Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1912-12-26


him shout; it will soften his voice.
He will hurt nobody. The wires were
cut hours ago."
Mortimer felt the tense muscles in
his grasp relax. Arthur Wadsworth
grew limp and reeled against the jamb
of the door
"You had better start at once"
George advised. 'fYou three first"
with a nod toward Wallace (his bull
bous nose now lavender in hue), the
butler and the first-man. Forward
march, front door. Go on"
what about me?" asked Ryanne.
SIN a moment" George could not
but admire the man, rascal though he
was. There was a pang of regret in
his heart as the thought came and
went swiftly: what comrade this
man would have made under different
circumstances! Too late! Halt" he
cried. The trio marching toward the
door came to stop, their heads
turned inquiringly. Here, Mr.. Nor
timer; take one of these guns and
cover the Major. He's the one
doubt" Then George followed the
others into the hall and ironically
babe them God-speed as he opened
the door for them. They went out
stupidity; the wine had dulled them
George Immediately returned to the
library.
Neither Fortune nor her mother had
stirred in all this time A quality of
hypnotism held them in bondage. The
mother could not lower her glance
and the daughter would not If there
was a light of triumph in Fortunes
eyes, it was unconsciously there. And
no one will know the full bitterness
that shone from the mothers. She
could have screamed with fury; she
could have rent her clothes, torn her
skin, pulled her hair; and yet she sat
there without physical sign of the
tempest.
On her side, Fortune knew, that, had
there been q single gesture inviting
pity, she must have flown to her moth
er's side. But there was no sign.
Finally, Fortune stepped back, chilled.
1t was all too late
Fortune said George, terribly en-
barrassed, ''do you wish to speak to
your mother, alone?"
''No." 1t was little word, spoken
in little, hushed tone.
Mrs. Chedsoye rose and proceeded
to put on her furs, which she had
flung across the back of her chair.
oo7ooo IN
from the elder Wadsworth. An under
standing of this strange proceeding
began to filter through his mind. The
young girls mother!
Mrs. Chedsoye drew On her gloves
slowly. She offered them to the Ma
jor to button. He flung the hands
aside. He was not nice under the We
neer. But Ryanne was instantly at
her service. And curiously she
watched his agile fingers at work over
the buttons; they were perfectly
steady Then, followed by the Major
and Ryanne, she walked easily toward
the hall Ryanne paused.
Good night, Arthur. I'm sure you
will not sleep well. That handsome
safe is irreparably damaged. dare
say you will find way to cover the
loss without any injury to your own
pocket Old top, farewell! Who was
it, Brutus or Caesar, who said: L go
but to return'?" The banter left his |
face and voice swiftly. "You sneak
ing BLACKBOARD, you cheater Of wild |
ows; yes, I shall come again; and |
then look to your sleek, sanctimonious |
neck! You chucked me down the road |
to hell, and the pity Of it is, some day |
I must meet you there! Fortune, |
child" his voice becoming sad, "you |
might remember a poor beggar in |
your prayers tonight. Percival, a
farewell to you. We shall never meet |
again. But when you stand upon !
that bally old rug there, you'll always
see me. the fire, the tents. the canels
and the desert. and the moon in the
date-palms. By-by!"
And presently they were gone. A
later those remaining could |
hear the chug-chug Of the motors as
they sped away. The banker was first |
to recover from the spell. He rushed |
for the hall, but George stopped him
rudely.
1.-TWO hours, if you please. never
break my word. Your money is all |
there. If you do not act reasonably, |
I'll throw you down and sit on you
till the time is up. Sit down. I do |
not propose that my future wife shall I
appear in court as a witness against
her mother. Do you understand me
now?"
The banker signifed that he did.
FTe4. sat down, rather subdued. Then
he got up nervously and inventoried .
the. steal He counted roughly mil
lion. A million! He felt sick and
weak. It would have wrecked the
bank, wiped it out Of existence. And |
saved by the merest, the most trifing
chance! A bottle of wine! He re-
sumed his chair and sat there won
deringly till the time-limit expired.
The public never heard how nearly !
the MISUNDERSTANDING had gone to /