Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-08-04

in His Heart.
AGAIN." he went on. go back to the
island"
His voice rose until he almost cried
the five words in Charnock's face. The
Virginian stood absolutely appalled,.
Langford looked at him a moment,
laughed bitterly, turned, and went
slowly down the steps. More than
ever he hated him. In n bound
Charnock was by his side.
"You have said too much or too lit
tie" he cried, laying his hand upon
the other. what do you mean? Why
should l go back to the island? Is she
there?"
In his agitation, he even shook the
Trailer, slighter, feebler form Of the
man who had just uttered those
words.
"Unless," said Langford coolly, you
want me to die on your threshold, you
would better take off your hand. The
doctors told me that the least physical
violence or .exertion would be fatal
to me-"
Releasing him, Charnock spoke
again.
But won't you tell me what you
mean? Great God, man, think what
your words convey?"
II will tell you nothing, nothing
further. This is my last will. and test
ament to you. Though I die here, !
have nothing further to say to you
than this: Go back to the island.
Damn you'll"
He turned away again and went
down the steps leaving Charnock
standing staring after him. He reeled
slightly as he went, but he caught
himself and marched on with as great
a resolution as ever any soldier mani
tested in the point of danger. He had
displayed weakness ono in the pres
ence of his enemy. He would not do
it again. And while Charnock stared
at him, he stepped out through the
gate from under the trees, entered the
big car and was whirled away.
Left to himself Charnock sat down
upon the bench and pressed his heat
in his hands, his thoughts in a wild
whirl. Go back to the island! Why
had he said that? Who was there?
: Did some fantastic spirit of revenge
send him half way round the world on
some FOOLS errand? Hatred spoke in
t the mans voice. He had coupled his
l Injunction with a curse which was
/. sufficient attest to the bitterness of his
: feelings. And yet truth spoke there
too. Go back to the island! What
could it mean?
4 A long time he sat resolving in his
mind his course, although he knew
what 1t would be from the very mo
ment that the words had fallen from
) Langford's lips. He must go back, il
D for no other reason than to settle the
| doubt, to answer the question, to sat
t isfy the wild clamor Of his soul, to xii
r the hope that flashed into his breasI
at the others words.
His reverie was interrupted by the
arrival of a strange negro. Langfort
t had stopped at a village tavern, 1t ap
peared, where he had procured writ
i ing materials. He had paid the DO.
9 ! literally to bring the note to Char
mock. The envelope was sealed. Be
d meath his name was written thes'
e words:
"As you are a gentleman and re
spect the request of a dead man, yo1
will not open the envelope until yol
stand upon the island"
Never was there such a prohibition
Never was there such a CONSUMING
desire In the mans heart to def,
it and disregard it. Yet that vague
intangible thing we call honor, backe'
!" by a fifmsy bit Of paper and paste
a held Charnock with letters of steel
1t The envelope decided him. He ros
to his feet, entered the house, sent TO
Is his uncle, told him the story and bad
& him get ready to start for San Frar
N cisco that night. Whitaker and tn
chaplain, summoned temporarily fror
IS the great undertaking, joined them Q
washington, and the little party wen
rushing westward in a private car D
a special train as fast as steam an
steel could take them. And yet t
k the heart of the man their progress
was SO slow that every hour he b
came more frantic with Impotence.
Is Back in the little village inn BY tn
q. roadway Langford, alone, lay dyinl
le Al strange lawyer wrote d few letter
1T for him confirming a will made in Sa
T. Francisco leaving ever dollar he 20
TX sessed to Charnock's great undertal
1t ing on condition that his name be AZ