davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28
CHAPTER KIN.
A sportina Offer.

Some two hours later. that same
evening, Mr.. Alan Law. very much
alive and. IL spite 81 a complete new
outfit OF ready made clothing looking
much more like himself than he had
In a fortnight. issued forth from the
Grand Central station. hailed a taxi.
cab. and had himself conveyed 70 the
Hotel Monolith.
But II he looked his proper self once
more. It speedily was demonstrated
that his wish was otherwise. for after
learning from the room-clerk Of the
Monoiith that e suite was being held
In the name OF Arthur Lawrence. that
was the name Mr. Law inscribed on
the register.
On the other hand, II was his true
name that he gave 20 the person whom
he called upon the telephone immedi.
ately after being shown 20 his rooms.
But then he was speaking 10 his old
friend and man Of business. Mr.. Digby.
Within another ten minutes this last
was In conference with his employer:
81 think you must be out OF your
head" he insisted nervously. once
their FIRST greetings were over. You
might Just as sensibly throw yourself
from the top Of the Metropolitan tower
as come % New York while Urine lives
and knows you're this side the water"
"Nonsense!" Alan laughed. "Remem.
Der this 10 New York-not the back.
woods Of Aaine!"
Alan paused and smote his palm
with a remorseful hst. by the Etsr.
nal. I'm forgetting Barcus!"
"BarcusT"
Chap whose boat chartered in
PortlAnd-sheer luck on my part: he's
n OF the salt OF the arth. First
something must be done for the boy.
You've got influence of some sort In
New Bedford. surelyr"
Digby reflected: Some. There's
George Blaine. justice OF the peace
The very man. Telegraph him In
Barcus' interests Immediately. And
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28
Alan. Appearance. .. the Hotel None I'm.

sand miles OF salt water But this
thing--l can't do u, wen FOR you. !
can't do Il even for myself. Rose
Urine is here In New York. in the
hands and az the mercy OF her father
aud sister, and you may Judge what
their mercy will be when you learn
all that she has done for me. ! won't
go and / can't go until | find her and
take her with me. And that is hnal.'
Then DiEby struck In, grasping
wildly at a straw Of hope. Il have your
word youN 90, providing ! md aud re.
store Rose % you?'
You have my word 70 that, unques.
tiouably. Bring Rose to me. and III
gladly shake the dust OF New York
from my shoes, and never "turn till
Urine Is put away comfortably in his
grave"
1t shall be done" Digby promised
II must"
You believe that"
IN twelve hours Rose shall be re.
stored 70 you
win you make a book on Il? I'll
bet you something happens-and hope
/ lose into the bargain. II you believe
you can carry out your promise. wire
the White star line 20 reserve the
best available suite on the Oceanic.
sailing tomorrow morning at ten
and make arrangements for a mar.
rlage before the boat sails"
I'm go you" D!gOy agreed "and II
fail, | forfeit the cost OF the reser.
walton. But about this marriage"
He hesitated.
You'll have 20 have a license In
this state-and can't get n except
by applying in person with your bride
| to-be. There won't be time"
Then wen marry In Jersey" Alan
insisted. dig up ONE clergyman over
there, II you don't know one your
self"
"oh. I'm well acquainted with the
very mani"
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28
CHAPTER XXI.



Alone IN that strange place OF ST.
fence and shadows-that den OF the
Devils livery, crimson and black
chained TO the invalid chair wherein,
tay In. day out, for years on end. he
had suffered the Promethean torments
OF the life that would not die out OF
his wretched. wrecked carcass though
without ceasing sharpbeaked envy.
hatred. malice and all uncharitable-
ness pecked insatiably at his vitals:
Seneca Urine sat waiting. with the i'm
passivity OF a craven figure waiting
on the imminent hour OF ultimate
engagement for the wrong that had
made him what he was.
Another hour, In sixty
minutes more they will be here, Judith
and Marrophat and Rose-poor fool.
and him! In sixty minutes
ncre they will put him down before
NE. bound and helpless. II not dead
.
A slight pause prefaced words that
were a vhimpered prayer: God send
that he be not dead, Have | fingered
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28

