Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-30
THE DIAMOND SHIP
MAX PEMBERTON
Author Of doctor Xavier" 1.-THE Hundred Days" ea
Copyright by D. Appleton s. Co.
MAX PEMBERTON
and reaned back in his chair to- survey
me with closer cfrcumSnectiQn.

me with closer circumspection.
1.-The great DR.. Tabos Of London"
he repeated, here in the house of the
poor old Imroth! How I am compli-
mented; how I am honored! The
great English doctor who has followed
has come here to beg a favor Of him
at last! Rs Eat your question, doctor
ask me many times. The words are
music to me, l 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 a
single word of his uttered aloud to the
men who watched us (for l believe that
we were Watched) would have cost me
my life upon the instant. How to con-
tinue 1 hardly knew. Long n
passed and found him still worming
and cackling in the chair as an old bag
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 know the
story OF little Joan FordTNras! How
small the world is that we SHOULD meet
here in this shabby house. And so you
come to me after all for help! 1t is
Imroth who must put you to The bridal
bed; Imroth 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 q %ship-all
for love, and that he might see me
again. I have never heard a better
thing-it is something to have lived
for this.
He repeated this many times as
though the very words were meat n
drink to him. l began to perceive that
he was the victim of an inordinatc
vanity, and that my own failure was
dearer to him thar a gift Of millions
would have been.
DO 1 want money!" he asked pres
emily. turning upon me almost avage
~. Heaven hear me, 1t is as dirt
beneath my feet. Do I want fine
houses. halls OF marble, and gowns Of
silk? Look at the rom in which 1 live.
Consider my circumstances, my fortune
my riches. the clothes upon my back,
the servants who wait upon me!
Money. no-but to see the great men
} humbled-to strike at their fortunes.
at their hearts; ah. that is something
would die for! Here tonight
! hos comes to me upon his knees to beg
me the gift OF a woman's heart. How
many have so come since / was this
doctors age-a young man. spurned
by his people, a fool, living honestly,
!, w%orshipper In temples made by man?
And to all nave said, as I say to MIN
mo. a thousand times. no! Get you
, gone from me as they nave gone Admit
! that I am your master after all.
; Live to remember me-bear the brand
! upon your heart. So I answe you
2 DR.. Fabos. 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 eye
there seemed to shine a light OF all the
e fires of evil that have ever burned in
human breast. No a l believe, has
4 listened to III a threat as he uttered
against me this night. The very tones
E of it could freeze the blood at the
heart; the gestures were those of one
the voracity of an animal. I will MOI
: deny that / shivered while / heard
5 him. Remember the remote farmhouse
s the lonely marsh. the silence OF the
q night. the stake at issue between us
e VINO shall wonder II my words were
: slow to come?
q You threaten me-" I said with som
. composure, and yet. / should have
: thought the hour for threats had no
come. I am here to ask you to do m
q service. but at the same time to sug.
. gest an equivalent that might not b.
n n Unacceptable to you. Let us considel
: the matter In a purely business light
and see 1t we cannot arrive at an un.
;. Outstanding. You must be perfectl,
q aware that do not come empty
He interrupted me with a savag,
q cry, so startling that 1t amazed me.
III "Fool!" he cried; II am the maste
OF the fortunes OF kings. What ca,
you bring hat is Of any value, to me !?
i I answered him Immediately:
- 1.-The liberty OF our wife. Lisette
- who was arrested in Vienna this morn
ing!"
All It was as though I had struck
d blow at his heart. The cry that es
capped his lips might have come fron
the very depths Of hell; I have neve
seen q human face so distorted by tn
lie conflicting passions OF owe and hat
and anger. Gasping. q horrid SCUM
in his throat, he staggered to his fee
10 and felt nervously for the cudgel q
his side-the great hound leaped u
is and stiffened every limb.
ct CHAPTER XIII. gyy
10 ssisI@
Keep that dog back. 1mroth. or.
ss will kill you where you stand" I criet