Arizona state miner., 1926-03-13

not to hear the pirates are outside
our harbor. 1t hath the look of daring
beyond the ordinary. If Murray"
The door behind me opened, and
saw my fathers jaw drop. Peter, at
my right hand, let his eyelids blink,
then went on quietly cracking nuts
between his huge fingers.
did hear you call me, OrmerOdY'
The voice from the doorway had a
chill, level quality that was as reso-
nant as the tolling Of bell.
"If Murray / thought 1 heard
my name?"
l screwed around In my chair.
There in the doorway stood the most
remarkable figure l had ever seen. A
large man, straight as an arrow de-
spite the years that had planted
crows feet so thickly about his eyes,
his square shoulders showed to ad-
vantage the exquisite tailoring of the
black velvet coat he wore. His small
clothes were Of a fine yellow damasked
silk, and his stockings of silk to
match. Diamonds flashed from the
buckles of his shoes, his fob, his
fingers and the hilt Of his dresssword.
A great ruby glowed in the Mechin
jabot that cascaded from his throat.
Over his arm hung a cloak, and under
his elbow was tucked a hat cooked
in the latest mode.
But it was the memory of his face
that abided with you. The features
were all big and strongly carved; the
nose was a jutting beak above a tight
Tipped mouth and jaw that was
brutally square; the eyes were a vivid
black, fiecked with tawny lights. His
hair was of a pure, silvery whiteness
and drawn back, dubbed and tied
with a black ribbon. His cheeks and
brows were furrowed by a maze of
wrinkles, yet the flesh seemed as firm
as mine. In every way he suggested
breeding, gentility, wealth; but there
was a combined effect of sinister
power and predatory will, a hint of
ruthless egotism which took no ac-
count of any interests save his own.
stare with a slight bow, mildly
derisive.
"Your son. OrmelDd?" he continued
"My grandnephew? Robert, think,
you named him, for the redoubtabe
Master Juggins of London, who aided
you to start life anew after you had
contrived to wreck yourself upon the
rocks of a foresworn Jacobite career"
My father rose slowly to his feet.
Eyes, he is my son, Murray. 1t is
neither his fault nor mine that he is
also your grandnephew. AS to his
name, Robert Juggins was better
man than you or I, and you cannot
inspire my son against me by limiting
at hidden chapters of my early life.
He knows that / was deluded into
serving the Stuarts, and lived to learn
that country comes before king"
The man in the doorway nodded his
head.
II would not seem discourteous, ,"
he remarked suavely. 81 note another
old friend, Ormerod-or perhaps
should say an old enemy. Permit me
to observe, Corlaer, that you wear
we'll with the years-as well as N.Y.
self, indeed"
Peter squeezed a hickOry-nut be-
tween his forefnger and thumb and
looked up vacantly into Murray's face.
ia" he said
LEST you should be tempted by
some misrepresentation" pursued Muir
ray, 81 may inform you that l have
every reason to suppose myself safe
from any measures you might take
against me. 1 hope to do what 1 have
come here for tonight without injur-
ing anybody, and if you gentlemen
will listen to me quietly for a few
moments am confident that the is
sue will be harmless for all of U.S."
He cast his cloak and hat upon a
chair by the fire, and put his hand
upon the vacant one betwixt my ia
ther and me.
"May II" he asked.
My father, still standing, said moth
ing; and Murray, with shrug, ac-
cepted the silence for consent, sank
gracefully into the seat and drew a
golden snuff-box, studded with bril-
liants, from a pocket.
"With your permission" he said,
springing the cover.
A fragrant whiff of snuff-tobacco
tfckled my senses as he offered it gen.
orally.
"'TiS excellent stuff" he remarked.
Ripe Rip-Rap. What2 None of you?
All, then"
He busted a pinch under his nos
trils, inhaled and daintily used his
handkerchief, lace-edged morsel
such as women carry.
My father leaned forward across
the table, blaze of hatred in his face.