borhood OF the Riverside drive home %
his mortal enemy. a grim white house
that lowered. stark and tall, upon Q
corner.
His preliminary reconnotsance pro-
vided little more than comfortless eI'
ercise. Huge. still. its wall bsthed In
the milk and ink OF moonlight and
shadow, all It's windows DARK but
oue-and that one. In the topmost tier,
showed only a feeble slimmer 80 slight
that Alan almost overlooked H.
He believed with small doubt that
Rose was a prisoner within those
walls: that Judith must have con'
veyed her there with all speed.
And. this being the presumptiye case.
that small. high WINDOW Of the light
nigh, we'll be hers.
Directly across the street from the
Urine residence, on the opposite cor
ner. a colossal apartment structure
stood ~half.hnished stouework TO its
second story. gaunt iron skeleton ear
ing above.
To his infinite disgust. Alan found
the guardian very vide awake. very
much on the lob NJ chance here TO
steal unseen into the building.
This in itself might have been
deemed a suspicious circumstance
not for nothing does an honest night
Waterman so deny the laws % nature
and the tenets % his craft. But Alan
merely praised the man While cursing
the very fact ot his existence, and &C.
costing. oyercame with bank.notes
what seemed an uncommonly stubborn
reluctance. and got his way.
He could not know that another
skulked behind a barrier % lime bar
rels and overheard all that passed and.
when Alan had ducked smartly into
the unfinished building. rose and stole
after him with footsteps as ]noiseless
rs a cats and A face that had the saw.
agery o, a tigers when it was tran.
silently revealed Ia a shaft Of moon.
liEht.
At length Alan gained tho gridiron
% girders on a plane with the GIFTED
window across the way and crept
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28

along one Of these. Elngerly on his
hands and knees. until he came 10 ~,
end and might, II he cared 20. look
down a hundred feet 70 the sidewalks
That view. however. did not tempt;
he kept hls eyes level aud was 70.
~arded With q bare glimpse Of a pref.
lily. apered wall, framed In the lace o..
haif.drawn curtains.
And OF suddcu-whether through
fortuity. or instinct. or the psyche
logical attraction u his steadfast con.
centratiou-the tenant o.. the room
came 20 the window and stood there
for n little, looking peUsiyely out. alto.
Rether unconscious u the watcher In
hts aerial coiRn.
Again a horrible uncertainty har.
assed him. Was the woman Rose
or Judith That she vas one OF these
he could plainly see But which? Dared
be assume his hopes fulfilled?
With difficulty he detached his
hungry vision from her. aud drawing
from his pocket a small notebook. tore
out a blank page. placed this fat on
the glrder, found a pencil, and with
the assistance % a ray or two o.
moonlight scrawled a message OF al.
most stenokraphlc breyity.
When he looked up from this task.
she had vanished.
sitting up, astride the rlrder. he
took his watch-a cheap affair ne had
picked up when rcclothing himself In
the garments Of civilized society, a,
Providence, that moruiug-opened the
back Of the case, and closed II upon
the folded message.
Then drawing back his arm. ne
breathed a silent prayer 10 the god OF
all true lovers, and cast It from him
with all his might-with such force
that II almost unseated him at the end
OF the swing. But nothing less would
have served TO bridge hat yawning
chasm.
And the watch few straight and
true, squarely through the lighted win
dow and 70 the further wall.
Al that very instant OF his exultatior
over an obstacle overcome he heard a
sound behind him OF reaVy breathing
The assassin had come that clos,
upon his prey when Alan turned anc
discovered his peril.
The same moonbeam which haC
aided Alan In the composition OF hi.
message struck across the others face
and showed II like a hideous Chimes,
mask OF deadly hatred. with It's eye
balls glazing and It's lips drawn bacI
from the naked blade gripped between
Its teeth-a stlletto nothing short OF
foot In length
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28

