davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

member this-if you speak a single ILL
advised word, the end will be as l have
said
Peter picked up the receiver and held
| it to his ear
who is there" he asked
1t was Violet whose voice he heard
He listened for moment to her anx-
ious food of questions
There is not the slightest cause to
be alarmed, DEAR" he said. Yes, | am
down at the High House, near St.
Mary's. Bernadine is here 1t seems
that those reports of his death were ab-
solutely unfounded Danger2 Unpro-
tected! Why. my dear Violet. you
know how careful | always am Simp-
ly because Bernadine used once to live
here, and because the baroness was his
friend, spoke to Sir John Dory over
the telephone before we left. and an es-
cort of half dozen police followed US.
They are about the place now, l have
no doubt, but their presence is quite
unnecessary ! shall be home before
long, dear. - Yes, perhaps it
would be as well to send the car down.
Any one will direct him to the house
the High House, St. Mary's, remember.
Good-by."
Peter replaced the receiver and turn
ed slowly round. Benadine was smil-
ing.
You did well to reassure your wife.
even though it was a pack of lies you
told her., he remarked
Peter shrugged his shoulders con-
temptuously.
"My dear Bernadine he said "u,
TIL now have tried to take you seri-
ously You are really passing the limit
! must positively ask you to reflect a
little. Do men who live the life that
you and l live, trust any one? Am l.
is the Marquis de Sogrange hereafter
lifetime Of experience. likely to leave
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

as they thundered up the great north
road into the darkness Deane. wrapped
in his thick coat and rugs, leaned back
in his seat, with both windows down,
feeling an inexpressible relief in the
| sharp sting of the night air, the fakes
of snow and little clouds of rain blown
every nov and then through the open
windows. He was free at last from the
| hateful environment of the last few
| months. No longer was there anyone
to point him out as the man who had
sold for a million pounds mine which
had never belonged to him. Save for
the two motiop'ess figures in front, he
was alone. There was emo bne to ask
him wearisome questions. no one to of
| fer him sympathy or wish him good
fortune. On they sped through the
night. till the villages were like dead
haunts, without light in the windows.
and only an occasional lamp post to
mark the place where men slumbered.
They passed through a town, which
was like a city of the dead, and on
again to the wilder country. where the
rabbits rushed. terrified, before the
, streaming lights of the car. and the
wind alone, OF all natures voices, seem-
ed left TO remind him that this was not
world of ghosts through which he
rushed
Presently he saw the man at the
wheel swerve a little in his seat. and
he lifted the speaking tube to his lips.
Can we get through to Rakney. Muir
ray" he asked him, "or shall we stop
at Kings Lynn"
we can get through. sir" the man
-onl,a1 TO- l,a1f hnt,r
somewhere"
They knocked up an innkecper in
Kings Lynn, and the two men ate and
drank Deane himself drank long
whisky and soda, and lit cigar. Then
already tightening a little in the east
Dawn was breaking as they climbed
their last hill and ran down toward the
marshlands 4 4 red light loomed over
the gray, sullen sea. The marshes
guishable-patches of land and dark
creeks of salt water running into one
another. Out i'll the bay the FOAM
topped breakers came rolling sullenly
in. When at last they turned through
the gate. and went slowly up the rough
road-marked out with white stakes
which led up to the tower. the dawn
had actually come. the night was a
thing of the past. although It's shadow
seemed TO hang low over the gray land.
The sea had been lately over the rough
road, and progress was difficult. AT
last. though. they reached the little bank
OF shingle on which the tower was built.
and Deane. with little sigh of relief,
stepped wearily down. While his SER
want unlocked the front door and bus
led himself arranging bed and light
ing a fire. Deanc walked down to the
edge of the sea. whose white-topped
waves were dragging back the shingle
as they fell and broke. with dull.
grinding noise. Never. it seemed TO
him. had the beauty OF loneliness ap-
pealed to him more strongly than at
this hour Of dawn. The birds were
silent. the wind had fallen. there was
no sound whatever from the sleeping
land. Only the eternal breaking of the
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

