The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-03-23

zs11z1zx
and leaned pack in his chair to survey
me with closer circumspection.
THE great DR.. Fabos of London,"
he repeated, here in the house of the
poor old Imroth! o 1 am compli-
mented; how l am honored! The
great English doctor who has followed
a poor old man all u the world, and
has come here to beg a favor of him
at last! Repeat your question, doctor
ASK me many times. The words are
music to me. 1 drink them in like wine
the words of my dear friend the doc
tor; how shall I ever forget them?"
1t was horrible to hear him cackle;
more horrible still to remember that q
single word OF his uttered aloud to the
men who watched us for l believe that
we were watched) would AVE cost me
my life upon the instant. How to con-
tinue l hardly knew. Long minutes
passed and found him still wormtng
and cackling in the chair Is an old nag
above a reddening fire. l had nothing
further TO say-it was for him to pro-
coed. @
Yes, Yes, my dear" he continued
presently. And you would now the
story of little Joan Fordibras! How
small the world is tina we should meet
here in this shabby house. And so you
come to me after all for help! 1t is
1mroth who must put you to the bridal
bed; 1mroth who shall save the little
girl for her lover. All, my dear, what
a thing Is love, and what fools are men!
The great rich doctor to leave his home
and friends, his country, to spend the
half Of his fortune upon a ship-all
for love, and that he might see me
again. l have never heard a better
thing-it is something to AVE lived
for this.
He repeated his many times as
though the very words were meat and
drink to him. l began to perceive that
he was the victim of an inordinate
vanity, and that my W failure was
dearer to him han a gift of millions
would have been.
DO I want money!" he asked pres
emily, turning upon me almost savage
ly. Heaven hear me, it is as dirt
beneath my feet. Do I want fine
houses, halls Of marble, and gowns of
silk? Look at the rom in which I live.
Consider my circumstances, my fortune
my riches. the clothes upon my back,
the servants who wait upon mel
Money, no-but to see the great men
at their hearts; ah, that is something
1 would die FORT! Here tonight
my reward begins. The great DR.. Fa-
Dos comes to me upon his knees to beg
me the gift of a woman's heart. How
many have so come since 1 vas this
! tcSSOA . aSC-d SouIlB LldH, SpuIIfSo
by his people, a fool, living honestly,
worshipper in temples made by man?
And to all l have said, as I say to him
mo, q thousand times, no.! Get you
gone from me as they have gone. Admit
n a l I'M your master after all.
Live to remember me-bear the brand
upon your heart. So I answer you.
DIR. b Such are my words to you
the last time we shall ever meet, who
knows. perhaps. the last day you may
have to live"
He leaned forward, and from his eyer
there seemed to shine a light of all the
fires of evil that have ever burned in
human breast. No man, I believe, has
listened to such a threat as he uttered
! ain me this night. The very tones
of it could freeze the blood at the
heart; the gestures We're those of one
who lusted for human blood with all
the voracity of an animal. I will not
deny that l shivered while I heard
him. Remember the remote farmhouse
the lonely marsh, the silence of the
night. the stake at issue between us.
Who shall wonder if my words We're
slow to come?
You threaten me-" 1 said with some
~composure, and yet, I should have
thought the hour for threats had not
come. l am here to ask you to do me
a service. but at the same time to sug-
SCoS Gil CIolN Liz tIllSIl HOC De
unacceptable to you. Let US consider
the matter in a purely business light,
and see If we cannot arrive at an un-
Outstanding. You must be perfectly
aware thai I do not come empty
handed
He interrupted me with a savage
cry, so startling that it amazed me.
Fool" he cried: 81 am the master
of the fortunes of kings. What can
you bring h a Is of any value to me?'
answered him Immediately:
The liberty of your wife, Lisette
who was arrested in Vienna this morn
ing!"
1t was as though I had struck g
blow at his heart. The cry that es-
capped his lips might have come from
the very depths Of hell; I have never
seen a human face SO distorted by the
conflicting passions Of love n hat;
and anger. Gasping. a horrid SOUND
In his throat, he staggered to his fee
and felt n%ervously for the cudgel a
his side-the great hound leaped VI
) and stiffened every limb.