The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-02-06

would yer have in this estate, or fer
| yer commission either, II Howe or
! Clinton got an inklin' of yer game?
| Good Lord man! they'd hang yer in.
! stead Of the other fellow YOull have
ter lie some as II is, | reckon, ter ex.
plain why yer left Sir Henry, an came
down here Have yer got that fact
.E'"r yer braIns?"
Grant glnrcd at him w!ckcdly, but
remained silent across the table
Yer already In bad enough. without
Iuntin more trouble Better leave the
/ boy alone. ! thought, at first, we'd
have ter use him. but | don't now. Let
| the girl believe he's deserted. and that
yer in a position ter help him. That
viii serve yer purpose better than the
I other scheme. It may awaken her
gratitude her sweet lOvc!"
Damn her love-"
80 It isn't love, ch. that makes yer
so anxious ! thought as much. What
is IT, thCn-rcvcnge?
Grant held his breath a moment, his
dun eyes on the faces OF the two men.
Well. ] might as well tell you" he
snarled at last. 81 loved her once.
guess; anyhow | wanted her badly
enough want her now, but not In
Just the same way. ! want to show
her I'm the master. want to give
her lesson. and that cub brother OF
hers. I'd have got them all, the Col.
onel with them, II that damned Col
onial spy hadn't stolen my coat had
them, dead to rights. Fagin, and the
papers to prove 1t. Now | don't care
how It's done, so get her. thought
she'd marry me to save the boy, but
II 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"
But she desplses me"
"Oh, no! Wen make you a victim.
That will leave things in proper shape
between yer two. Wen play It off as
drunken lark-eh Jones? My God
1t won't be the first time we've done
the trick either DO you remember
that loveslck couple over at Toms
River Ned? Never laughed sd much
in my life. This Is better one. Lord
but won't old Mortimer rave, an
mighty little good II will do him.
Come, what do yer say. Grant? Are
yer gamer"
"Heil's flre-yes." He got to his
feet, gripping the back Of his chair.
"Bring-bring EN- in; this ia a 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 could
perceive the glow OF 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. stole silently back |
to the library door,
Tom" whispered briefly. "nnd 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. Mnjor?" asked young !
Mortimer, eagerly.
81 can't explain now. must get |
back where | can see and hear. But
there is going to be fight. Hold the |
men ready here until call. See that |
their weapons are in good order"
caught the CLINT OF his eye. but |
could wait no longer Indeed | was
scarcely back. Struggled under the |
stairs, when BIZ 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 more at case. now | knew the
men were close ct hand Within Eve
Iulluttb the SnllTt suuuu WOulU De |
crowded into that room, eager for
trouble to begin. Probably Fagin did
not have halfdozen 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 over
me. and left me confident. The time
had come when was TO serve her, to
prove my own worthiness. felt ready
and eager for the trial.
caught glimpse Of jerks face. as
Bill jerked him forward. The man.
was gray with terror. his parchment
like skin scanned and contorted. He
was tall, loose-jointed creature, wear.
ing long black coat tapping about