Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-02-12

known in the pages of metropolitan
crime. There was Mrs. Chedsoye, in
trusively handsome as ever; there
was her rascally card-sharper brother,
that migrate who called himself Ry-
anne, and three unknown men. The
impotence Of it; the damnable inso-
lence of 1t! And there they were,
toasting their success IN a brace of
his Owls ntage-champagne! But the
Vine was, after all, inconsequential 1t
was what he saw upon the floor that
caught him by the throat. His knees
weakened. but he held on grimly to
his perch.
White bags Of gold, soiled bags of
gold, and neat packs of green and yell
low notes: riches! Twenty bags and
as many packets of currency; mil
lion, not penny under that! George
was seized with horrible desire to
yell with laughter He felt the each
innations bubble in his throat. He
swallowed violently and gnawed his
lips. They had got into his house un-
der false pretenses and had tunneled
back into the Northumberland
Bank, of which Horace's brother was
president and in which he, George p.
A. Jones, always carried large prf-
vate balance! 1t was the joke of
the century.
AS quietly as he possibly could, he
stepped down from his uncertain
perch. In the fine fury that followed
his amazement, his one thought was
to summon the police at once, to con-
front the wretches in their yillainy;
but once outside in the street he
cooled. Instantly he saw the trial in
court Fortune as witness against her
own mother. That was horrible and
not to be thought of. But what could
he do? He was shaken to his soul.
The stupendous audacity Of such n
plan! To have worked out every de-
tail, down to the altering of the key
hole to prevent surprise! He saw
the automobiles. They were leaving
that night. If he acted at ALL it must
be within an hour; in less than that
time they would be loading the cars.
His mind began to rid itself of it's
confusion. Without the aid Of the
police; and presently he saw the way
to do 1t.
He was off at a dog-trot. upon the
balls of his feet, silently. Within five
i minutes he was mounting the steps
to the Mortimer home, and in another
| minute was inside. The others saw d.
rectly that something serious had hap
pened.
What's the trouble, George? House
vanished?" asked Mortimer.
Have you got brace of revolv-
ers?" said George quietly.
1.-TWO automatics. But
Give them to me-" less evenly in
tone. win you call up Arthur Wads-
worth, president of the Merchant-M
chanic Bank?"
"The bank?"
Eyes, the bank. You know, it is
just in the rear of my house."
Here Fortune came forward All
the bright color was gone from her
cheeks; the old mask of despair had
reformed. She needed no further en-
lightenment.
Are you going back there?" she
asked.
"Yes, dear; I must Mr.. Mortimer
will go with me-
And II"
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"
'.Then notify the police, and let the
danger rest upon their shoulders" she
said, her jaws set squarely.
II can't call in the police" replied
George, miserable.
"Shall tell you why?"
Dearest, can't you understand that
it Is you am thinking off"
Il am determined. II do not go
with you, you shall never see me
again. My mother is therel"
Tragedy. Mrs. Mortimer stretched
out hand. but the girl did not see
it. Her mother; her own flesh and
blood! Oh, the poor child,
Come, them" said George, in de-
spair. But you are hurting me, For
tune
Forgive me, but must go with
you l must!"
Get me the revolvers, Mr.. Morti-
mer. Well wait for Wadsworth.
Will you please telephone himi I'm
afraid couldn't talk steadily enough.
Explain nothing save that 1t 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.