The Elbert County tribune., 1916-06-02

white-faced, through the silent house,
hurried on along the narrow garden
| paths. and suddenly slackened his
pace as he approached the thick shrub
berry beyond. The sound of voices
came to his ear. Creeping forward he
cautiously parted the branches. There.
screened from the world about them,
PaIidorl stood gazing down into his
wife's eyes.
II cannot give YOU the key" he
heard her say. MY husband still has
it."
"Then what can we dor asked the
Italian.
II will give it to you tonight. 1t
will be safer then" was the quaver-
ing answer.
Then you must give me more than
| the key" murmured Palidori.
Golden. dropping back, staggered
away like stricken animal and heard
no more. His last hope had withered
out. The worst was known. He re-
entered his home, like man in a
dream. He sat gray-faced at his desk,
sweat of agony beading his great
body. Then. after an hour of silent
wrestling with his soul, the natural
belligerency of the fighting man awak-
ened In him. Seeing only one course
before him, he sent curtly for three
of his retainers, three huge negroes
whom he knew he could trust. To
each of these he handed out a belt and
holster containing a revolver. Then
he briefly and coldly gave his orders.
This island" he grimly announced.
makes its own laws!"
And late that night. when the hour
for his Intervention drew nearer, he
was almost able to exult in finding
something against which to centralize
all his earlier vague suspicious. He
moved with both calmness and pre-
cision. He showed the quick instinct
of the trained hunter in seeking cover
behind the heavy portieres. for the
French window beside him command
ed view of both the library within
and the moonlit garden without. And
along the shrubbery of this garden he
soon detected Palidori stealing, car
rying travelling bag In his hand and
a coat over his arm. Through the soft
ly lighted library, a minute later, the
figure of Golden's wife slowly ad-
vanced. She crept out through the
French windows, which stood open,
stepped down into the garden, and
passed on through the shrubbery to
where Palidori stood waiting in the
shadows
The watching husband could see the
two come together. he could hear the
murmur of whispering voices, he could
see Palidori's hand go out and clasp
the woman's.
'T will not go alone. l love you,
and want you to be happy!"
The woman's answer could not be
heard. But Palidori, stepping sudden
and forced back her head until his
lips smothered the cry that rose to
her own.
1t was then that the planter stamped
on the wooden floor, not with mere
rage, but as a signal to his waiting
servants. He could hear his wife's
call for help, for already his three
huge negroes had darted through the
bushes and surrounded Palidori.
as he wheeled about, found his fire.
arm suddenly knocked from his hand.
Even before Golden could reach him
he was seized and overpowered and
held prisoner. The master of the
manor, once his path was plain, was
not given to hesitation.
"Tie up that man." was his curt
command, land take him to the manor
cellars!"
Then Golden turned to his wife.
"You will come with mel" he said,
French windows.
1t was not until she reached the
center of the lighted room that she
turned and regarded him with wound
ed yet pleading eyes.
You have dishonored my home,
and my name. That leaves you only
one thing to do. You will go from
that home" he cried. with increasing
passion. 81 want you to go, and go
now, and never cross my path again!"
"Waitl" she cried. with her hand
on her heart. Listen to-"
at Is too late for words, said. Un-
til you leave this house. cannot
breathe in It,"
But did nothing wrong. Oh, God,
IL had only known! II L"
II want you to go!" he repeated.
Golden's hand trembled as she
passed out through the door, but 9TH
erwise he gave no sign of the feelings
swaying him.
He took great breath, strobe
across the room. passed down the ST.
lent hall, and threw open the mas
sive oak door that led to the manor
cellars.
These cellars were a series of
gloomy chambers. almost dungeonlike