telegraph Barcus as weli-send him
a hundred for expenses. and tell him
10 Join me here In New York as quick
az he cant"
Your friends address," Digby in
quired, mildly ironic as he sat down
at the desk and tumbled With the up
ply OF stationery.
New Bedford Jail. OF courSe," Alan
chuckled-but cut his laugh in " as
something futtered from the pack %
envelopes which Digby had disturbed
and fell 10 the floor between the two
men.
Face up. II grinned sardonic mock.
cry OF Alan's confidence. II vac a trey
Of hearts.
Now will you believer" Dlgby de.
manded huskily.
In what? A simple coincidence,'
Alan fouted. Not r. Who knows I'm
in New York-or that the Arthur Law.
renee for whom your agent engaged
these rooms was Alan Law. No. my
friend It's a BIT too thick for me. Take
my word for IL. this Ia nothing more
nor less than a souvenir OF a poker.
party held BY yesterdays tenant OF
this suite"
"Perhaps-perhaps'' Digby assent.
ed. stroking tretnulous lips. But I'm
afraid for you. my boy. Who knows
that Trine's spies were not watching
ms man when he made this reserva.
tom Who knows but that Arthur
Lawrence vas too thin a disguise for
Alan Law? | tell you. I'm frightened
10 the marrow Of my old bones, Do
ma this favor az least. my boy now
that you've been warned. whether by
accident or design-we won't argue
that-do leave tovn-go i~ncognito %
some quiet place near BY and wait
there for the sailing OF the next rams
atlantic steamer. on. surely you cant
deny me this n wish Of my fond old
heart. my boy
There's nothing on earth I would
hot do for you ~ said you've been
A father and a mother % me ever since
I can remember. even II We were sepa.
rated, most OF the time. by three thou.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28

here in anguish all these weary years
for the fulhllment OF my revenge only
TO be cheated at the end by Death?
God grant that Alan Law may be laid
down still living here at my feet.
Then q"
A bitter smile twisted his tortured
features: Then shall my will be done
10 him' And then, when | have seen
hin die as his father died-then-Ah,
God!-then at last | too may die.
There was a long silence. then a
yroan OF e1asperated protest: why
DO they not Gomez Why does Judith
delay. when she knows how / suffer?
Why have ! been put on from day 70
Gay with her kilograms that begged
Tor more time and promised every.
!hing-but told nothing!-until yester.
iay. Where are those mes.
Iages she sent me yesterday"
His one sound hand gropsd out like
q claw and sought a mass Of papers
Oh the desk beside him, sorting out
from among them two yellow forms
Painfully he blinked over these and
slowly hts pain.bent lips conned their
wording;
Alan and Rose safe with me-will
bring both home tomorrow night with.
out fail, " he read the first aloud; and
then the second Have m~otorcar
waiting for me tomorrow msrnins
from three o'clock TIL called for New
Bedford waterfront-Judith.
MOI" he affirmed with the fervor
Of n persuaded by his own desires:
! must o doubt the girl! she has
promised. she has performed:
So still was he, indeed, that he
seemed 70 sleep. but 30 deceptive was
that semblancs hat he wa alert for
he least sound. The girl entered soft.
BY, az II fearful OF disturbing his Stun.
bers: but she found him with head
srect and eyes a-blaze.
Judith" hs cried. his great voice
vibrating like q brasen bell. AT last,
Where IL he7 You have brought him
Where 10 hsr'
With no more answer than n sigh
the girl dropped her head and let hel
hands hang Imply with palms ex
posed.
After al instant OF increduious dis
appointment the man shot q single
frisid question at her:
Won have failedT"
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28
CHAPTER XIV.

C~hanaelins.
IN the vague, chill gray % that dull
and de.olate dawn. Judith stirred ab.
rIlt.y on the couch Of a s~.eepless
u.ga'. and with the rapidly Of one
"n0 has arrived a. a settled purpose
after a long period ~ doubt and per.
p~l"Nlty, rose and bathed and dressed
herself IN nsgligee.
In The adjoining room she could hear
small, stea.,hy uo.se,-the sounds
made by her sister moving about and
preparing against the unRgessable mo-.
Weu' when her rescue would be az.
tempted. according 20 the Information
conveyed In that midnight message
For chance lad coUsp.red H!th her
insomnia 20 station Judith ia the re.
cess o. her darHcUed window. idly
viewing the gauDt framework Of the
unfinished building from an angle
which, when Alan edged out along the
r.rd"r showed him plainly In sllhou.
cite against the sky.
She had seen him throw the watch
and had heard the double 'hvmp Of its
impact With the wall and floor OF
Roses aoachamh"r.
The clock was striking six as She
.e't her room across the street, work.
.AgmeE We're streaming into tho build.
ing 20 begin the labors ~ the day.
brushing unceremoniol-Iy past the
dro"ay and Indifferent guard IN the
corridor outside the door 10 Rose 4,
room. Judith turned the key that 70.
mained IN the lock on the outside re-.
moved #, entered, and locked the door
behind her.
without any surprise she found her
sister already dressed 10 the point O,
DOMINIC her outer garments.
Rendered half.frautic by this uney.
pected interruption, threatening as /,
did the pertlous scheme that Alan had
proposed, Rose greeted her sister with
a c-ountenance at once aghast and
wrathful.
Il insist that you leave this room a,
oncel"
insist by all means-and he
damned ] may leave this room-ant
may not dear little sister. But on,
Of US Will never leave II alive"
What do you mean? You csn,o,
mean to murder me in cold blood
Judith"
Not II" Judith laughed har.h,v
But, since II has pleased DESTINY :,
decree that we must both love on,
man-let Destiny decide between n,
and bear the blame OF nurder."
Judith"
"one moment" Crossing n , .,..
table, Judith took up a glass from I,
tray that held a silver wa~ter.pi,cha,
and returned with II TO the tabIe ,ha
occupied the middle OF the floor. Al ~,
same time she opened a hand nm The,
fast clenched and disclosed a s,nai
blue bottle with a red label sbr,eLIn,
the warning "PoIsoN!"
! -st~ryehnine." she explained com
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28
cep,rlgA,, isl.. b. Leal. Io..pa y.ee.

