Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-16

the Temple mansion occupied one OF
the largest and most exclusive sites.
1t was not Johns way to abandon an
enterprise once he had undertaken it,
so he rang the bell without hesitation,
gave his name and was admitted by
a doubtful-eyed maid when he asked
to see Miss Temple.
After a slight delay, he was ushered
into richly furnished drawing room.
and found Mary there with her
fiance. The girl was in evening dress.
A superb diamond necklace flashed
from the white skin of her throat
There were diamonds in her hair,
in her corsage and on her fingers.
The glitter of them seemed to dazzle
John. 1t was with a positive effort
that he forced hating tongue to
announce the purpose of his visit.
The girl heard him with chilling in
difference that soon merged into .
supercilious smile.
Really, Mr.. Burton" she said, ut
is presumption on your part to pay
social call here fear you must have
misunderstood both the extent of the
service you rendered me and the ma
ture of the appeal | made subsequent
ly. I like to be outspoken in such
matters. That strike had to be ended.
Fathers clients were bowling for
steel, and | thought that woman's
tongue might prevail where mans
logic was at fault. Moreover, father
promised inc a $4,000 necklace if I
succeeded Here it is. 1t was worth
trying for, wasn't il" And she
touched the glittering gems on her
throat, with those delicate fingers
whose clasp had once thrilled John
Burton's being to its innermost fiber.
He was literally struck dumb. He
heard, as one in dream, Mary's next
words to Reeves:
II am under certain obligations to
this man, dear. Will you see that he
is rewarded"
John could only stare after her in
blank amazement as She swept out of
the ROOM He was quite unaware that
Reeves had thrust some bills into his
hand. He almost staggered in the
effort to win clear of the house, but
halted in the hall to gaze at the bills
in his hand. When his benumbed
brain understood what they meant he
threw them from him savagely. He
laughed, too, not in his wonted CHEEKY
way, but with the harsh cynicism of
a man who had suddenly and ire
vocably lost faith and hope and rev.
erence.
On the way to his poor lodging he
remembered the union meeting, and
turned to go there, resolved now to
cast his lot wholly with his brethren.
Suddenly, he halted in the road, and
his well-tanned cheeks blanched at
the thought which came to him.
What right had he to pose among his
mates as one who was whole-hearted-
ly with them in the never-ending
struggle between capital and labor?
Had he not betrayed them. Had he
not sold their trust for tickle wom-
ans smile? How might he stand up
among these honest comrades and
confess that he had persuaded them
to call off the strike not as he had put
it, because of the resultant misery to
thousands in the city, but because he
was cozened into the belief by Mary
Temple?
Sick at heart he went to his Door
lodging. He felt beaten and disgraced.
Literally, he dared not face his COM
rades!
Next morning, when John arrived at the
factory. he was stopped by foreman and
TOLD that his services were no longer needed
This was Reeves mean revenge. John
turned on his heel. He didn't care At any
other time he would have sought the helm
of the union, but he now regarded himself
as q traitor.
He went to his boarding house and did
not stir out again that day. Towards night
visitor was announced, not a lady this
Time, It was explained, but a strange man
Entering the parlor, John was confronted
by short, dapper-looking man, who said
he represented firm of solicitors in Lon
don. John did not know what Solicitors
were, and thought the man meant to sell
him something. This minor difficulty soon
vanished when the stranger began ques-
tioning him as to his birth and parentaRe
Burton answered as best he could and gave
such references as lay within his power to
those yet living who might be connected
with his youth.
His mother had died soon after he was
born and his father had been killed by an
accident within a few hours of Mrs Bur
toms death. John had been told that they
had come from England only few months
earlier and that his father was a man of
distinguished appearance and refined speech
That is all I know about him." he con-
cluded. Since then was dragged up by
the scruff Of the neck Here am, just as
you see me. What do you want with me,
anyhow"
The stranger did not answer for few
minutes. He took some documents from a
bag and consulted them, comparing certain
statements therein with the notes he had
made OF Johns dim but fairly accurate rec
objection.
Al last no lifted his eyes and said,
grayely:
You must prepare yourself for shock,
Mr.. Burton. but I hope 1t will be plea
urable one. You are the tenth marquis OF
Castleton, heir to an invested fortune of
100000 sterling, an estate worth 100000
year"
What on earth are you talking about.
anyhow" gasped John
II am telling you the literal truth" said
the other, solemnly. About thirty years
ago--to be exact, In 1885, the ninth marquis
of Castleton. your uncle, quarreled with his
brother, your father. Lord Richard Burton.
because his lordship had married a house.
maid whom he was In honor bound to wed.
The marquis had never married, having
lost the woman he loved on the eve of their
wedding day, and Lord Richard was always
looked upon as his heir. When, however.
your father contracted an alliance which
the marquis deemed derogatory. he was cast
forth from the family, and the elder brother
Immediately proposed to and was accepted
by titled lady Of his acquaintance She
bore him two sons, thus, to all appearance,
effectually shutting your father out from
the succession. Two months ago Providence
decreed that the marquis and his boys
should be passengers on liner which was
torpedoed in the Mediterranean They were
lost. There can be no doubt Of 1t. because
their bodies have been recovered and identi-
fed. You come of good stock, my lord!
Your uncle and cousins died like English
gentlemen. My firm, who are the legal
agents for the estate, possessed some vague
information as to your fathers wherea-