waves continued-a sound which was
more like the background for stiffness,
grim and mysterious, inevitable as ex-
istence itself. Far away now seemed
that crowded court, with its eager faces,
its rapt issues-far away seemed the
importance of wealth. the great ques-
ton whether he should remain among
the millionaires-the world buyers, or
take his place among the poor men OF
the earth. What did it matter, after
all. this kingship of the cities. with
their lack of perspective, their crowded
hours. their strange, artificial atnios-
phere, The value of these things was
grotesque, for a moment-distorted. He
had been wise to come here, he told
himself. as a breath of the morning
wind stole, faint and fresh. across the
salt sea. Perhaps he would be wiser
still II he dehed fortune and stayed
here always.
His servant summoned him. and he
went reluctantly indoors. He ate some
biscuits and drank some milk Then.
os the real dawn broke over the sea. a
fiery red, and with many suggestions
of troubled weather in its angry glow,
he opened the window and threw him
self upon the little iron bedstead with
its lavender-scented sheets
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21
THE GOLDEN WEB

the other end he could see slowly
approaching figure His heart gave .
little beat. Was it a messenger at last
coming to bring him his fatel He
looked up again to where the lark was
singing. 1t seemed, after all. so small
thing! Nearer and nearer the figure
! to be able to distinguish something oi
its outline. Then he rose to his feet
with quick indrawn breath-a little
cry OF surprise TO which there was nc
one TO listen, For this was no mes
senger from the village coming. II
was a girl in long gray cloak. and a
hat which she carried in her hand, as
though the fresh salt air OF the marshes
was something also to her. Deane saw
the neatly arranged brown hair blown
into confusion about her face. Against
the empty background he recognized the
poise of her head, the firm but delicatc
walk, the slender. swaying figure He
knew who II was that came, and il
seemed 10 him that from the moment
he knew. too, other thingsl His sense
OF proportion was suddenly shifted
enlarged, perhaps-altered certainly. He
understood things which before had
been mysteries to him. He understood.
as though in some moment of inspira-
ton. that riches or poverty. life. even,
or death, are the incidents of life be-
fore its greatest truths. Nothing that
he could think of seemed able to hold
his thoughts. His heart was beating
10 music. the lark was singing to him a
song of her own-singing in weak,
tremulouS notes song OF life and love
and passion! He rose TO his feet and
went to meet her She stopped short
and faltered for moment He hurried
on.
"Winifred" he exclaimed
She held out her hands. Her eye
brows were upraised. her mouth was
quivering, her eyes were seeking his
with sort of plaintive earnestness. 1T
is true, them" she exclaimed. You
are really herer'
Il am really here" he answered. 'and
it is really you. Nothing else seems to
matter very much-and yet. | would
like to know why you alone. of all the
world, should have discovered my hid
ing place"
She laughed. and seemed quite un-
conscious OF the fact that he was still
holding her hands. Il have been ILL.,"
she said. 81 came down here to rest
Last night ] heard in the village that
you had arrived, that you were here
alone. | knew then she continued
softly. what had happened felt that
| must come, if it was only for few
moments.
1T was very nice OF you," he said.
Then they stood side by side i'll a
silence charged with a sort of impotent
passion. Why had she troubled to
come. he wondered. now that the bub-
BILE of his wealth was burst-she. who
had held him to her cold-blooded COM
pact. who had bound him TO her by as
sordid a bargain as ever the mind OF
woman could have conceived.
Il am glad to see you," he said. and
yet don't know why You did not
hesitate to leave me without word of
YOU. as soon as you saw breakers
ahead"
She drew a little away. looking at
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

