Tillamook headlight., January 07, 1915, Image 4

t
CHAPTER XXI!,
Tho House Divided.
Alone in that strange place of si­
lence and shallow: that den of the
devil’s livery, crimson ami black -
chained to th« Invalid chair wherein,
day in. day out, for years on end, he
bad suffered the Promethean torni«nt:i
of the life fl .1 would not die out ot
his wretched, wrecked carcass, though
without cea dug sharp-beak* d envy,
hatred, malice and all uncharitable­
ness pecked insatiably at his vitals.
Eeneca Trine sat waiting, with th« Im­
passivity or a graven figure waiting
on the Imminent hour of ultimate
aveugement lor th-.- wrong that had
made him what he was.
“Another hour! ... In sixty
minutes more they w ill be here, Judith
and Marrophat and Ro e—poor fool!
—and him! ... In sixty minutes
more tlu-y will put. him down before
me, bound and h< ipli bs, if not dead
A slight pause prefaced words that
were a whimpered prayer: "God send
that he be not dead! Have 1 lingered
i
Rose Turned on Her Passionately.
in-re In anguish all (Ii « Weary y :rs
for the fulfillment of my revenge only
to be cheated at t ie t nd by Death?
God grant that Alan Law may be laid
down still living here at my feet!
. . . Then . . .’’
A bitter smile twisted his tortured
features. "Then shall my will be done
to him! And then, when I have seen
him die as his father died -then—Ah,
God!—then at last I too may die!
Them was a long silence, then a
groan of «asperated protest: “Why
do they not come? Why does Judith
delay, when she knows how I Buffer?
Why have I been put off from day to
day with her telegrams that begged
fur more time and promised every-
thing- hut told nothing!—until y ester-
day. . . . Where arc those ineB-
BUges Him Bent me yi-sterduy?"
His one sound hand groped out like
a claw and sought a mass of papers
on tho desk beside him, Hotting out
from among th«m two yellow forms.
Painfully he blink* I over these and
slowly bls pain bent lips conned their
wording;
"’Alan and Rose safe with me—will
bring both home tomorrow night with­
out fall,'" lie read tin- first aloud; and
then tho second: “‘Have motorcar
walling for me tomorrow- morning
from three o'clock till called for New
Bedford waterfront -Judith.'"
"No!" he affirmed with the fervor
of one persuaded by his own desires:
"I must not doubt the girl! She has
promised, the has performed:
So still was Ii», indeed that ho
Seemed to sleep, but so deceptive was
that semblance that he was alert for
the least sound The girl entered soft­
ly, as If fearful of disturbing Ills ilulu­
hers; but sho found him with ll ad
erect und eyes a blaze.
"Judith'" he cried, his grqat rolen
vibrating like a braxen bell "At last!
B In-re Is be? You have brought him?
Where la he?"
With no mom antwer than a sigh,
the girl drooped her In nd and let t her
hands hung limply with palms > ex-
posed.
After an Instant of Incredulous dis-
appointment the mun «hot a single,
(rigid question at her-
"You have failed?"
“1 have tailed," she coufvSBed,
"Why?"
She nhruggrd slightly. “Who knows
why one falls? 1 did my best: he was
too much lor mo, outwhted mo at
every turn Time und again I thought
I had him, but always he escaped,
either by his own wit and courage or
with anol hern aid
Only yesterday
(light they were all three In the hoi.
low of my bauds -but now 1 bring you
only Rosa."
She faltered, awed by the glare of
lit* lufuilated eyes. “Let iu« explain,"
she bogged.
11» snapped her short:
You cannot
explain The thing la Impossible, that
you should have failed. There la some­
thing beneath this, something you
will nut tell mo.”
She endeavored to speak, but he en­
forced »(!< rue with a sonorous "No!”
Ills haaJ sought the row of button«
dli the deci und preti** <1 oil» long
\1 uiob I I fVtantly a Bertaut glided
,!ae*dMi^g - info tho room
daUubli
My
iLuabt< r Rose have her
brought here ’c me at once!"
Ill another mc-siqnt the replica of
hie 0 Ugliter J'. <!..!i • M us b red into
Upon this one he lor"’! (he light
nlngs o* his wrath without ruth
Rose suffered him in t Hence. Ills : there for the sailing of the n< xt trans-
most galling rr -r.rnl.naGon educed uo atlantic steamer. 'Oh, surely you can t
I deny me this one wish of my fond eld
retort from this one.
In a lull In Trine’s tlrid«, Judith heart, my boy!"
With a ; i iur-' of uufe f d affec­
chose to intellect: "D>:i't b - so barn
eii the silly fool. : ii-- i, m : . ponslbie; tion Alan dropped a haud on Digby's
i ll' s rick w ith love for :aut good look­ shoulder.
