Corpus Christi caller and daily herald. [volume] (Corpus Christi, Tex.) 1911-1917, 1914-09-06
CHAPTER n.


The sign Of the Three.
Out 81 doors. high brazcn noon, n
day IN spring. the clamorous life o.
New York running aa fluent an quick
silver through lis brilliant stfoets
within doors. neither sound nor sun
beam disturbed perennial quiet that
vas yet not pence
The room vas Ike wide deep
well ~ ulght the haunt o. toomiug
shadows and sinister hilcuces
Little. indeed. was Visible beyond
The lonely shape that broodcd over
u. the figure Of an old man motion.
less IN a great leather bound chalr
Tie hair wnB as white na hiB heart
wns black Tho rack ~ his honoa.
clothed IN q thick black dressing.
gown with wuistcord ~ crimson rilk.
from The thighs down was covered by
a black woollcn rig ITO stared an
bllnkingiy at nothing. man seven
eighiha dead. completely paralysed
but for hla hond and bis lott arm
Presently fnint clicking signal dia
turbcd The ntillnosn Aenocn.9rlno put
forth hla lcft hand and touched ono
~ a row of crimson buttons embedded
IA tho desk Something elise clicked
ttia tlmo latch There was the
fnlutont possible Noise Of a closing
door. aud "a Hn.alliah man stole noise
loasly into the light. paused beside the
desk and waited respectfully for leave
90 speak
"Woll7"
"a Telegram. air from England"
give n me-"
Tho old man seized The ahoet 81 vel
low paper. scanned n hungrlly. aud
crushed n in hts tremuloua claw With
"a gcaiu.o ~ uncomfortable emotion
"Seud my daughter Judith horo'"
Two minutes later young woman
IN street droaa was admitted 20 tho
chamber 81 shadows.
You sent for me. father7"
'alt down"
She found and placed q chair At the
dcsk and ohcdiouiy settled horaolf
in a.
Judith tell mo What day ia thlsF'
my birthday I ann twenty one
"Aud your sistor'a birthday Rose.
too. "a twenty one
"Yes"
You could have forgotten that. tho
old man pursucd almost morkinriy.
"no You really dlsliBe your twiu.alstor
go Intensely 90
Tho elrls voice tremhled "You
know she said we have nothing ia
common beyond parcutaEc aud thla
nhomlnnhlo resemblance our nnturen
differ na light from darkness
And which would YOU nay was
lightT"
Hardly my own I'm no hypocrite
Rose rs everything that they tcll mo
my mother was, while L. the kin
smiled strangely 4 think am more
your daughter than my mothers"
nod " the white head confirmed
tho nuggesiien. ~ ~ true. havo
watched you closely, Judith. perhaps
moro closely than even You know
Before | was brought 10 this"-the
wasted hand made significant yes
ture-"l Was man ~ strong paa
sions Your mother never loved. but
rather feared mo And Rose Ia the
mirror OF her mothers nature. gentle.
unselhah. sympathetic, Hut You. ia
dlth, YOU are like second SELF On
me"
An accent 81 protounc Eati elton
Informed hls voice The girl waited
In n silence that was tonsely expect.
ant
Then, n on this your birthday |
we're to ask service OF YOU that
might iniuriously affect tho happiness
OF your sister ?"
The glrl laughed briefly; "only
ask e."
And how far would YOU 70 to dc
my willie"
Where would you stop IN tho serv.
Ice ~ cae YOU loyed9"
Seneca Urine nodded gravely. Ana
after a brief pauSe. "Roso Is In love"
he announced.
"oh, | know know" tho fatae,
rhirmet with faint ring OF satisfac.
ton. Il am old. cripple. prisoner Of
this living tomb, but all things !
should know somehow como "a
know IN course Of time"
Its truc--that Engllshman abe
scraped an acquaintance with ON tho
Riviera last ycar--wha,s his name -
Law, Alan Law
In the main" the father corrected
mildly, 'yon are right Only, he's no,
English Ills father was welliEgton
Law. of Law 4 son"
she knew better than TO interrupt
hu' her seeming patience was belled
ny the whitening knucAles Of hand
that lay within 'hs little pool OF blood,
( red light
AND presently the deep voice rolled
o. law sSi ] were cnce friends:
~"s'~"-A'~~~---~~~s>~s~ <>-~-~-~.~->~~->>