The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-06
THE FATAL RUBY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE THREE

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his hands, as if he were considering
some problem. Raven stood and
looked at him and hand stole to-
wards the dagger; but the hand fell
to his side again, and he gave a lit
| tie shrug of regretful resignation.
/ Presently Dexter Reece took his
hands from his face; he raised his
head, and regarded Raven steadily
"I can suggest better plan, he
said. You and / Count-we will for
get the Raven from this time forth
are partners. We sink or swim to-
gether. You are astute enough to
know that; ! acknowledge it. Let
us draw the tie still closer. Will
YOU do me the honor of accepting
me as husband for your daugh-
ter?"
Raven sarted, and stared at him.
For a moment Reeces audacity over
whelmed him; but presently his
acute brain say the advantages he
would gain by such a marriage. He
had stolen Sir Mortimer's child on
the impulse of a moment; her pres
ence had always been irksome 10
him, and had always been reminder
of his crime; there had never been
any affection between them, of late,
since he had become possessed of
the treasure, had grown rich, and
developed into a man of position,
he had come to regard her as an
incubus. He mistrusted her, was
suspicious of her, and felt it nee
essary to keep her as a prisoner.
If he disposed of her TO this man,
who knew his secret, he would have
hold upon him; and she, if she
ever learned the truth respecting
her birth, would shrink from pro
claiming the knowledge which might
send her husband to the gallows.
The proposal, which had at first
struck him as outrageous and far
fetched, grew more plausible and
acceptable as he considered it. He
went back to the table, and. lean
ing both hands upon it, regarded
Dexter Reece with a sardonic smile.
Good" he said. | accept your
proposal, Mr.. Reece. | will give you
my daughters hand"
Reece nodded eagerly; then he
laughed uneasiy and bit his lip,
But she-she may refuse? You
will consult her?" he stammered, his
eyes falling before the dark ones
smiling mockingly at him.
Raven laughed, shrugged his shoul-
ders, aud waved his hand with an
air of contempt and assurance.
You forget" he said, with a
sinister sneer. My daughter is an
Italian, not an English miss who has
to be consulted and humored in
the choice OF her husband. We Ital
ians are more sensible; it is the
father who chooses the husband, The
daughter who accepts gratefully"
Reece shook his head and gnawed
at his lip, as if he were not con
vinced.
That is all very well" he said in
low voice, '1but she is not Italian
she is English, every inch of her;
she will not play The part of a
puppet. You forget that | have seen
her. Why, man, you could Got
force her to do anything, however
trivial, against her will | tell you,
| remember the girl"
You remember what she was"
said Raven, with a callousness which
proved the rapid growth OF his
dislike, hatred, of the girl he held
in his power. "She is not what she
was; she has changed. IL has been
necessary shrugged his shoul-
ders-'to keep an eye upon her. she
has, on occasions, shown a dispo-
sition to deceive me, to thwart me
Alas! ] have been compelled to re-
strain her liberty. Oh, it is no hard
ship; the house is large enough, as
you see; the grounds are extensive
and beautiful; she has plenty of
room in which to move about. But
the bird grows weary of even a
si,ded cage; and. if | know women.
sne will be glad to exchange her
present life of restraint for the free
dom OF a married woman. You are
young-and not bad looking-and
shrewd enough TO value the treas