Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-01-26
CHAPTER XIX.
Dark Wood.

WIFI l1Qu1u SOAAy AOA AO
They are more precious.
AS soon as dinner had bsen re-
moved stephen Hargrave, as was his
custom, disappeared.
Louis did not want him, and never
asked for him, indeed had he done SO
he would not have been angry at his
absence. for he had taken liking
tn the grim, silent fellow and was too
easy natured to resent anything he
did In the way of neglect or roughness
of manner.
So Stephen Hargrave crept along
through the darkness, his head Dent
upon his breast, his hands thrust INTO
his pockets and his face grim and set,
revealing nothing of the feeling
which worked like hot lava under the
volcanic crater in his bosom.
Arrived at the Box he gave the u.s.
ual signal, and Sir Richard, who Aao
returned two days previously, softly
opened the door for him.
WELL he said, as the silent man
passed in and stood with his rough
cap in his hand. You have something
to tell me?h
Stephen nodded.
News" he said. &
Sit down." said SIR Richard, point
ing to a chair.
Stephen sat down and fixed his
dark, brooding eyes on the fire.
Sir Richard looked at him with his
keen, hawk-like eyes as if he would
read his soul.
"You have brought something's" he
said.
The man started and looked up half
fearfully.
How do you know that?" he
growled, beneath his breath. Il have"
"A letter." said Sir Richard.
Stephen nodded.
Give it to me-" said Sir Richard.
holding out his hand.
Stephen gave him the letter, and
with a calm smile he took it from the
envelope and read it.
Good. very good. Poetry in its
way!" he murmured, with a sheer.
But it is an answer Where is her
letter."
Gould | snatch that from his
breast, master?'' said Stephen. Not
unless l murdered him first, and you
haven't ordered me TO do that yet"
mo, but if l did you would do it,"
said Sir Richard, facing him with a
calm, stern regard.
Yes, l suppose So" said stephen,
with a long sigh that was almost d
smile.
Be thankful then that ! do not bid
you walk to the gallows!' said Sir
Richard. What was her letter? you
read it?''
And in monotonous tones he repeat
ed the contents of SteIla,s note.
Good" said Sir Richard again.
Now there is work for you to do.
First | want you to take letter from
him, but not this. This goes where all
such trash should co. and with a
smile he flung it on the fire.
Then he arose and filed a iqueur
glass with brandy and handed it to
his slave.
Drink it." he said.
Stephen took the glass and eyed
Sir Richard over it with a look that
said plainly, Now comes the dark
work for which you saved and re-
served met
Sir Richard returned to his desk,
and taking a sheet of paper wrote a
short note, pausing twice or thrice.
and at last making a satisfactory
copy, threw the drafts on the fire,
placed the copy in an envelope and
directed it to Miss Newton, The
Vale
Here is the note" he said at last.
Deliver it to her in the place of the
one you received from Louis FELTON,
When you have delivered it come and
tell me. That is all for the present.
Afterward there will be some work
for you to do. depend upon your do
ing it; am l deceived"
"I'n do it." said Stephen. gruffly
You are my master"
Il am glad to find you SO grateful"
said Sir Richard. But for meas no
doubt you remember-you would be in
prison now, your character gone,
your self-respect forever-branded as
vagabond and a jail-bird."
The mans face paled, his lips
quiyered, and he struck his cap with
his fist.
You're right" he said; you saved
me; / can't forget it,"
The next morning Stella saw from
the dressing-room, the windows of
which looked out at the side of the
mouse on to a small shrubbery, a man
sulking il the shadow of the laurels
She had seen him once or twice be-
fore that week. and she recognized
him Immediately. Her heart beat fast
and the color crimsoned her beautiful
face.
He has brought a letter for me-
she muttered. u know it, I know it!
Oh. my love, every minute will seem
an hour until it lies upon my heart.
But how am to get it?''
AS if in answer to her mental ques-