The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-03
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man muttered, opening the youths
coat Here they are! Catch hold,
Dick! My God! What's that?
He shook from head to foot. Tbs
little fair man locked at him with
contempt
A sheep bell on the moor" he said.
Are you sure you have everything?
Yes! the other muttered.
They both stood up and raised the
PROSTATE form between them Below
them were the black waters of the
lake.
cover with him! the younger said.
Quick! .
Once more his companion shrank
away.
Listen! he muttered, hoarsely
They both held their breaths. From
somewhere along the road behind came
faint sound like the beating Of an
engine.
/" It's car. the elder man ex-
claimed. Quick! Over with him!
They lifted the body OF the boy.
whose lips were white and speechless
now. and threw him into the water.
With a great splash he disappeared.
They watched for moment. Only
the ripples flowed away from the place
where he had sunk. They jumped
back to their seats
There's something close behind,
the older man muttered. Get on
Fast! Fast j"
The younger man hesitated.
Perhaps" he said slowly. 1t
would be better to wait and see who
it is coming up behind. Our young
friend here is safe. The current has
him, and the tarn is bottomless."
There was a moments indecision-a
moment which was to count for much
in the lives of three men. Then the
elder ones counsels prevailed. They
scrept away down the hill, smoothly
and noiselessly. Behind them. the
faint throbbing grew less and less dis
tinct. Soon they heard it no more
They drove into the dawn and through
the long day.
Side by side on one Of the big leather
couches in the small smoking-room OF
the Milan Hotel, Mr. James P. Rounceby
and his friend Mr.. Richard Marnstam,
sat whispering together. 1t was nearly
two o'clock and they were alone in the
room. Some of the lights had been
turned out The roar of life in the
streets without had ceased. It was
an uneasy hour for these whose con-
sciences were not wholly at restl
The.tw men were in evening dress
Rounceby in dinner coat and black tie,
as befitted his role OF travelling Ameri-
can. The glasses in front of them
were only half-f1lled, and had remained
SO for the last hour. Their conyersa-
ton had been nervous and spasmodic.
1t was obvious that they were waiting
for some one.
Three O'Clock struck by the little
timepiece on the mantel shelf A little
exclamation of a profane nature broke
from Rounceby's lips. He leaned TO-
ward his companion.
Say" he muttered. In a rather
thick undertone. how about this
fellow Vincent Cawdor? You haven t
any doubts about him, suppose
He's on the square. all right, eh2"
Marnstam wet his lips nervously.
Cawdor's all right" he said. I" ]
had it direct from headquarters n;
Paris. What are you uneasy about,
4 eh?"
! Rounceby pointed towards the clock
Do you see the time?' he asked
He said he'd be late" Marnstam
answered.
Rounceby put his hand to his fore
head and found it moist.
/ It's been a silly game all along
! he muttered We'd better have
brought the young ass up here and
jostled him! .
Not so easy" Marnstam answered
These young fools have a way OF
turning obstinate. He'd have chucked
us. sure. Anyhow, he's safer where
he is"
They relapsed once more into ST.
lence. A storm of rain beat upon the
window. Rounceby glanced up. II
was as black ont there as were the
waters Of the silent tarn. The man
shiyered rs the thought struck him
+ Marnstam. who had no nerves, twirled
his gold mustache and watched hia
companion with wonder
You look as though you saw a
ghost" he remarked.
Perhaps do! Rounceby growled
" You had better finish your drink
my dear fellow Marnstam advised
. Afterwards"
Suddenly he stiffened into attention
He laid his hand upon his companion
knee.
Listen! he said There is some
one coming. -
I They leaned a little forward The
/ swinging doors were opened A girl.
musical laugh rang out from the cor.
ridor. Tall and elegant, with her black
lace skirt trailing upon the floor, her
left hand resting upon the shoulder
Of the man into whose ear she was
whispering, and whom she led straigh,
to one Of the writing tables, Miss
4 Violet Brown swept into the room
On her right. and nearest to the two
men. was Mr.. Vincent Cawdor
Now you can go and talk to your
friends she exclaimed. lightly. Il
am going to make Victor listen ia
me-"