Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-04-06
CHAPTER xx111.-(continued.)

MY wife, Lisette-yes. yes-it would
be by her. l am In old man, and you
VII! have pity-speak n tell me you
Will have pity-you are DR.. Fabos Of
London. oh, not her, for the love Of
Cod will tell you what you wish. give
me time-1 am an old man, n the
light fades from my eyes-give me time
and l will tell. Lisette-ycs, yes-I am
going to her at Buda, and she is wait
ing for me; You would not keep me
from Lisette-"
poured some spirits into a glass and
put it to his lips.
LISTEN" said. your wife is arrest
ed. but I can set her free. Write
truly the story of Miss F%ordibras. and
q cable from me this night shall OBJ
tain her liberty. I will listen to no
other terms. Joan Fordibras's story
that Is the price you must pay-here
and now, for I will give you no second
1t would be vain t. speak of the
scene that followed, the muttering, the
piteous %entreaty, the hysterical out
bursts. I had never made so astound-
Ing a discovery as that which old me,
a week before left England in my
yacht. that this old man had married
q young wife in Paris. and that-such
are the amazing contrasts of life-he
~ q d0 dS6AOll
ate as 1t was lasting. The knowledge
had saved me once already at Santa
Maria: tonight 1t should save my little
Joan, and take from her forever the
burden of the doubt. Not for an in
stant did my chances stand in jeop-
ardy. Every word that I spoke to this
abject figure brought me one step
r to my goal. They were as
words of fire burning deep into q do
tard's heart.
"Lisette." continued, seeing him
still silent. "Lisette is charged with
the possession of certain jewels once the
property OF Lady Mordant. : am the
Your dupe. Harry Avenhill, who came
up to rob my house in Suffolk, is the
man who will charge this woman with
the crime n establish the case
against her. Whether we go to Vienna
or persuade Lady Mordant to with
draw the charge, 1t is for you to say.
Will give o just ten minutes by
that clock Upon your chimney. Use
them well. ! implore you. Think what
you are doing before 1t is too late to
think at all-the liberty this woman
Graves or the charge and punishment.
Which is 1t to be-, old man? Speak
quickly. for my time is precious"
drumming the table, his eyes half
closed. I knew that he was asking
himself what would be the gain or the
loss should he beckon some one from
the shadows to enter the house and
Kill me. One witness would thus be
removed from his path-but who would
answer for the other? Was 1t possible
that his old enemy. who had outwitted
him so often, would be outwitted to-
night? This seemed to me his argu-
ment. I watched him rise suddenly
from his chair. peer III to the dark
ness. and as suddenly sit again.
Whether his courage had failed him
or this were the chosen moment for
the attack. I shall never be able to say
with certainty. For me it was an in
slant Of acute suspense, of
listening for footsteps, Of quick resolu-
ton and prompt decision. Let there
be an echo OF q step. but one sound
mar where he sat. Thus was ! deter
mined. In this dread perplexity did the
instant pass.
y cannot write" he gasped at last
Put your questions to me. and I will
answer Them"
And sign the document I have
brought with me. So be 1.-THE ques-
tions r here. in order. Let your
answers be as brief"
spread the document before me. The
lamp shed q warm aureole Of light up-
on the paper. but left the outer room
In darkness. Ny words were few. but
deliberate: his nswer often but Q
mutter of sounds.
she?"
srhe daughter OF David Kennard OF
Illinois,"
Her mother?.
II am not acquainted with her name
- French Canadian. The records In