The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-09-24
I | he Man
y From
! brodIley;S
\ By GEORGE BARR
y M'CUTCHEON
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead
II q Co.
CHAPTER X.
TIE SLOUGH OF TRANQUILITY,

E~~1HREE months stole by with tan
talizing slowness. The autumn
4 passed on into winter without
49, change OF expression in the
benign face of nature. Christmas day
was as hot as if it had come in mid
summer; the natives were as naked,
the trees as fully clad. The six months
We're passing away in spite Of them
selves. Ten weeks were left before
the worn but determined heirs could
cast off their bonds and rush away to
other climes. 1t mattered little whether
they went away rich or poor They
were to go! Go! That was the rich
est thing the future held out to them.
True, they rode and played and swan
and romped without restraint, but be-
meath all of their abandon there lurked
the ever present pathos of the Jail, the
asylum, the detention ward.
Not until the end of January was
there a sign of revolt against the ever
growing, insidious condition Of melan-
choly. As they turned into the last
third of their exile they found heart
to rejoice in the thought that release
was coming nearer and nearer. The
end of March-eight weeks off. Soon
there would be but seven weeks, then
six!
And all this time the islanders toiled
as they had toiled for years. They
reckoned in years, while the strangers
cast up times account in weeks and
dow tGo
brown men worked in the mines piling
gems into the vaults with a resolute-
ness that never faltered
From London came disquieting news
for all sides to the controversy. The
struggle promised to be drawn out for
years, perhaps. The lonely legatees,
marooned in the far south sea, began
to realize that even after they had
spent their six months Of probation
they would still have months, even
years, of waiting before they could
touch the fortune they laid claim to-
The islanders also were vaguely awake
to the fact that everything might be
tied up for years despite the provi-
sions of the will. A restless, stubborn
feeling Of alarm spread among Them
This feeling gradually developed itself
into bitter resentment. Hatred for the
people who We're causing this delay
was growing deeper and fercer
Their counselor. the complacent enc.
my. held himself aloof from the men
and women that his charges were
fighting. He met the two lawyers
often, but nothing passed between
them that could have been regarded as
the slightest breach Of trust. He
lived like rajah in his shady bunga-
low. surrounded by the luxuries of one
to whom all things are brought indi-
visible. If he had any longing for the
society of women of his own race and
kind. he carefully concealed it. His
Indifference to the subtle though un-
mistakable appeals of the two gentle
women in the chateau was irritating
in the extreme. When he deliberately,
though politely, declined their invita-
ton to tea one afternoon their humilia-
ton knew no bounds.
Lady Deppingham and Mrs. Browne
should not be misunderstood by the
reader. They loved their husbands
I am quite sure of that-but they were
tired Of seeing no one else, tired of
talking to no one else. Moreover, in
support of this one sided assertion,
they experienced from time to time
the most melancholy attacks of jeal-
ousy. II Mrs. Browne in plain despair
went OFF for a days ride with Lord
Deppingham, that gentleman's wife
was sick with jealousy. If Lady Ag-
mes strolled in the moonlit gardens
with Mr.. Browne. the former Miss
Eate of Boston could scarcely control
her emotions They shed many tears
of anguish over the faithlessness of
husbands, tears of hatred over the
viciousness of temptresses. Their quar-
rels were fierce. their upbraidings char
acteristic, but in the end they cried
and kissed and made up"
They did not know, Of course, that
the willy Britt, despite his own depres-
sion, was all the while accommodating
the r.oat astounding lot CO evidence to
show that decided streak Of insanity
existed III the two heirs.
IF they could only be married in
some way" was BIRTHS private lament
to Saunders from time to time when
despair overcame confidence.
1--WE got a ripping idea" Saunders
said one day.
Lets have it. You've always got
'em. Why not divide with me?"
Cant Go it just yet. I've been look
ing up little matter. I'll spring it
soon"
''uow long have you been working
on the ideaf"
Nearly four months" said Saun-
ders. yawning.
Cad. this climate is eneryatins!''
was Britts caust.c comment.
GcunGers vas heels over head in love