The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-01-20
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| RED MOUSE !
A Mystery Romance !
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By WILLIAM HAMILTON !
OSBORNE !
Copyright 1909 by Dodd Mead q Co 9
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Copyright. 1909 by Dodd Mead q Co

OUT people read hem in anger and dis
may. BY the next morning they mere
~ laughed: likewise the court.
If he were hribed.' said public com.
ment. st was a bride that didn't
work
And Mnrgatroyd. submitting to in
teryiew after Interview, reiterated
over and over again to the reporters:
Il point with pride. gentlemen. to
the conviction of Lawrence Challoner
That's all have to say"
The fasco had helped Murgatroyd
infinitely more than 1t had hurt him.
Thorne felt Ia his Utmost soul.
One evening a few weeks later. while
Murgatroyd was dressing to dine at
his club. his servant handed him a
note. 1t was but SELDOM that square
white envelope came at this time. and
with pardcnable look OF surprise and
curiosity on bis face BIurgatroyd
opened it and read:
l must see you VIII you come to the
house tonight? S. Fl. B.
An hour more and he was in Mrs.
Bloodgood's drawing room. waiting
more neryously than he would have
cared to acknowledge to himself for
the daughter Of the house to appear.
1t was the first time that she had ever
sent for him To go 20 her. and he was
conscious of some degree of anxiety
as to her motive. The sound of a
light step on The threshold of the room
checked his disturbing speculations
and he looked UP TO see Shirley Blood
good entering the room.
Something very urgent made me
send for you. Mr.. Murgatroyd." she
began. though her lips trembled. II
want to talk With you
An instinct told siurgatroyd that 1t
would be a grievous mistake not to
accept without protesting word the
note of aloofness that was in her tone
Rightly he told himself that the slight
est advance on his part would result
in adding TO her distress; that. how
ever much he would like to break
down the barrier that had arisen be-
tween them. he must hide his time and
trust to her emotional nature TO ac-
complish that And he was not mis-
taken, fer presently an impulse to
speak her mind at any cost took pos
session of her and she burst forth
Billy. why did you take this mon
ey? Why
Murgatroyd essayed TO speak. but
she interrupted him
Don't recovering her ears with her
hands-''don't tell me, I know you did
ft-because I-I-oL. why did you lis
ten TO me: thought | knew what
was talking about. she went on. while
he sought control OF himself by look
ing away from her But | knew
nothing of condifions-of men,
thought that a man-that You could
accomplish anything you really want
ed to do But you were right There
are impossiDilities. | understand now
now that it's too late have had
my lesson. Only few months ago
You were honest. and now you are cor
rupt and | aione am responsibler'
You must not blame yourself"--he
was neither admitting nor denying the
impeachmant-"for anything / may
have done
! But do. / do she cried bitterly.
| And you must blame mev'
Abruptly Shirley's mood changed
Her voice rang with scorn that be-
fore she ceased seemed to include him
as well as herself
What do ! care for success or fail.
ure? could cut my tongue out for
telling you that my father was a fall
ure! A failure. Why. | know that
not only was he not failure, but that
he was really great-a man in the
| highest sense of the woodland that's
all I want yon to be. ] don't care an
iota that you should be senator--l
| don't want you to be senator. /
have sent for you tonight to tell you
Soto stop for good and all the thing
| set In motion She was silent for an
| instant. Il want you to come back
/ come back.'
/ In turn he murmured words that
sounded to her like ito you"
Shirley shook her head as though
that were a thing out of the question
No, to your honest self" she said
earnestly, but kindly; ito the Billy
Murgatroyd that wns'
For a moment they looked steadily
| into each others eyes. Unknown to
himself. there was an air Of appeal.
not wholly free from anxiety even.
for her face was again showing signs
of hardness as he spoke:
Il can hardly do that. l cannot stop.
And, IL l should, where is the induce
ment? You are beyond my reach
And as if to disprove his own words
an impulse of alteration too power.
full to be checked seized him, and be
caught her hand and pressed it.
A brief moment only Shirley allowed
it to rest in his. then slowly withdrew
it, and her action told him palmer than
words that there was TO be nothing
further between them; she was through
with him; she must despise him.
Shirley felt that there could be nj
compromise. Murgatroyd must purge
Himself. even though II involved life
| ~ oh. ~. t.s<l Ia