The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-28
XXI.
The Dagger For George.

AS he spoke George Laxon lounged
carelessly forward; it was too dark to
see mis- face, but Dorothy guessed we'll
that there was a look of triumph on
it. o
$50 this is how you keep your oath,
it it, George Laxon?" she began in a
whisper that vas hoarse from fatigue
and agitation. "This is your promise
to go to Australia and let the secret
of my past be buried? You wiring
my money from me and think that I
shall submit; but you are mistaken"
she added, fiercely. "a bargain is a
bargain, and as you have broken your
share, so will I break mine!"
Laxon took the cigar from his lips,
and shook off the ash deliberately.
Softly, Lady Derriman," he said in
smooth tones; 1--WE amt come to talk
in about breakin' bargains just yet.
I've got something more to say to you
what'll put a different light on things,
I dare say"
Dorothy passed her delicate lace
edged handkerchief owe her cold
lips; there was a sinister touch in his
manner and in his words.
What does all this mean?" asked
Dorothy, in the same hard, dry fash
ion; her hands, burning as with fever,
were clinched tightly together. She
shivered every now and then from the
violence of the tempest that ragged
in her heart. Come to the point at
once!" "
"Very well, then, I will" Laxon
flung his cigar away, and folded his
arms across his breast. "!The point
O. the matter is just this, Dolly; I've
a mind to be somebody, and you've
got to make me that somebody!
Money don't give me all I want. I
look forrard to the day when I shall
be at 'ome in the same place as you
is now; as I should have been if I'd
been yer husband. You've got a home
ere, and many others besides; the
earl don't want your things. There's
Knebwell; give it to me, and our bar
gains struck"
Dorothy made no answer
Laxon waited for an instant, then
his eagerness went; he became saw
Iage. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -.
Come, give me yer answer. I tell
you you'll eve live in Knebwell
Hall again. You don't want to be
haunted-do yer? Haunted by your
fathers ghost-the man as you pois-
oned!"
Dorothy gave a fearful start, and
her hands pressed closer to her heart
and seemed to gather purpose and
strength from the contact.
LaXon moved nearer and nearer.
Eyes, poisoned" he went on. "1t
might ave been a mistake-oh, of
course!-but then, you see, there was
such a good reason. Yer father had
just cut yer off; he was goin' to leave
every penny to that young girl, yer
cousin. All! yer little thought I was
SO near-but I was. I hid just out
side the winder, and I heard every
word. The old man wasn't very nice
was he? And he hit hard. I see
your face change as he spoke, and
then, as he got bad and seemed like
faintin', l see you pour out that lau-
danum and give it to him. Now,
perhaps, you'll lgo to your husband
and tell him what yer area muir
deresS an "a"
Dorothy gave a choking exclama-
tion-her right hand left her breast.
She struck at him suddenly and 7io-
lently, rage and passion lending her
strength, and LaXon, with one sharp
cry, staggered back and stumbled to
the ground in a heap.
1t was the work of a moment.
Dorothy stood motionless, hearing
nothing but her heart beat with those
horrible thuds in her ears. Then her
fingers Enclosed, and the dagger
Roger Leicester had given her
dropped on the grass and weeds at
her feet.