The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-09-22


Perhaps You suspicioned that | knew
the Everdeans. Anyhow you wanted
TO get the child as fur out Of your
sight and out or my hands as you
could. Amt that so? And when her
dad turned UP you thought you saw
your chance. Heman. you answer me
this: Amt ii part OF your bargain with
Thomas that when he gets bis little
girl he shall take her and clear out,
away off somewheres. for good? Amt
it now-what2"
The monument was swaying, was
swinging from side to side. but 1t did
not quite fall-not then The congress
mans cheeks hung fiabby. his fore
head was wet, and he shook from head
to foot. But he clinched his jaws and
made one last attempt tx defiance
II don't know what you mean"
he declared. "You-you seem to be &C
cusing me Of something-of stealing,
believe. DO you understand who l
am? 7 have some influence and repu-
tation, and it Is dangerous toto try to
brighten me. Proofs are required in
law, and"-
"S-s-h-h! You know I've got the
proofs. They were easy enough to get
once happened on the track Of 'em.
Lord sakes. Heman. amt a fooli
What's the use of your pretendin' to
be one? There's the deed out In Fris-
GO, with yours and Johns name on It.
There's the records to prove the sale.
4 Thnrap1 fhn ink
signed by you on behalf of yourself
and your partners widow. There's old
man Everdean alive and competent to
testify. There's John Thayer's will on
file over to Orham- Proofs! Why.
you thief, If it's proofs you want I've
got enough to send you to state prison
for the rest or your life! Dent you
dare say proofs to ne again! aeman
Atkins, you owe me, as Bos'n's guard
ian, S57.5OO. with interest since 1854.
What you goin' to do about it,"
Here was one ray. a feeble ray, Of
light.
You're not her guardian" cried At
kins. THE courts have thrown you
out. and your appeal won't stand Ell
ther. ~ any money Is due IL belongs
to her father. She isn't of age! No.
sir, her father
Captain Cy's patience had been CIV
ing away. Now be lost II altogether.
He strobe across the room and shook
his forefnger in his victims face.
"Sor' he cried. That's your tack.
is it? BY the big dipper, you 60 to
her father-Just you 70 to him and tell
him. Just hint to him that you owe
his daughter thirty-odd thousand dol
lars and see what he'll do. Good heav-
ems above. he was ready to sell her
out to me for $50 with OF sand bank
In Orham-almost ready. he was. till
you offered higher price to him to
fight. Why. he'll have your hide nail
ed up on the barn door! lie you don't
pay him every red copper down On the
nail he'll wiring you dry. And then
he'll blackmail you forever and ever.
amen-unless. Of course, 60 home
and stop the blackmail by printing my
story In the Breeze. rye O precious
good mind 10 do it. BY the Almighty,
i will do II unless you come of that
high horse of yours and talk like q
man"
And then the monument fell-fell
PROSTATE. with a sickly. pitiful crash.
III we OF Bayport could have seen our
congressman then. The great man.
great no longer. broke down complete
ly. He cried like a baby. 1t was all
true-all true. He had not meant 10
steal at Hrst. He had been led into
using the money 80 his business Then
he had meant to send It to the heirs,
but he didn't know their whereabouts.
Captain Cy smiled at this excuse. And
now BE- couldn't pay-he couldn't He
had hardly that sum In the world. "a
had lost money in stocks. His prop
ierty In the south had gone to the
bad. Re would be ruined. He would
have to 20 to prison. he was getting
to be an old man. And there was
Alicia, his daughter! Think Of her!
Think OF the disgrace! And SO on.
over and over, with the one recurring
burden-what was the captain going
to do-what was he going to do? It
was q miserable, dreadful exhibition,
ana Captain Cy could feel no pride In
his triumph.
There, theren he said at last. stop
it, man; stop it, for goodness sakes!
Pull yourself together. / guess we can
flx It I'D somehow. I amt goin' to be
too hard on you. IF 1t want for your
meanness in bein' willin' to let Bos'n
suffer her life long with that drunken
beast OF dad or hers I'd feel almost
like tellin' you to get up ana forget IL.
But that's got to be stopped Now. you
listen to me-"
Heman listened. He was on his
knees beside the bed. lis face buried
in his arms, and his gray hair. the
leonine Atkins hair, which he was
wont to toss backward in the heated
periods or his eloquence, tumbled and
draggled Captain @ looked down at
him.
This whole business about Bos'n
must be stopped" he said, "and
stopped right or. You tell your law
yers to drop the case. Her dad is only
hangin' around because you pay him
to. He don't want her; he don't care
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