Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-05-02

moor, and your brother and his friends
may do as they bally please. Now
step back and be quiet. Stop!" to Ry
anne, whose hand was reaching on
toward the table.
Don't shoot. Percival; l want onl.
a final glass Of wine" Ryanne calml.
took the slender stem Of the glass be
tween his fingers, lifted it and drank
He set 1t down empty. From his out
side pocket he drew a handkerchief
and d~elicately dried his lips. HI
alone Of his confederates had life. II
was because he alone understood
Prison wasn't staring him in the face
just yet. Well, Arthur, old top, how
goes It? Nearly got your m~oney-bags
didn't we? And we surely would have
but for this delicious vintage"
Damn you and your wine!" roared
the Major, shaking with rage. This
adventure had been no Joke to him, no
craving for excitement. He wanted
the gold. the gold. With what would
have been his share he could have
gambled at Monte Carlo and Ostend
till the end Of his days. For the first
time he saw long, black bars of iron
running up and down a window. And
all for bottle Of wine!
Damn away. old sport!" Ryanne
reached for the bottle and filed his
glass again. "Percival, I'm blamed
sorry about that olive-tree of yours"
He waved his hand toward the bags.
You can see that my intentions In
regard to refunding that hundred
pounds were strictly honorable. Now,
what's on the ticket?"
II suppose your luggage is outside
in the automobiles?"
"Right-O!"
well, 1 need not explain my rea-
sons; you will understand them; but
] am going to give you all two hours
time. Then I shall notify the police.
You will have to take your chance
after that time"
The circling faces frightened per
ceptibly. Two hours-that would car
ry them far into Jersey.
Accepted with thanks" said Ry-
anne.
II refuse to permit IT." yelled the
brother. "Mr. Jones, you will rue this
nights work. ! shall see that the law
looks into your actions. This is fell
ony. / demand to be allowed to tele-
phone"
"Percival. for heavens sake, let
hint" cried Ryanne YEARLY. Let
him shout; II 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.
..sYou had better start at once
George advised. "You three first,"
with q nod toward Wallace CHS bull
bous nose now lavender In hue), the
butler and the first-man. Forward
march. frontidoor. Go on!"
What about me?" asked Ryanne.
'In 4 moment" George could not
but admire the man, rascal though he
was. There was q pang of regret In
his heart al the thought came and
went swiftly: what a comrade this
would have made under different
circumstances! Too late! Haiti" he
cried. The trio marching toward the
door came to a stop. their heads
in~quiringly. Here. Mr.. Nor
timer: take one OF these guns and
cover the Major. He's the one I
doubt" Then George followed the
others into the hall and Ironically
babe them God-speed AZ 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. II there
was Z light Of triumph In Fortunes
eyes, 1t 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 . single gesture inviting
pity. she must have flown to her moth
Eer,s side, But there was no sign.
Finally. Fortune stepped back, chilled.
It was all too late.
Fortune" said George, terribly en-
:barrassed, sdo you wish to speak to
your mother, alone?
NO" It was . little word, spoken
In little. hushed tone.
to put. on her furs, which she had
AL-YNAa -EHr