The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-09-23
CHAPTER XIV.

RlulnB UP the PIKE one Sun-Snot ar
ternoon In the golden September, Tom
saw Ardea entering the open door Of
the Morwenstow church copy, drew
rein, flung himself out OF the saddle
and followed her. She saw him and
stopped In the vestibule, quaking lit
tie as she felt she must always quake
until the impossible chasm of weldoclS
with another should be safely opened
between them.
Just a moment" he said abruptly.
There was a time when l said would
spare Vincent Farley and his kin for
your sake. That was a year aga.
Things have changed since then; [
have changed. When my father is bur
led, / shall do my best to I'll the
mourners' carriages with those who
have killed him"
How is your father to-day?" she
asked, not daring to trust 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. II don't question your right
but I pity you. The blow may be just,
l don't know-yet 1t will fall hardest
on you in the end, Tom"
His smile was almost boyish in its
frank anger. But there was a mans
sneer 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 vestibule when he mount
ed and rode on, and her heart was full.
1t was madness, vindictive madness
and fell anger. But 1t 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. Il
was a weary world, and life had lost
much that had made 1t 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 forglngs- |
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.
A telegram from Norman, begging
him to come back to South Tredegar at
speed, 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
pany's offices in the Coosa Building
and on the fourth day Norman had
made shift to find out this gentlemans
business. Whereupon the wire to Tom.
He caught slow train back, and was
met at a station ten miles out Of town
BY his energetic ex-lieutenant.
"Of course, 1 didn't dare to don any
hing more than give him a hint" was
he conclusion of Normans exciting
'eport. Il didn't know but he might
give us away to Colonel Duxbury. SO,
without telling him much of anything,
got him to agree to meet you at his
'ooms in the Marlboro tonight after
Inner Then 1 was scared for fear
ny wire to you would miss"
You are a white man, Fred, and
riend to tie to-" said Tom; which was
more than he had ever said to Nor
nan by way of praise in the days Of
master and man. Then, as the train
vas slowing into the South Tredegar
tation; IF this thing wins out, you'l
ome in for something bigger than you
lad with Gordon & Gordon; you can
,et on that"
1t was ordained that Gordon should
nticipate his appointment by meeting
lis man at the dinner table in the
Iarlboro cafe; and 1t was accident or
eslgn, as you like to believe, that
)yckman should be sitting two tables !
way, choking over his food and listen
ng only by the road of the eye, since
% was unhappily out Of ear range.
When the two passed out to the eleva-
or, the bookkeeper rose hastily and
lade for the nearest telephone. This,
{ least, was not accidental.