come to this. You deputed Rowan tc
see what he could do with Sinclair. Dc
you realize your responsibility in this
matter? You are aware of what hap
peneds"
Certainly Deane answered. Il
shall never cease to regret it. Sinclair
was mad drunk and the two men quar-
relied. The blow which killed him was
struck in self-defense"
@The law did not take that view."
"I stood by Rowan when he died. =
Deane said. with a sudden note of SOL
emrity in his tone. He told me the
truth then, and the truth is what !
| have told you"
Nevertheless. he stole the docu-
ment," counsel continued. 1T was dis
covered afterward in the possession OF
Miss Rowan"
$50 / have heard" Deane answered
calmly. 'lt was pity that she did not
hand it over to me-"
You would have destroyed it, sup
pose?"
Most certainly Deane answered.
"The mine belonged to me- Sinclair
had declared before witnesses that there
were no papers, that the claim had not
been worked for the requisite time; and,
therefore, by the mining laws of the
country my purchase was good"
The case lasted well over the Christ
mas recess During the holidays, Deane
spent a good part of his time seeking
for some trace of Winifred Rowan.
He went himself to her old employers,
but they were able to tell him nothing.
They could only show him the testi-
monial which they had written at her
request, and which she had taken away
with her few days after her Depart
ure from the hotel There was no one
who seemed able to help him in the
least Very regretfully, he called
in the services Of private detective,
who, however, was equally unsuccessful.
The holidays passed. the case was re-
opened. and Deane was once more i'm
mersed in the struggle.
II was over at last. The strain re-
mained-the great judge who had heard
il declined to pronounce judgment I'M
mediately on the conclusion Of the pro-
ceedings 1t might be three days or
il might be even week before his de-
cision was known. Deane turned away
from the court with strong and in
SlllAllNC hCSllS liz
pense, long drawn out through the
weeks and through the months. had
become unbearable He felt himself
no longer able calmly to discuss the
pros and the cons of the case with his
fellow-directors and friends. He was
sick to heart OF it all He escaped from
one or two passers-by, and reDouer
or so. who tried to buttonhole him, and
ignoring his brougham. around which
several others were waiting. he sprang
into a hanson and drove to the garage
where he kept his touring car. A few
brief orders. penciled note to his ser
want, and Deane, leaving the garage by
the other entrance. took the IgDe 10
its terminus. walked out into the ooun-
try, and was caught up within an hour
by the car. in which his servant was
sitting on the front seat by the side of
the chauffeur.
The evening passed swiftly into night
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21
By
ANTHONY PARTRIDGE
Author of
Passers-By," "Tbe Kinrdom of
Earfh." "The Distributors" sc.

Courage, DEAR" he said. This is
the Mercury who brings us the knowl-
edge OF our fate. In a few moments
you will know whether you are to be-
come the wife OF a millionaire or a
working man"
III you would only believe" she
murmured, how little il matter.v
II do believe he answered II cams
down here, for one reason. to escape
the shock of hearing the news before
others. Now that it comes, simply
do not mind There are greater things
in the world than the Little Anna Gold
Minep'
| He took the telegram from the boy,
and opened it with firm fingers. He
| read it out aloud without tremor:
Counsel met in judges private room
by appointment to-day. Have COM
promised with plaintiffs twenty thou
sand pounds
Deane threw a coin to the boy. who
remounted his bicycle and rode away.
Then. turning to Winifred, You see,
he said. you have brought me luck
turned together toward the tower, that
ukdy uiiHS YOU HdPPihSSo"
Deane met Mrs. Hefferom. a few
months afterward. and was struck at
once by her altered expression. They
came face to face at the corner of
street. and both involuntarily stopped.
Il hope said Deane politely. that
you are making good use of my money
And | hope" she answered, laugh
ing. that you are making more fortunes
from nv mine"
q am doing fairly we'll. thank you.'
Deane admitted. but you know that I
have a wife to keep now
And | husband she answered. Il
am trying to reform Stephen Hef-
erom.'
Il hope that you are succeeding?-
''On the whole, yes" she declared,
smiling. We live at Streatham, ond
he goes in to the city every day. He
has bought a share in a business. We
are not millionaires yet, but one never
can tell"
AT any rate" he remarked pleasant
ly. TO Judge by your appearance |
should say that you find it better than
Rakney"
Don't mention the place. or any one
in it" she said, with a shiver. Thank
heaven. shall never have to go back
to it Stephen is really doing very well.
and half the money is still settled upon
me- You have no idea she continued,
how domesticity has agreed with him.
He has scarcely 4 vice left
1T has made lot of difference to
me-" returned Deane. Can't YOU rec
ognize my subdued appearance"
Il never saw you looking so we'll"
she answered frankly. Now must
hurry off. am going to call for my
husband and take him to lunch"
And | am going TO fetch my wife
for the same reason Deane answered.
smiling. The best of luck to you
BOTH
They parted in the crowd. swept away
by the flood. the endless tide Of passing
humanity. and with smile upon his
lips Dcane went to his appointment
The END.
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

