The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-05-29

"Ouiu ycr nave IN tnls eState, or Ter
yer commission either, If Howe or
Clinton got an inklin' of yer game?
Good Lord, man! they'd hang yer In
stead of the other fellow. You'll have
ter lie some as 1t is, / reckon, ter ex-
plain why yer left Sir Henry, an came
down here. Have yer got that fact
inter yer brainsT"
Grant glared at him wickedly, but
remained silent across the table.
Yer already In bad enough, without
huntin' more trouble. Better leave the
boy alone. / thought, at nrst, we'd
the girl believe he's deserted, and that
yer in a position ter help him. That
Will serve yer purpose better than the
other scheme. II may awaken her
gratitude, her sweet Lowell"
Damn her love!"
$50 1t isn't love, Ell, that makes yer
so anxious. / thought as much. What
Is 1t, then-revenge?"
Grant held his breath a moment, his
dull eyes or the faces of the two men.
Well, ! might as we'll tell you," he
snarled at last. Il loved her once, /
guess; anyhow I wanted her badly
enough. | want her now, but not in
just the same way. l want to show
her I'm the master. l want to give
her a lesson, and that cub brother of
hers. I'd have got them all, the Col
onel with them. If that damned Col
onial spy hadn't stolen my coat / had
them. dead to rights, Fagin, and the
papers 10 prove it. Now don't ARE
how it's done, so / get her. l thought
she'd marry me to save the boy, but
If she won't, why then, you carry out
your plan-what is it?"
Fagin laughed, again emptying his
glass.
EASY enough. She's alone. except
fer her father, and he can't get out OF
bed. We've got jerks here, an the
damned old coward will do whatever
/ tell him."
Blu. she despises me-"
"Oh. mol Well make you a victim.
That will leave things in proper shape
between yer two. Well play it off as
a drunken lark-eh, Jones? My God!
1t won't be the first time we've done
the trick either. Do you remember
that love-sick couple over at Toms
River, Ned? Never laughed so much
In my life. This is a better me-. Lord!
but won't old Mortimer rave, an
mighty little good 1t will do him.
Come. what do yer say. Grant? Are
yer gamer"
"Hell's fire-yes." He got to his
fest, gripping the back Of his chair.
"Bring-bring 'em In; this is q good
place"
Fagin struck the table with his fist.
"Of course 1t is. drink ter the bride
after the ceremony. Bill. bring in the
preacher"
1t was growing daylight I could
perceive the glow or the sky out
through the window, but the candles
still sputtered ON the table, casting
grim lights and shadows on the faces
OF the three men. AS Bill disappeared
into the parlor. I stole silently back
to the library door.
Tom" / whispered briefly. find the
boys, and bring them In here. through
that broken window. They are In the
orchard to the right, and there are no
guards In front Move lively. but be
quiet"
What is it, MAORI" asked young
Mortimer, eagerly.
II can't explain now. must get
back where / can see and hear. But
there IL going to be a fight. Hold the
men ready here until / call. See that
their weapons are in good order"
l caught the CLINT Of his eye, but
could wait no longer. Indeed / was
scarcely back, snuggled under the
stairs. when Bill came forth. gripping
the collar Of his prisoners coat. and
urging him down the hall. crouched
lower. the morning light threatening
to reveal my hiding place, yet with
mind ore at ease. now ! knew the
men were close at hand. Within i've
minutes the entire squad would be
crowded into that room, eager for
trouble to begin. Probably Fagin did
not have a half-dozen fellows In the
house. II we could strike swiftly
enough we might overpower them all.
without creating alarm outside. where
the main body lay. Some careless
ness had brought us good luck In hav-
Ing the front Of the house left un-
guarded. These thoughts swept w
me. and left me confident. The time
had come when I vas to serve her. to
prove my own wortniness, i reit ready
and eager for the trial.
caught . glimpse Of Jerks fAos. a
Bill Jerked him forward. The man
was gray with terror. his parchment,
like skin scanned and contorted. he
was . tall. loose-iointed creature, wear
tng = lons black onef dappinx ahou,