"There’s nothing on earth 1 would
ing simpleton!"
"And you!" Roso turned on h'T not do for you," he said: “you’ve bee-n
past ionr.tily—“what about you? I? f a father and a mother to me ever since
love Alan Law, at least I love him 1 can remember, even if we ere sepa-
openly. 1 am not a.-li :".’.«d to C.vn it
latcd, most of the time, by three thou-
und 1 don't pursue him.
v<do, pr - 1 cand i i
< f il wat-ir. "I ut ibi
t< tiding I r;i-an to : i ..
n to ■ ; tiling- i can't do it, even for you. I
wicked family feud, ai I th-a spare ' t au t do’it even tor myself. Rose
him every time I rn • him, ' > b'aif • Trine is io le in Now York, in the
him to believe J haven't the heart to hands and at tho mercy of her fattier
Injure him—as you do, hoping so to | and sister: and you may judge what
work upon his sympathies and earn their mercy will bo when you learn
a kindly word and a pat on the head all that she has done for inel I won’t
from bis hand!”
go and I can't go until I find her and
Fiercely she leveled a denunciatory take her with me. And that is final.”
arm nt her sister "There!" rhe cried
“Then,” Digby struck In, grasping
to her father—“if you need to know— wildly at a straw of hope, “I have your
there stands the daughter who has word you'll go, providing I find and re­
betrayed your faith—as 1 have not, store Rose to you?”
who have never even pretended to
"You have my word to t'.iat, unques­
approve your villainy!”
tionably. Bring Rose to me, and 1'11
“I think.” Trine announced in a
gladly shake the dust of New York
voice of ice—"1 have learned now from my shoes, and never return till
what I needed to know.”
Trine is put away comfoitably in his
His fingers sought the row of but­
grave.”
tons; und when a servant responded,
"It shall be done," Digby promised.
he Inquired:
"It must!"
"Mr. Marrophat has returned?”
"You believe that?”
“He is In the waiting room, sir.”
"In twelve hours Rose shall be re­
“Conduct Mi:-::; Judith to him and
stored to you.”
tell him 1 hold him personally respon­
“Will you make a book on It? I'll
sible for h«r safe-keeping
He will
bet you something happens—and hope
understand.”
And for a long time thereafter the 1 lose into the bargain. If you believe
father, alone with the daught -r who you can carry out your promise, wire
hud been estranged trout him sined the White Star line to reserve the
birth by every instinct of her nature, best mailable suite on the Oceanic,
essayed In vain to break down her sailing tomorrow morning, at ten—•
and make arrangements for a mar­
mutinous silence.
At last Trine summoned two of his riage before the boat sails."
"I’ll go you.” Digby agreed: “and if
creatures and had het- led weeping
from the rooms to be field prisoner In I fail, I forfeit the cost of the reser­
her bedchamber on the topmost floor vation. But about this marriage—”
He hesitated.
of the house.
"You'll have to have a license In
this state—and can't get one except
CHAPTER a X'II.
A Sporting Oiler.
Some two hours later, that same
evening, Mr. Alan Law, very much
alive and. In i pit« of a’complete new
outfit of ready made clothing, looking
much mere like himself than he had
in a fortnight, Issued forth from the
Grand Central stat- it hailed a taxi­
cab, and had himself conveyed to the
Hotel Monolith.
Hut If he looked his proper self once
mete, It speedily was demonstrated
th; t Illa wish was otherwisi : lor after
learning from the room-clerk of the
Monolith that a suite wa; being held
In the name of Arthur laiwrence, that
was the name Mr. l aw Inscribed on
the register.
On the other hand, it was his true
name that lie gave to the person whom
he called upon th» telephone immedi­
ately after being shown to Ills rooms.
Hut then he was speaking to his old
friend and man of business. Mr. Digby.
Within another ten minutes this last
was iu conference with his employer:
“I think you must be out of your
head." he insisted nervously, once
their first greetings were over. “You
might Just us sensibly throw yourself
from the top of the Metropolitan tower
as come to New York will! ■ Trine lives
and knows you're this - <1.- the water."
"Nonsense!" Alan laughed. “Remem­
ber thin Is New York—not tho bac k-
woods of Maine!"
Alan paused and smote his palm
with a remorseful list. "Hy tho Eter-
nal, I’m forgetting Barcus!"
“Barcus?"
“Chap whoso boat 1 chartered In
Portland sheer luci on my part: he's
one of the salt of the arth.
First,
ta.methiug must be <|ono for tho boy.
You've got Influence of Borne sort In
New Bedford, surely?"
