Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-09-09
CHAPTER xvn-(continued.)

Payson turned in surprise. "Chet-
wynd?"
Didn't he tell you that chetwynd
is out there, too, in an iron bound
cheSt?'
Good heaven. What are you talk
Ing about?' cried the other, in genu-
Inc amazement.
Never mind" said Eric, grimly.
me?"
That you as much as accused him
of being my father" said Payson, with
wonderful self control.
Il didn't put it just that way. 1 as
There is a difference"
II ought to kill you"
. course, he denied you" said Eric.
Denied me? oh, l see. You mean
he disowned me-" said Payson grimly.
= wonder at your complacency," said
the other, surveying him in no little
admiration.
1T is not the time for anger" was
the calm retort. There is too much
at stake. I nave had many lessons in
self restraint. Wall street is a great
teacher and a great leveler Of personal
vanities. I've wanted to kill a good
many men since I went there, Mid
thorne. May l ask what grounds you
ther?"
The resemblance" said Eric bluntly.
~ ecll "io oliSll " " i vi
two. Involuntarily his gaze sought the
mirror that hung on the opposite wall.
The room was half dark.
Good God!" he exclaimed, his eyes
suddenly contracting and expanding.
He passed a hand over his own face, as
If to see whether the movement would
be reflected in the looking glass.
You see?" said Eric gently, a great
pity in his heart.
'It's-it's incredible! He spoke of
+ho o~@~1. I 49, I-I r - - 1-- -
was SO marked. Why-why, / can see
his eyes, his nose, his"
See here, Jack" broke in Midthorne
1mpulsively, Tn sorry for all this. /
can't tell you how sorry I am. From
the bottom of my heart, 1 hope it can
all be cleared up satisfactorily. 1 hope
1T is nothing more than a curious freak
of nature"
Payson turned on him furiously.
my mother is an honest woman She
couldn't have done the horrible thing
you are accusing her of. Only prosti-
tutes descend to" He stopped sud
denly.
Eric had clapped his hands to his
eyes, a deep groan breaking through
his b%loodless lips.
The other understood. I'm sorry,
Eric" he muttered, forgetting his own
panion's sudden pain. II forgot"
Eric cut him off, his pride aflame. II
don't want your pity, or your e%xplana-
tons, orr"
Payson considerably left his side
and walked to the window. peering out
into the night, giving Midthorne time
to recover himself.
After a few minutes Eric spoke.
"How does he account for the re-
semblance ?" he asked quietly.
Pavson returned to his place on the
hearth stone. am willing to dis
nc thcCn thiroor will. Won NTi1fhnrt1n
because you are Mary's brother. and
because O have a perfect right to
know who and what I am. I'd do just
as you are doing if I had a sister and
1T was you who wanted to marry her.
I'd ask questions of you, Just as"
"And I'd tell you to go to the devil!"
but" went on the other calmly. "if
she loved you and you loved her. and ]
knew you to be an honorable. we'll
meaning chap-as you are. Eric-Id
give her over to you in a minute"
"T daresay," remarked Eric bluntly,
Payson chose again to ignore an of
fensive remark But I would ask
questions. as I said before he went
on. "They would relate to you and not
to the people who brought you into
the world. You ask me how Adam ac-
counts for the resemblance. Well, he
doesn't ATTEMPT to do so. He knew my
father well. They were boys and men
together. All he will say Is that I am
like my father, and that my father was
Henry Payson. who lies out there in
the Atlantic. That is all I can get out
of him. I'll confess there's an air OF
mystery about it, greater than ever
now that I've looked squarely into your
looking glass. My own seems a little
less brutal. But he swears on his soul
as he loves me-and I know he does
that I nave nothing to fear. Curiously
however. he forbids me to question my
mother"
"Aha!" calculated his listener.
HE is right" protested Payson
"How can I go to her with-well, with
questions"
of an emotion that came over him sc
swiftly that he could not suppress it
He turned his back quickly an6
clenched his hands in the violent effort
to regain control of himself.
"You can't go to her" cried Eric
casting off all reserve. Not for all the
world. Come. come. Jack, buck up!
am the last person in the world to con-
denim you or any other man. If you car
bring yourself to accept an apology
from me, I offer it to you here and now
in my own house. What is more,
withdraw my opposition so far as yot
and Mary are concerned"
Payson had whirled and was staring
at him with ~incredulous eyes.
Il am not fool enough to ask you tt
overlook the insults L nave Offered,
went on Midthorne rapidly. you will
consider them worse thar insults wher
you learn the truth about the mar
who"
With a glad cry, Jack Paysor
stretched out his hands and graspe6
Eric's shoulders.
:Nonsense," he exclaimed, his eye.
aglow. You're hipped about some.
thing. Don't you suppose I can SEE
there's something wrong? You're no
yourself. That's why I can and dc
overlook the so-called insults. I dom
hold anything against yoa. Eric. We
can't help being friends. You dom
know how happy 1 am to hear you sa.
that you won't stand in the way Of ou1
marriage. 1t would ave been unpleas.
ant to defy you but that
"Just a moment, Payson," inter
rupted Eric. II must tell you that Mar!
has decided that she can't marry you
We've talked it over"
What" gasped the other, dismayed
His jaw dropped. Impossible! | dom
believe it. She loves me. Nothing
could change"