Oxford Democrat., 1911-05-16

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70 'HE
CHAPTER XXI.
l|lHE purple had left Congress
Hi man Atkins face. but the
I'LL speechmaking habit Is not like
lo ly to be broken.
Cyrus Whitaker" he stammered.
have you been drinking7 Your Ian
guage to me Is abominable. Why /
permit myself to remain here and lis
ten to SUCH
"If you'll keep still I'll tell you why.
And If was you I wouldn't be too
anxious to lind out This everlastin'
cold don't make me over and above
good tempered. and when l think of
what you've done to that little girl. or
what you tried to do. I have to hold
myself down tight-tight-and don't
you forget it! Now you keep quiet
and listen. It'll be best for you. He
man. Tour cards amt under the table
any longer I've seen your hand. and
know why you've been playin' It.
| know the. whole game. I've been
west. and Everdean and have had
talk"
Mr. Atkins had again risen from the
chair. Now he fell heavily hack into
it. His lips moved as II he meant to
speak. but he did not. At the mention
of the EverdeaD name he made a
queer choking sound In his throat.
81 know the whole business. He
man." went on the captain. Il know
why you was so knocked over when
you learned who Bos'n was the night
Of the party. know why you took
up with that blackguard Thomas and
why you've spent your good money
hirin' lawyers for him. know about
the mine. know the whole thing
from first to last. Shall I tell you?
Do you want to hear it?"
The great man did not answer. A
drop of persplration shone on his high
forehead. and the veins OF his big
white hands stood out as he clutched
The arms Of his chair. The monument
was tottering on Its base.
"It's dirty mess, the whole OF 1t"
continued Captain Cy. "And yet can
see-I suppose can see-some excuse
for you ut the heginnin'. When old
man Everdean and his crowd bought
you and John Thayer out way back
there In "a. after John died. and all
the money was put into your hands
| cal'late you was honest then.
wouldn't wonder If you meant to hand
over the $37 500 to your partners Wild
ow. But twas harder and more risky
to send money east In them days than
It's now. and so you waited, thinkin'
maybe that you'd fetch It to Emily
when you come yourself. But you
didn't come home for some years; you
went tradln' down along the FeeJees
and around that way. That's how
reasoned 1t out these last few days on
the train. l give you credit for bein
honest first along.
But never mind whether you was
or not-you haven't been since. You
never paid over cent Of that poor
fellers money-honest money, that be-
longed to his heirs and belongs to 'em
now. You've hung on to It stole II.
used It for yours. And Emily worked
and scratched for livin' and died
poor. And Mary. she died after bein'
abused and deserted BY that cussed
husband of hers. And you thought
YOU was safe. carlate. And then
Bos'n turns up right in your own town.
right acrost the road from you! BY
the big dipper. It's enough to make
feller believe that the Almighty does
take q hand In straightenin' out such
things when US humans bungls EN-
1t Is so!
"Course I amt sure. Heman, what
you meant to do when you found that
the child you'd stole that money from
was goin' to be under your face and
eyes till you or she died. l caPlate you
was afraid I'd find somethin' out.
want you? l presume likely you
thought that I. not havin' quite the
reverence for you that the rest OF the
Bayporters have. might be sharp
enough or lucky enough to smell rat.
Perhaps you susplcioned that l knew
the Eyerdeans. Anyhow you wanted
to get the child as fur out OF your
sight and out Of 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 It part Of your bargain with
Thomas that when he gets his little
| girl he shall take her and clear out,
| away of somewheres. for good? Amt
| 1t now-whatT
The monument was swaying. was
swinging from side to side. but 1t did
| not quite fall-not then. The congress
mans cheeks hung f1abby. his fore
head was wet. and he shook from head
to foot. But he clinched his jaws and
made one last attempt ut defiance.
IL don't know what you mean.
he declared. "You-you seem to be ac-
cusing me of something-of stealing.
believe. Do you understand who
am? have some influence and repu-
tation, aud 1t Is dangerous toto try to
frighten 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 EN-
Lord sakes. Heman. l amt TOOL!
What's the use Of your pretendin' to
be one? There's the deed out In Fris-
co. with yours and Johns name on 1t.
There's the records to prove the sale
There's the receipt for the $4,000
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. II It's proofs you want I've
rot enough to send you to state prison