Digby reflected: "Some. There’ll
George Blaine, justice < f iho pee.ee—"
"Th« verv man. Tele-, h him in
Bun us' Interests Imine liately
Am!
telegraph Harcus ns will send him
n hundred for expersce, and tell him
to Join me hero In Nev; York as quick
as he can!"
“Your friend's address?" Digby In­
quired, mildly ironic ns ho sat down
fit the desk atid fumbled with the sup­
ply of stationery.
“New Bedford jail of rourse!" Alan
chuckled but cut Ids laugh in two at
>omi thing fluttered from the pack if
envelopes which Digby had disturb' d
end fell to the floor between the twu
men.
Face up, it grinned sardonic mock­
ery of Alan's confidence: It was a trey
of hearts.
With an ashen face mid n trembling
hand, Digby stooped to pick the
damned thing up; but Alan was be­
forehand with him, and got Ids fingers
first upi n the card.
"Now will you believe?" Digby de­
manded huskily.
"In what? A simple coincidence?”
Alan flouted. "Not I! Who knows I'm
In New York or that the Arthur Law
rvnee tor whom your agent engaged
these rooms was Alan Law. No, my
friend It's a bit too thick for me. Take
my word for it, this la nothing more
nor less than a souvenir of a poker­
party held by yesterday's tenant of
thia suite.”
"Perhaps—perhaps!" Digby assent­
ed. stroking tremulous lipa. "Hut I'm
i.frald for you. my boy. W ho knows
that Trine's spies were not watching
my man when he made thia reserva­
tion? Who knows but that ’Arthur
Lawrence' was too thin a disguise for
Alan Law ? I tell you. I’m frightened
to the marrow of my old bone*! Do
me this favor at least, my boy: now
thav you've been warned, whether by
accident or design—we won't argue
that—do leave town—co Incognito to
mat quiet rl. . y m.
t
Alan's Appearance at
hy applying in person with your bride-
to-be. There won't be time—’’
"Then well marry In Jersey!" Alan
insisted, “big up some clergyman over
there, if you don't know one your-
«elf—”
"Oh, I’m well acquainted with the
very uiau! ”
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Time o’ Night.
Not ill pleased to be left to his own
devices (whose proposed character
Dl;by would never have approved had
he so much as suspected them) Alan
none the less deferred action until
after midnight.
And espionage w as all lio feared—
save and except always, of course, fail­
ure to find his Rose.
It was about eno In the morning
when he arrived inconspicuously (but
not so much so as to seem deserving
of police surveillance) in the neigh­
borhood of the Riverside driie home of
his mortal enemy, a grim white houso
that towered, stark and tall, upcu a
corner.
Ills preliminary r* connoisance pro­
vided Utile more than comfortless ex­
ercise. Huge, still, its wall bathed in
the milk and Ink of moonlight and
abadovi', all Its windows dark but
one and that one. in tin- topmost tier,
showed only a feeble glimmer, so slight
that Alan almost overlooked it.
But once discovered, it focused upon
itself bis thoughts with a power little
less than hypnotic.
He believed with small doubt that
Rose was a prisoner wltliiu those
walls; that Judith must have con­
veyed her there with all speed.
And, this being the presumptive case,
that small, high window of the light
might well be hers.
Directly across the street from the
Trine residence, on the opposite cor­
ner, a colossal apartment structure
stood half finished, stonework to Its
second story. • iuut iron skeleton rear­
ing above.
To his Intlnlte disgust. Alan found
the guardiau very wide awake, very
much on the Job: no chance her® to
•teal unseen Into the building.
This tn Itself might have been
deemed • suspicious circumstance:
not for nothing does an honest night
watchman si deny ths laws of nature
• nd the tenets of h1» craft Put Alan
merely pruts.d the nun while cursing
Um i ty f. ' of his cxi • -uro; at.-l ac-
uusliu*.
wtUx I m * u K notes
wliat seemed nn unci mmanty stubborn
reluctance, and got bis v. ay.
He could not know that another
skulked behind a barrier of lime bar­
rels and overheard all th it preset! and,
when Alan bud dv< ked smartly into
the unfinished bufl'hng, rose and Etole
after him with fou'etips as noiseless
as a cat’s und a face that had the sav-
oigery of a ti ,e; ; when it was tran­
sit ntly revealed iu a shaft of moon­
light.
At length Alan gall nrd the gridiron
of gtrd :rs oa a pla te with th.» lighted
window across the way. and crept
along one of these, ingerly on his
hands and kn»es, u.itl il lie came to its
end and might, it lie cared to, look
down a hundred feet to the dewalks,
That view, liowevc did not tempt;
he kept his eyes level; and was re-
warded with a bare jllmpso of a pret­
tily-papered v. .11, framed in the lace of
half-drawn curtains.
