The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-12-02
CHAPTER XIV.

come.
CHAPTER XIV.
Riding up the pike one sun-shot at
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 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 a time when I said would
spare Vincent Farley and his kin for
your sake. That was a year agA
Things have changed since then: I
have changed. When my father is bur-
led. l shall do my best to fill the
mourners' carriages with those who
have killed him."
How is yoIr 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. Il don't question your right
but pity you. The blow may be just.
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
sheer in his words.
Excuse me; I 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 fun.
1t was madness. vindictiye madness
and fell anger But It was a generous
to be q 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 ASA ut
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 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 forginxs-
especially the forging Of one particular
thunderbolt which should shatter the
Farley fortunes beyond repair. When
this bolt was finally hammered int
shape he had an hours interview with
Major Dabney. and took q train for
New York.
A telegram from Norman, begging
him to come back to South Tredexar at
speed. overlook him. For three days q
gentleman with shrewd eyes and q
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 gentleman's
business. Whereupon the wire to Tom.
He caught q slow train back and was
met at station ten miles out OF town
by his energetic ex-lieutenant.
| "Of course, didn't dare to don any
thing more than give him hint" was
the conclusion Of Norman's exciting
report 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 hia
rooms in the Marlboro tonight ate,
dinner. Then was scared for fea7
my wire to you would miss"
i You are white man, Fred, and 1
friend to tie to-" said Tom; which wal
more than he had ever said to Nor.
man by way Of praise ia the days d
master and man. Then. a. the trai1
was slowing into the South Tredexal
station: II this thing wins out. you'i
come In for something bigger than 70,
had with Gordon 8 Gordon; you cal
bet on that"
Il was ordained that Gordon shouls
anticipate his appointments BY meeting
his man 1T the dinner table ii tn.
Marlboro cafe: and II was accident 8
design. ~ you like to believe, tia
DyckmAn should ~ sitting two table
J away. choking over his food ana listen
} Ing only ~ the road Of the syey sinc
) he was unhAppI1y ont of ear range
When the two passed ont TO the elevA
! tor. the bookkesper rose hastily ~,
made for the nearest telephoua Thia
: q least was not accidental