The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-05-13


the level OF the floor where he stood,
Inside the elevator. he touched still
another button. whereupon the cage
rose noiselessly Once II had come TO
n stop. he leaned against the appar.
emily blank wall OF the elevator shaft
and studied II closely
His exploring plainly found there n
secret spring, for the next moment
panel slipped noiselessly 10 one side
and he stepped into the room so art
fully ireproofed with pressed steel
panels and grained TO look like oak,
which Golden had once used as his
bondroom
That room although not used for
years. was at the present moment far
from empty. For pacing restlessly
back and forth. as the stranger quietly
entered, was a golden-haired woman
OF little moro than twenty. The face
under the mask smiled little at her
sudden movement and gasp OF sur
prise as he confronted her.
Are you still afraid OF me-" he
asked
"N-no!" hesitated the girl
I'D give a good deal" declared the
other. TO know who you are!"
"Im-I'm afraid can't help you
any. In that. she finally told him.
why not?"
Because | don't know myself
II want to take you TO a man who
may be interested in you. who may
even prove 10 be very kind To youl"
The pale face with the haunted eyes
suddenly hardened.
Il no longer ask for kindness from
men" was her almost passionate re-
tort.
"oh. this old scoundrel won't be too
dangerously kind. especially until the
ice Is broken | warrant you that
much. But with him. I'll also warrant,
youll face none OF the affronts that
you may have faced in the Owls
Nest"
But why should he be interested
In me-"
Because you may remind him of a
daughter he himself once had +"
Then what must | do"
You must put on a dress have
ready. one exactly like the one his
own daughter used TO wear And Id
like you 10 let down your hair
So the girl. still touched with won
der, was cautiously led 10 another part
Of the great house. where she let down
her hair and dressed herself in a girl
ish little frock which she found al
ready laid out for her. And the won
/ der was still in her eyes as the masked
stranger struggled her quietly down
through the house. and, as the aged
millionaire bent low TO unlock tho bot
4 tom drawer OF his desk, motioned her
noiselessly into the library and into
an armchair facing the desk.
BY tho time Golden had raised his
head again the mysterious stranger
had slipped out OF sight.
Golden. as he sat upright, stared for
several moments OF silence At the
strange figure in the armchair.
Who are your" the grim. faced old
inancier finally demanded But the
girl remained silent.
Golden, studying her more closely,
| rose unsteadily to his feet
How did you get here?" he asked.
And passing a hand across his mois.
tened brow he asked still again: Who
are you?
II don't know" answered the girl.
Golden rose TO his feet and still
staring hungrily at that mild yet cloud
ed face. crossed TO her side.
lie held her face between his hands,
peering into IT, Then, with weary
shake OF the head. he dropped his
hands.
IL was too much to expect" he
huskily murmured. Too much TO hope
torl
His griefstricken face touched the
girls heart
oh. sir, what had you hoped for?'
she managed to ask.
Il hope for nothing was the
! broken mans reply But once | had
a daughter. and lost her"
How did you lose herr"
she was stolen from me, as a
child"
And what became OF herr"
God only knows! Yet, for a mo
ment | was mad enough TO think. "a
hope. hut have. no longer any right
TO hope" hs added with sudden pas
sion. All ask is that once before
lie meet face to face that one armed
devil with his scar OF shamel"
"one-armed. and with a scar" cried
lhe startled girl. leaning suddenly for
ward in her chair.
Golden wheeled about At her cry.
What does that mean to your
why. Il was a one-armed man with
SCARED face who kept me pris
onerl II was he. Legar, who always
told me my parents we're dead
"Legarl" repeated the bewilderec