with his fam
ny.
"His importunings continued up to
the very night before sailing. and while
his family we're actually on board the
steamer he was 100 miles away risking
everything for one moment more with
which 20 use his powers OF eloquence
10 persuade her 20 Join her fate to his.
He would have cast everything he pos
sessed 10 the winds, have dishonored
his family, sacrificed his professional
standing. n Barbara had not been an
impregnabie rock OF virtue.
cit took a few years only to exhaust
the slender resources which her father
had left 20 bis widow and daughter.
Financial troubles had really caused
his death. And 90 one day after look
Ing at her mothers pitifui condition
I'll and comfortless and harassed by
the knowledge OF their penniless state
--she betook herself TO the man who
had proffered her more than the half
Of his kingdom.
sAlone she would never have APP
pealed 20 him. For her mothers sake
she had no choice.
'Tt viii seem incredible 10 you.
know. that any man could resist such
an appeal. but most OF all the one
whose fate had been In her hands but
q few brief years before. he said In
very digniBed style something about
his life work
Jack. there may be demons. but I
think that mans revenge fitted him
for the lowest depths Of hades. don't
your
-oh, must tell you that the story
was a success at once-that Is. It was
accepted by the managing editor OF q
Newspaper. ordered into print and.
when measured by the yardstick in
the cashiers department duly paid
for with strict regard 10 the quantity
under consideration. That was not a
great amount. But one day she was
Informed that a check for $4,000 bad
been sent to the Office OF the newspa-
per for the writer OF that story"
Happy the man who had the privi-
lege of sending that money to Bar
bara Floyd" moaned Jack Speiser.
Nelson looked up. little startled at
the interruption. "Oh. yes. did tell
you her name. did I notT Well. when
she asked my advice about accepting
it we decided 20 take IL as a loan.
happened TO be making successful
venture for myself at the time. and
her $4,000 was easily increased ten
fold.
Then the loan. as we called II. was
returned TO her benefactor."
The curtain was pushed aside. and a
vision appeared there which might
have turned many heads besides the
very level one that had been placed on
Henry Nelson's stalwart shoulders.
IL was much too dark In the room for
Barbara. coming as she did out OF the
stronger light. to distinguish the fea-
lures Of either OF the men, so she
merely said In her own sweet way
that she was intrudlng with message
from Mrs Nelson. who begged Mr..
Nelson 20 join them Immediately IN
the drawing room.
The vision. or something unaccount-
able. evidently had turned the head Of
the celebrated DIR. Speiser. Nelson
had not dreamed that be would be like
a deaths head at their feast. such
a joyous occasion. too" he unused.
'the announcement OF the 'betrothai OF
our beloved Barbara 20 the man of her
choice. that lucky Lewis, who, OF