Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1912-09-05
you men craYe zuur EouauL0

| If | could only get you to look at all
sides of the affair! It's the Rubicon. "
II accept it as such l am tired of
petty things. I repeat, failure is not
possible. Have l not thought it out
detail by detail, mapped out each line,
anticipated dangers by eliminating
them?"
Gail but that one danger of which
we know nothing. You're great
woman, Kate. You have, as you say,
made ninety-nine dangers out of a
hundred impossible. Let us keep an
eye out for that hundredth. Our pho
tographs have yet to grace the rogues'
gallery"
with one exception" Ryanne's
laughter was sardonic.
"Whose?" shot the major.
Mine. A round and youthful phiz,
a silky young mustache. But rest
easy; there's no likeness between that
and the original one I wear now"
"You never told me be-
gan Mrs. Chedsoye.
There was never any need till now.
Eight years ago. Certain powers that
be worked toward my escape. But l
was never to return. You will recoi-
lect that / have always remained this
side. Enough. What I did does not
matter. l will say this much: my
crime was in being found out. One
venture into New York and out to sea
again; they will not have a chance. /
doubt If any could recall the circum-
stances of my meteoric career. You
will observe that l am keyed for any
thing. Let us get to work. 1t doesn't
matter, anyhow"
"You did not ." Mrs. Ched-
soye hesitated.
"Blood?" reading her thought. mo,
Gioconda; my hands are guiltless, at
least they were till his Bagdad affair;
and I am not sure there. I was a
trusted clerk; I gambled; I took
money that did not belong to me. And
here am, room number 208."
1T doesn't matter. Come, Kate;
don't stare at Hoddy as If he were a
new species" The major smoothed
the ends of his moustache. This con-
fession will be good for his SOUL"
"Yes, Gioconda; I feel easier now.
I am heart and soul in this affair. I
need excitement, too. Lord, yes.
When l went to Bagdad, had no idea
that should ever lay eyes upon that
rug. But I did. And there's the
emeralds, too, major"
The major rubbed his hands pleas
urably. 'Yes, yes; the emeralds; I
had not forgotten them. One hundred
lovely green stones, worth not penny
under thirty thousand. A fine collec-
ton. But another idea has taken pos
session of this teeming brain of mine.
Have you noticed how this fellow
Jones hovers about Fortune? He's
worth a million, If he's worth cent.
I am sure, in pure gratitude, she
: were we'll taken care of in their old
age"
81 am going to marry Fortune my
SELF" said Ryanne blandly.
"You?" The major was nonplussed.
Wallace shuffled his feet uneasily.
This blond companion of his was al
ways showing kinks in his nature,
! kinks that rarely ever Strengthened
out.
Eyes. And why not? What is she
to either you or her mother? Moth
ing. Affection you have never given
III
but, nevertheless l love her, and /
am going to marry her"
Really" said Mrs. Chedsoye.
even so.''
"You are & fool, Horace!" with ris-
ing fury. So then, the child had not
| jibed her in moment of pique?
Men in love generally are fools.
I've never spoken before, because you
never absolutely needed me till now
| There's my cards, pat"
Mrs. Chedsoye's fury deepened, but
not visibly. You are welcome to her,
If she will have you"
YES" supplemented the major; "if
she will have you, my friend, take her
and our benedictions."
| Ryanne's shoulders stirred sugges'
lively.
'Of course, I expect to have the
final word to say on the subject. She
is my daughter" said Mrs. Chedsoye.
"a trifing accident, my dear Clio
conda," smiled Ryanne! merely
| that"
"Just a little oil, just little oil,
the major pleaded anxiously. Dash
| It all, this is no time for a row of this
silly order. But it's always the way
irritably. "a big enterprise, demand
ing a single purpose, and trihe like
| this to upset it ALL"
81 am ready for business at any mo
ment"
"And you, Kate?"
| We'll say no more about It till the
| affair is over After that
Those who live will see. eh?'
Ryanne rolled cigarette.
ITO business, then. In the first
place. Mr.. Jones must not reach the