The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-04-16

icy
~A1 gentleman who
~.@~ had half arisen
from his couch t.
deliver the %peremptory command ia
his retainer. fell back exhausted
With the silent tread of q
clean-limbed animal Of the jungles. q
young man entered the bedroom and
approached the bedside of his father.
His head and shoulders were of tire
mendous size for the delicate body
and legs, giving him the appearance
OF a humpbacked man.
Henry. my boy" gasped lie Croix.
taking a firm grip on the bunch.
backs hands, and looking him earn.
estly In the eyes. I have just re.
ceived from your sister q note, which
Is burning in yon fire. She is over In
town and wanted to come here. Years
ago-you remember-your sister left
US. 1t broke your mothers heart,
What 1t did to me matters not, There
vas q man who took your sister from
US. He was q bad man. Your sis.
ter had a child by that bad man. Now,
Henri, should you ever meet him, kill
him!"
Yes, father"
Within the hour that the postmal
had delivered the unforgiving ulti.
matum to the young woman petition.
or a servant handed her a card, stat.
ing that the caller waited in the hotel
parlor. AS she entered a man arose
n d~eferentially bowed. She flushed
slightly as she recognized Charles
Aasbrook. an old acquaintance of her
girlhood. q man who had loved her,
and whom she had loved.
Your father is dying; you would
like to e him!"
Yes. sir, but he has absolutely de-
clined to receive me unless-unless-"
Il know" said Hasbrook, gently.
But that doesn't matter. II you'll
get your wraps we'u drive out to the
plantation.
"But-but-Frankte-
"Frankie?"
"Yes. my little SON..
The man started as II struck, but he
recovered himself.
Bring him along" he said.
At the mansion, Jean barred the
way.
my orders are strict" he said;
she cannot enter"
But l insist she has q right to
come in," said Hasbrook, sternly.
Let US pass, and then II he wants to
order US out, we'll 60. but we're 90
ing to see him first"
"Father!"
The young woman rushed to the In
valid and knelt at his bedside.
who calls me father?" demanded
the old man, harshly.
1T IL I-your dauxhter-Cecile-
can't you see me?'
Where's your husband!"
Here he is. Mr.. LIE Croix," saia
Hasbrook. calmly. My name is
Charles Hasbrook. l married your
daughter when she left home some
years ago."
The proof. str-the proof! Why
didn't you let me know before?
ANeeo oOA30 S14C0oGy uoT0.
Il understood you objected to me
lon grounds affecting my honor" said
Hasbrook. taking desperate chances.
and I told Cecil never to mention my
name in a letter she wrote you"
by CAD! That has the right ring"
said the old man. "Id have done
the same thing myself"
Tho invalid lasted until nearly
dawn. when Hasbrook having done all
he could. walked down the graveled
path. He was conscious that some
DARK figure was fitting about tho trees
and bushes. going In the same direc-
ton. Surprising It was one Of the
dogs. he paid but little attention till
the hgure blocked his way at the gate.
Then he recognized the grotesquely
misshapen form OF q man, who seemed
TO be all head and arms. Hasbrook
attempted to step to one side, but his
enemy leaped at him like a whirlwind.
clutched him With q death grip about
the throat and bore him to the earth.
He couldn't CRY out, and his arms
sesnsd paralysed. The hunchback
kneit on his breast and maintained his
grip OF steel till an was over.
Fearful Forest Waste.
Experts in the forest service In tho
department of agriculture estimate