The Dolores star., 1915-12-17

cry. He's heavily mortgaged, and Il
seams only q matter of few months
now before father gets even with the
old fool He'd have done II long ago.
only ne was bringing on coup of his
own which meant millions to HIM"
NY heart was hammering SO hard IL
scarcely seemed possible that I could
control my emotion Tho plot was
thiekening-and I was In the very
heart Of 1t!
Yes. he continued. putting up his
feet on the ships rail, -theres only
three OF them alive in the direct line
today: the comte, a very old man now,
q daughter by a second marriage. and
her son. the comte's grandson. . young
fellow OF twenty-five. There was a
son oy an earlier marriage, but he
went TO America and died there.
traced him to California and lost him
there. The burning Of San Francisco
had destroyed all the records. l ad-
vertised in all the Pacific coast papers
without result. There had been a mar
rage. and | believe there was one
daughter. But she has vanished COM
pletely."
Inc uneven glow OF his words, and
sudden suspicious odor on the night
air. convinced me that the scoundrel
had been drinking-not enough to rem
der him tpsy. but just sufficient to I'M
lock the doors of his secrets
so / told the old donkey"-by that
phrase Interpreted him to mean Mag
milf. Sr.-" you'd better hurry up with
that revenge of yours said. or
they'll all be dead He'd cut my al
lowance 10 beggarly ten thousand a
year. He told me was n bad egg.
as he elegantly phrased 1t. and had dis.
appointed all his hopes OF having me
succeed him in the banking business.
All right. old boy thought, I'll show
you something original in the financial
field. You see. Mise Howard" he con.
tinued. lurching toward me. 81 knew
the secret OF the bonds"
yes. what was IT." cried.
He sobered Immediately. Now
you'd like to know. wouldn't you ?" he
drawled. You tantalizing little
devil"
l rose with great dignity and walked
away. leaving him calling Miss How
ard! Miss Howard" in desperate
apology.
Thereafter, although my curiosity
was burning. avoided him sedulous.
ly. cutting him directly when we met
and ignoring his advances at the din
ner table. But he was so persistent
that | was driven to all sorts OF ex.
pedients to avoid him. and. when my
need of walk became urgent, l re.
sorted to the long deck OF the steer.
age. which was practically deserted,
since few steerage passengers were re.
turning to Europe at that season OF
the year
1t must have been on the third night
after when. while pacing the steerage
deck after successfully eluding my pur'
suer, l became aware OF a stir In the
shadows OF the sailors fore-cabin. I'm
der the stern. Then black shape
came flying toward me. clasped me BY
the arm. and fell on it's knees behinc
me, whirling me round to shield Il
against its pursuer. who came. cat.like
out Of the darkness. Before l had time
to be afraid I recognized that 1t wal
Zeuxis clutching me. Zedxis in des
perate fear. while. like a panther. his
wife followed him. a knife in her hand
crouching for a spring.
Safe me. safe me, Miss" the
Greek babbled frantically.
Well. Mary. to whom l wrote the in
cident. said I was brave. but haven
taught In the immigrant class fol
nothing. simply stepped forward ant
took the knife out Of her hand. She
gave 1t up like lamb and burst into
tears.
What IL this about" ! demanded
of Zeuxis. In my most scholastic tones
She's Jealous Of you. Miss How
ard he explained. rising sheepishl,
to his feet She's got 1t into her head