around one another'S neckS. 1t was an
affair. that, but of a moment Peter,
as 1.-THE as cat, was on his feet again
almost at once, with torn collar and
an ugly mark on his face. There were
strangers i'll the room now and the SER
wants had mostly slipped away during
the confusion. 1t was Sir John Dory
himself who locked the door. Ber-
nadine struggled slowly to his feet. He
was face to face with half a dozen po-
lice constables in plain clothes.
Sir John Dory made sign. In an
other moment Bernadine would have
been arrested. 1t seemed. indeed. as
though nothing could save him now
from this crowning humiliation. He
himself. white and furious, was at loss
how to deal with an unexpected situa-
ton. Suddenly thing happened stran-
ger than any one of them there had
ever dreamed of, so strange that even
men such as Peter. Sogrange, and Dory.
whose nerves were of iron, faced ono
another, doubling and amazed. The
floor beneath them rocked and billowed
like the waves of canvas sea. The
windows were filled with flashes OF
red light great fissure parted the wall.
the pictures and bookcases came crash
ing down beneath a shower of mason
ry. 1t was the affair of second.
Above them shone the stars and around
them noise like thunder. Bernadinc,
who alone understood. was the first to
recover himself. He stood in the midst
of them, his hands above his head,
laughing as he looked around at the
strange storm, laughing like a mad
man,
Tho wonderful CARL" he cried. "Oh.
uatchless servant! Arrest me now. If
you will, you dogs OF the police. Rout
out my secrets. dear Baron de Grost
Tuck them under your arm and hurry
to Downing Street. This is the hospi-
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

tality of the High House, my friends.
1t loves you so we'll that only your
ashes shall leave it
His mouth was open for another SEN
tence when he was struck. a whole pill
lar OF marble from enc of the rooms
above came crashing through and bur-
led him underneath falling shower OF
masonry. Peter escaped by a few
inches. Those who were left unhurt
sprang through the yawning wall out
into the garden. Sir John. Sogrange
and Peter, three OF the men-one limp
ing badly. came to a standstill in the
middle of the lawn Before them the
house was crumbling like a pack of
cards. and louder even than the thunder
OF the falling structure was the roar of
the red flames.
%'The baroness,' Peter cried, and took
one leap forward
Il am here she sobbed, running to
them from out of the shadows Il have
lost everything jewels, my clothes,
all except what | hate OH. They gave
me but moments warning.
rs there anyone else in the house
Peter demanded.
No one but You who were Ill that
room,' she answered.
Your companion y -.
Your companion,
There was no companion. she fall
tered Il thought 1t sounded better to
speak of her. ] had her place laid at
table but she never even existed
Peter tore off his coat
There are the others in the room !
he exclaimed. I'VE must 60 book
Sogrange caught him by the shoulder
and pointed to shadowy group some
distance away.
I'VE are all out but Bernadine" he
said. For him there is no hope
Quick"
They sprsng back only just in time.
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21
Continued from Page Two.

you interest me-" Sogrange said. 81
begin to suspect that you, too, have
made some plans"
But naturally" Peter, replied. "Once
before Bernadine set trap for me and
he nearly had chance of sending me
for swim in the Thames Since then
one takes precautions as a matter OF
course We were followed down here,
and by this time | should imagine that
the alarm is given. If all was well, /
was to have telephoned an hour ago"
The door was suddenly opened. Ber-
nadine stood upon the threshold and be-
hind him several of the servants.
you will oblige me by stepping back
into the study, my friends" he ordered.
with great pleasure" Sogrange an
swered, with alacrity ''We have no
fancy for this room, can assure you. .
Once more they crossed the stone hall
and entered the room into which they
had first been shown. Upon a table
stood a telephone instrument Berna-
dine drew small revolver from his
pocket
Baron de Grost.' he said, II find
that you are not quite such fool as
thought you Some one is ringing up
for you on the telephone. You will re-
ply that you are well and safe and that
you will be home as soon as your busi-
ness here is finished Your wife is at
the other end. If you breathe single
word to her of your approaching end,
she shall hear through the telephone the
sound of the revolver shot that sends
you TO hell"
Dear me-" Peter protested, 81 find
this most unpleasant. If you'll excuse
me- / don't think I'll answer the call at
ALI
You will answer it as ! have di-
-eo;ed." Bernadinc insisted Only re-
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21
HOP


