Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-09-16
CHAPTER XIV.


ternoon in the golden September, Tom
the Morwenstow church copy drew
rein, flung himself out OF the saddle
and followed her. She saw him and
stopped in the vestibule quaking a lit
tie as she felt she must always quake
until the impossible chasm of weldock
with another should be safely opened
between them.
Just a moment" he said, abruptly
There was time when I said I would
spare Vincent Farley and his kin for
your sake. That was year ago.
Things have changed since then; |
have changed. When my father is bur
led, I shall do my best to fill the
mourners' carriages with those who
have killed him"
How is your father to- day." she
asked. not daring to trus; speech 9th
erwise.
He is the same as he was yester-
day and the day before; the same as
he will always be from this on-a
broken man.
You will strike back?" She said it
with infinite sadness in her voice and
an upcasting of eyes that were swim
ming. Il don't question your right
but pity you. The blow may be just,
1 don't know-yet it will fall hardest
on you in the end, Tom"
His smile was almost boysh in it's
frank anger. But there was a mans
sheer in his words.
Excuse me; l forgot for the mo-
ment that we are in a church But
am taking consequences, these days"
She looked out from the cool, dark
refuge of the vestihule when he mount
ed and rode on, and her heart was full.
1t was madness, vindictive madness
and fell anger. But it was a generous
wrath, large and man-like. 1t was not
to be a blow in the dark or in the
back, as some men struck; and he
would not strike without first giving
her warning. Ardea had been cross
questioning Japheth about the assault
at the Woodlawn gates--to her own
hurt Japheth had evaded as he could,
but she had guessed what he was keep
ing back-the identity of the two foot
pads blackened to look like negroes. l.
was a weary world, and life had lost
much that had made it worth living.
Tom was deep in an inventive trance,
with vengeance for the prize to be won,
and for the means to the end, iron
works and pipe plants and forgings-
especially the forging of one particular
thunderbolt which should 'shatter the
Farley fortunes beyond repair. When
this bolt was finally hammered into
shape he had an hours interview with
Major Dabney, and took a train for
New York.
telegram from Norman, begging
him to come back TO South Tredegar at
sDeed, overlook him. For three days a
gentleman with shreWd eyes and a
hard bitted jaw, registering at the
Marlboro as "A. Dracott, New York, =
had been shut up with Mr.. Duxbury
Farley in the most private of the COM
nanv's offices in the Coosa Building
and on the fourth day Norman had
made shift to find out this gentleman's
business. Whereupon the wire to Tom.
He caught a slow train back. and was
met at a station ten miles out of town
by his energetic ex-Lieutenant.
"Of course, I didn't dare to don any
thing more than give him hint" was
the conclusion of Norman's exciting
report. II didn't know but he might
give us away to Colonel Duxbury. So,
without telling him much of anything,
| got MN TO agree 10 meet yOu a. MO
rooms in the Marlboro tonight after
dinner Then I was scared for fear
my wire to you would miss"
You are a white man, Fred, and q
friend to tie to- said Tom; which was
more than he had ever said to Nor
man by way of praise in the days Of
master and man. Then, as the train
was slowing into the South Tredegar
station: If this thing wins out you'll
come in for something bigger than yol
had with Gordon & Gordon; you can
bet on that"
1t was ordained that Goruon should
anticipate his appointment by meeting
his man at the dinner table in the
Marlboro cafe; and it was accident or
design, as you like to believe. that
Dyckman should be sitting two tables
away, choking over his food and listen
ing only by the road of the eye. since
he was unhappily out of ear range
When the two passed out to the eleVa-
for. the bookkeeper rose hastily ard
made for the nearest telephone rms
81 lea ST was not accidental