Il have failed she confessed.
why"
She shrugged slightly. Who knows
why one fails? I did my best: he was
too much for me, outwitted me At
every turn. Time and again | thought
I had him, but always be escaped.
either by his own wit and courage or
with another's aid Only yesterday
night they were all three In the hol.
low OF my hands-but now I bring you
only Rose"
She ALTERED. aved by the glare OF
his Infatuated eyes Let me explain.
she begged.
he snapped her short: You cannot
explain. The thing is impossible. that
you should have failed. There Is some.
thing beneath this. something you
will not tell me
She endeavored 10 speak. but hs en-.
forced silence with a sonorous No"
His hand sought the row Of buttons
on the desk and pressed one long.
Almost Instantly a servant glided
noiselessly into the room
My daughter Rose-have her
brought here 70 the al once
In another m the replica OF
hts daughter Judith vas ushered into
his presence.
Upon this one he loosed the light.
nings OF his wrath without ruth.
Rose suffered him 10 silence. His
most CALLING recriminatlou edgced 10
retort from this one.
In a lull In Trine's TRADE, Judith
chose to interiect: Don't be- so hard
on the silly fool she's o responsible
she's sick eith love FOR that good look.
Ing slmpleton'
And yos'' Rose turned on her
passlonately-'what about YOU II
love Alan Law at leas; | love him
openly. ! am not ashamed 20 own it
and ! don't pursue him. as YOU DO, pre-.
tending ! mean 20 sacrifice him 20 q
wicked family feud. and then spare
him every time ! meet him, 20 lead
him TO believe ! haven't the heart 10
iniure h!m-as you do. hoping 50 to
work upon his sympathies and earn
a kindly word and a pat on the head
from his hand
Ffercely she leveled a denunclatory
arm al her sister There" she cried
10 her fsther-'it you need 70 know
there stands the daughter who has
betrayed your iaith-as | have not,
who have never even pretended to
approve your yillalny,"
Il think Urine announced IN q
voice Of ice-"I have learned now
what ! needed 70 know
His fingers sought the ron % but.
tons; and when a servant responded.
he inquired
Mr. Marrophat has returned"
He Is In the waiting room. sir"
"Conduc' Miss Judith T. Aim and
tell him / hold him personally respon.
sible for her safe keeping. lie will
understand.
And for a long time thereafter the
father. alone with the daughter Who
had been ~estranged from him since
birth by every instinct OF her nature
essayed In vain 10 break down her
mutinous silence,
Al last Urine summoned two OF his
Creatures and had her led weeping
from the rooms 10 be held prisoner In
her bedchamber on the tOpmost fiooi
OF the house.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28
SYNOPSIS.