The outside wall OF the house fell with
a terrible crash. The room which they
had Quilted was blotted now out OF eN-
istence From right and LETT. i'll all di-
rectionS along the country road. cama
the flashing OF lights and little knots of
hurrying people.
1T is the endr Peter muttered. Yes
terdav | should have regretted the pass
ing of brave enemy. To-day | hail
with JOY the death CT a brute
The baroness. who had bceu sitting
upon garden scat. sobOing. came soft
ly up to them. She laid her fingers
upon Peters arm inploringly.
You will not leave me friendless?"
she begged. The papers | promised
you are DESTROYED, but many OF his Sc
crets are here
She tapped her forehead
Madam" Peter answered. Il have
no wish to know them. Years ago I
swore that the passing of Bernadine
should mark my own retirement from
the world in which VIC both lived. I
shall keep my word. Tonight Berna-
dine is dead. Tonight, Sogrange, my
work is finished"
The baroness began to sob again.
And ! thought that you were 4
man" she moaned, so gallant, so hon.
orable-"
Madam Sograngc interviewed, Il
shall commend you to the pension list
of the Double-Four"
She dried her eyes.
1T is not money only want" she
whispered. her eyes following Peter.
: Sogrange shook her. head.
You have never seen the Baroness
de Grost:" he asked her.
But no,'
'Ah" Sogrange murmurcd.
Our escort. madam. is at your service
SO far as London"
Copyright, lsl2, by the Associated Literary Prs..l
The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

| him as though she had only half under
stood. when lost the bond by whicl
held YOU" she said Il could scarcel.
expect you to continue to pay | hav
thought it all over since. until ! thinl
that | have drunk in all the sham
! which a woman could feel. II was
hateful, miserable thing. but then m.
life has been hateful, miserable thin
ever since | was child. and did long
yes, did long" she added fervently
''for something little different
You disappeared, then he sale
slowly, because you imagined, natur,
ally enough. that so soon as you hac
only too glad to free myself from oui
| engagement.
"Of course she answered, the colol
slowly staining her checks. There wa.
no doubt whatever about that. Only
since then | have understood how great
a mistake | made. If things had turned
out differently she continued, y
should never have dared to come tc
you, TO tell you this and to ask for
your forgiveness But as it is" she
added, you cannot misunderstood me
any longer, can you?
Il suppose not" he admitted
Il wanted to come and tell you that
! was sorry" she continued softly. land
| wanted. too, to remind you that you
are still young. and that the loss of a
| fortune is not the most terrible thing
in the world heard yesterday tha,
YOU were out upon Salthouse Neck
close to the quicksands You know i,
Is never safe there. with these winter
tides. Life is not 4 thing to be trified
with. 1t may seem terrible to you just
now- TO have lost your great fortune, to
be once more a poor man. These things
after all. don't count for much against
the gift OF life. ] know it sounds like
humbug TO hear me talk like this, but
they were gossipIng about you in the
village. One man was saying that he
shouldn't be surprised to hear that YOU
had disappeared, and to fnd-to find
she added. with little shiver, your
body conre up the creek with the next
tide You wouldn't do anything like
that. would you?"
Not a ghost of chance OF it" he
answered 'cheerily. Besides, | am not
quite pauper yet"
You have lost the case. haven't you ,"
she asked quickly. They seemed to
think SO in the village, and heard that
Mr. Sarsby said his niece had come into
million pounds"
Up till last night. at any rate an
swered Deane, nothing was decided.
The Judge reserved his decision"
Then why" she asked wonderingly,
did you come down here
He drew her little closer to him,
and looked into her eyes Il think,
dear" he said. that it was Providence
which sent me-
They walked along the sands. and for
them the sun shone still, and the song
OF the lark was only the faint echo of
still more wonderful music. And
then. as they turned back. they saw
along the dyke boy riding bicycle. a
boy with leather satchel around his
waist. and the rim of whose bicycle
was red He pressed her arm.