The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-06-25

meant to him. She had given her
promise, and she did not mean that
anything In the world should make
her revoke it. That promise was sacred
to her. just as If 1t had been spoken
before a clergyman.
In his heart Pike knew he would
have to give I'm IL he was to make her
happy, and yet he knew that In max
ing her temporarily happy he would
be making her eternally miserable. If
he could have the strength to hold
out against her and refuse to sanction
aristocrats would never accept her
without the cash. and that by the
terms of John Simpsons will could
never be theirs without his consent.
OF his own hopes he could see but
the faintest glimmering. He had ir-
retrievably offended the girl, and she
would hate him all her life for 1t, he
feared. His entrance into her new
phase of life had been unfortunate.
His continuance in it was little else
than ain insult, according to her way
Of thinking. And Jim Cooley, whom
he had trusted to find the flaw in the
Hawcastle escutcheon that he knew
had existed, had failed him miserably.
The lawyer felt that he was long
way from home. He sighed and turned
to where the sun was sinking in a
haze Of red across the bay. Then he
heard the voice of Horace and Chin
ing with 1t the cultured accents Of
Lord Hawcastle. Apparently they
were coming to seek him. She had
reiterated his refusal.
YEARLY he turned again to the au-
tomobile and leaned against it. AS he
did so he heard Horace say:
But Ethel says Mr.. Pike positively
refuses"
In return ne heard Hawcastle reply:
''Leave him to me. In ten minutes
he will be as meek as lamb"
Dumbly Pike wondered what fresh
argument the earl had to offer and
mentally steeled himself against it.
As he looked up he encountered the
steady glare of the earl.
"My dear Pike" began the latter,
"there is a certain question:
81 said I would not discuss that with
you. l meant what said," observed
Daniel quietly.
"This is another question:" went on
the other. needless of the warning or
at least unaffected by it.
Late this afternoon 1 developed a
great anxiety concerning the penalty
prescribed by italian law for those for
tunate and iinpulsive individuals who
connive at the escape or concealnient
of certain unfortunates who are want
ed by the police"
Daniel looked at him, with smile.
$50 you're all worked up about that,
are you" Hawcastle glared at him.
but went on.
$50 deeply that I ascertained the
kind heart has so betrayed him the
penalty is two years in prison, and
Italian prisons, 1 am credibly informed,
are-unpleasant."
Pike ruminated and folded his letter.
Being in jail amt much like an
Elks' carnival" he observed.
Even a citizen of your admirable
country could not escape If his COM
plicity were proved-if he were caught
in the act. l will be plain with YOU"
These last words had an ominous
note. "Let us imagine that badly
wanted man appeared upon the per-
COLA here and made an appeal to one
of your countrymen who for the pur-
poses Of argument, is at work upon
this car. Say that the too amiable
American conceals the fugitive under
the automobile and afterward, with
the connivance Of q friend, deceives
the officers OF the law and shelters the
criminal, say, in room of that lower
suit there"
He looked about in the growing twi-
light and pointed dramatically to the
window. Pike, now thoroughly inter-
ested and with his pulse beating a
rapid tattoo, followed his finger. The
earl went on:
"Imagine, for instance, that the shad-
Wv WhiSh appcdio upOu tudJ cur tdlu
were that of the wanted man. Would
you not agree then to a reasonable re-
quest?"
Daniel swallowed painfully, for he
saw in some manner that that sway
Ing window curtain which had caught
his eye an hour ago had held a dis
------ -
tinct menace. 1t seemed too bad that
this should be the end Of it all-all the
defenses he had raised for the girl of
his dead friend should be swept away
in an instant by bit Of folly.
"What would be the nature Of that
request" he asked.
at would concern certain alliance
might concern a certain settlement"
the earl replied softly.
eff the request were refused, what
would the consequences beT Pike
went on, with lowered eyes, for he
would not trust himself to meet those
Of the nobleman.
1.-TWO years at least in prison for
the American"