IN. . % Hearts Is the death sign en-
ployed by Seneca Urine IN the private war
% vengeance which. through the agency
Of his daughter Judith. a woman Of vio-
lent passions Ike his own. he wages
against Alan Law son % the mar nov
dead whom Urine held responsible for
the accident which rendered him a help
less cripple. Alan IL In love With Rose.
Judith's win end double. but IN all else
her Opposite. Judith vows 20 compass
Alan's death. but under dramatic circum-
stances he saves her hfe and 80. unNlt-
tinGly. wins her love Thereafter judith
10 By turns worked upon BY the old ha-
tr~d. the new love. asd jealousy OF her
slater Rnsa.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28

Not but Destiny, II II Will"
window, she was dressed and lam
bered out upon the sill.
Sweetheart. My brayest h'ue
woman"
The hook hung steadily within BIZ
Inches OF the windowledge. Alan e.
tended his arm.
Nothing to fear, except lest ho'S
you too tight, dear one!"
Without a word Judith set her too'
beside hts In the hook. SURRENDERED "
his embrace. and closed her eyes
Immediately they were swung AVN
from the window. over toward new
posite sidewalk. and gently lowered W
the street.
Maybe this isn't a good scheme,
Alan exulted In the innocence OF Nv
heart. But ! think IL Ia. And tnoss
w~orkingmen think II a great lark
told them the simple truth. you sss'
that we were eloping!"
BY way Of answer Judith breAthss
only a word OF tenderness.
And that instant the hook pausse
and Alan stepped OF upon the sioS
walk.
Safe and southland MT 9 SOP
over there the wiser az yeti" he ov
clared with a derisiye nod toward inc
home Of Urine. Come along, HereS
a limousine waiting. In twenty mis
utes Wen be at the ferry, IN forty on
In Jersey, within an hour marriss
within four hours safe ~ sea-
Gro BE CONTINUED
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28

posediy. "in solution" And emptieo
the bottle into the slasa
A easur Of courage returned 10
Rose. do you expect 90 be able IN
make me drink that7" she demanded
contemptuOusly.
Not but Destiny. II It will, Sc.
here" From a pocket of her dressing.
gown Judith prsduced a sealed deck o,
playing cards. Let these declare the
will Of Destiny toward us. | will break
tho seal. shufie the cards. and deal"
she explained. suiting action to word.
THE one who gets the trey OF hearts
will drain that glass. Is II a bar.
gain"
Never! oh, now ! know that you
are altogether mad"
Whipping a small revolver from an.
other pocket OF her dressing.gown, Ju.
dith placed It on tho table. ready 10
her hand
you will shoot me II | do not con.
ssnt?"
Not you-but him. II you refuse.
little sister, ! will shoe; Alan Law
dead when he ONE to keep his ap
pointment with you"
With u shudder Rose bowed her
head.
Deal" she muttered fearfully. and
may God Judge between u.s."
one by one she stripped the cards
from the top OF the deck. dealing FIRST
To Rose. then to herself.
one by one they fiuttered to the
table on either side the glass OF poison,
and fell face uppermost.
The trey Of hearts fell to judith.
There was an instant Of silent dread.
ended by Rose, AZ Judith's hand moved
steadily toward the glass.
judith she lmplored. Don't
beg Of you-l didn't mean tt take
back my consent"
TOO late" said Judith. lifting the
glass and cycling It's contents with Q
strange smile.
Judith! you cannot mean to drink
~"
Cant |, though ?" the other laughed
mirthlessly. Just watch mel"
With "A %stranglcd cry Rose covered
her face with her hands to shut out
the sight, stood ~momentarily swaying,
and dropped to the floor ia II complete
faint.
Delaying only TO recognize this pbe
omena with n plying smile for the
weakness OF spirit hat caused II. Ju
diths glance darted through the win.
dow and saw that which caused her to
stay her hand an instant longer.
On the topmost tier OF Orders OF the
building opposite. Alan Law stood
amid a little knot Of amused and ami.
mated labOrcrs. one foot In the great
steel hook Of the hosting tackle. both
hands clasping the chain that linked
1t 10 the gigantic block.
And as Judith stared. he smiled at
something said by one Of those about
him. looked back, and waved a hand
to some person invisible.
Immediately the arm began to In
the tackle to move slowly through the
blocks. Very gently he was swung W
and outward. 4
With Il cry judith flung ,he poison
heedlessly from her. leaped across the
room, and snatchcd up the street gar
meuts Rose had dropped at her sisters
entrance.
IN another moment she was strug-
Cling madly into them.
Before the shadow OF Alan. elingins
10 the hook aud chain, fell at yar; the