The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-10-10
5he needed no further en-

| SIs L
will go with me-"
"And To-
mo. heart O. mine; you've got to
stay here"
IF you do not take me with you,
! you will not find me here when you re-
turn"
MY child" began Mortimer sooth-
| ingly, you must not talk like that.
| There will be danger"
F.; Then notify the police, and let the
danger rest upon their shoulders" she
said, her jaws set squarely.
81 can't call in the police" replied
! George, miserable.
''Shall l tell you why?"
Dearest, can't you understand that
It is you I am thinking of?''
II am determined. If / do not go
with you, you shall never see me
again. My mother is tEere!"
Tragedy. Mrs. Mortimer stretched
out hand, but the girl did not see
1T. Her mother; her own flesh and
blood! Oh, the poor child!
| Come, then" said George, in de.
spair "But you are hurting me, For.
tune"
forgive me, but I must go with
you 1 must!'
Get me the revolvers, Mr.. Morti.
| mer. Well wait for Wadsworth.
Will you please telephone him? I'm
afraid 1 couldn't talk steadily enough.
Explain nothing save that it concerns
his bank"
| George sat down. Not during those
early days of the journey across the
desert had he felt so pitiably weak
and inefficient.
Fortune paced the room, her arms
folded tightly across her breast.
Strange, there was neither fear nor
pain in her heart, only wild wrath.
When Mortimer returned from the
telephone, saying that Wadsworth
would be right over, he asked George
to explain fully what was going on.
| 1t was rather long story. George
managed to get through it with a CO.
herency Understandable, but no more.
George inspected the revolvers care
| fully to see if they were loaded.
The bell rang, and Arthur Wads-
worth came in. Mortimer knew him;
George did not. He drew his interest
as it fell due and deposited it in an
other bank. That was the extent of
his relations with Arthur Wadsworth,
president Of the Northumberland
Bank of New York.
Arthur was small, thin, blond like
his brother, but the hair was so light
upon the top of his head that he gave
one the impression that he was bald.
His eyes locked out from behind half
shut lids; his cheeks were cadaver-
Gus; his pale lips met in straight,
| unpleasant line. There was not the
slightest resemblance between the
two brothers, either in their bodies
! or in their souls. George recognized
this fact Immediately. He disliked the
man instinctively, just as he could
not help admiring his rogue of
brother.
81 want you to go with me to my
house at once" began George.
please explain"
George disliked the voice even more
than the man himself. Everything
twill be explained there" he replied.
This is very unusual" the banker
complained.
"You will find it so. Come"
George moved toward the hall, the re-
volvers in his coat-pocket.
But / insist
"Mr. Wadsworth, every thing will
be fully explained to you the moment
you enter my house. Mere l shall not
tell you. You are at liberty to return
home"
cit concerns the bank?" The voice
had something human in it now; a
note of affection.
Arthur Wadsworth loved the bank
as a man loves his sweetheart, but
more explicitly, as a miser loves the
hoard hidden in the stocking.
at concerns the bank?" he repeat
ed, torn by doubt
George shrugged. 'Let us be go
Ing"
"Will it be necessary to call in the
police?"
NO"
~ suppose, them" said Wadsworth
bitterly, wondering, too, over the
strange animosity of this young man
he did not know-"I suppose I must
do just as you say?"
Absolutely" Georges teeth came
together with a click.
The four Of them passed out of the
house, each singularly wrought with
agitation. Fortune walked ahead with
George. Neither spoke. They could
hear the occasional protest from the
banker into Mortimer's ear: but Nor
timer did Dot open his lips. They
came to the house, and then George
whispered his final instructions to
Wadsworth. The latter, when he un-
derstood what was taking place, be-
came wild with rage and terror; and
1t was onfy because George threatened
to warn the conspirators that he sub
sided.
And" went on George. eff you do
not obey, you can get out of it the
| best you know how. Now, silence,
absolute silence"
He pressed hack the grille gate.