And of sudden—whether through
fortuity, or instinct, or the psycho­
logical attraction of his steadfast con­
centration—the tenant of the room
came to the window and stood there
for a little, looking pensively out, alto­
gether unconscious of the watcher in
his aerial coign.
Again a hcrrlble uncertainty har­
assed him. Was the woman Rose
or Judith? That she was one of these
he could plainly see. ltut which? IJared
he assume his hopes fulfilled?
I
With difficulty he detached his
hungry vision from her, and drawing
from his pocket a small notebook, tore
out a blank page, placed this flat on
the girder, found a pencil, and with
the assistance of a ray or two of-
moonlight scrawled a message of al­
most stenographic brevity.
When he looked up from this task,
she had vanished.
Sitting up. astride the girder, he
took his watch—a cheap affair he had
picked up when reclothing himself in
the garments of civilized society, at
Providence, that morning—opened the
factor In the duel. In the end. they
served together with that stead. , re­
sistless downward and outward drag,
to break the grip of the mau's locked
i legs.
Abruptly he pitcticxl forward on his
I face aloug the girder, kicking wildly,
grasping at the air. The stiletto fell
| from an instinctively relaxed grasp,
and disappeared. And before Alail
could ri lease his hold, or ease the
strain upon the right arm of the as­
sassin. this last had slipped bodily
from the girder and hung helpless in
space, dangling at the end of Alan s
arm—with' no more than the g ip ot
live fingers between him a’ J death.
The shock of that unpr; saged turn
. brought Alan forward and flat on his
stomach. And the strain on his left
! arm was terrific. He doubted if he
. could maintain it for another minute
| Nor was there any reason why ho
should retain it. The end he had de
i signed for Jris victim was merely hid
just desert.
And yet Alan could not let him go.
Thus the battle began anew—but
now it was a battle with a man half­
crazed and struggling so' madly that
he well-nigh frustrated the efforts of
his rescuer.
In the upshot the assassin lay like a
limp rag across the girder, head and
arms dangling on one side, legs and
feet cn the other, spent with his ter­
rific exertions and physically sick with
terror.
And in this state Alan left him: he
had done enough; let the man shift
for himself from this time on.
CHAPTER XXV,
Changeling.
In the vague, chill gray of that dull
and desolate dawn, Judith stirred ab­
ruptly on the couch of a sleepless
night, and with the rapidity of one
who has arrived at a settled purpose
after a long period of doubt and per­
plexity, rose and bathed and dressed
herself in negligee.
Tn the adjoining room she could hear
small, stealthy noises—the sounds
made by her sister moving abotit and
preparing against the unguessable mo­
ment when her rescue would be at­
tempted, according to the information
conveyed in that midnight message.
For chance had conspired with her
Insomnia to station Judith in the re­
cess of her darkened window, idly
viewing Uie gaunt framework of the
unfinished building from an angle
which, when Alan edged out along the
girder, showed him plainly in silhou­
ette against the sky.
In Judith's eyes his identity was un-
mistakable. She had hardly needed
the night-glasses which presently she
brought to bear upon him at the mo­
ment when he was laboriously inditing
his message—while grim death stalked
him from behind.
Sh« had seen him throw the watch
and had heard the double thump of its
t ipact with the wall and floor of
Rose's bedchamber.
And she Jiad witnessed with wildly
beating heart that duel In the air—
able to surmise its outcome only from
the fact that the victor spared the life
of the vanquished.
The clock was striking six as she
left her room: across the street work­
ingmen were streaming into the build­
ing to begin the labors of the day.
Brushing unceremoniously past the
the Hotel Monolith.
drowsy and indifferent guard in the
back of tho case, and closed it unon corridor outside the door to Rose’s
the folded message.
room, Judith turned the key that re­
Then drawing back his arm, he mained in the lock on the outside, re­
breathed a silent prayer to the god ot moved ii. entered, and locked the door
all true lovers, and cast It from him behind her.
with all his might—with such force
Without any surprise she found her
that it almost unseated him at the end sister already dressed to the point ot
of the swing. But nothing less would donning her outer garments.
have served to bridge that yawning
Rendgred half-frantic by this unex­
chasm.
pected interruption, threatening as it
And the watch flew straight and did the perilous scheme that Alan had
true, squarely through the lighted win­ proposed. Rose greeted her sister with
dow and to the further wall. . . .
a countenance at once aghast and
At that very instant of ills exultation wrathful.
over an obstacle overcome, he heard a
"What do you want?" she demanded
sound behind him of heavy breathing. tensely.
The assassin had Mme that doso
“To come to an understanding with
upon his prey when Alan turned and you." Judith told her coolly.
discovered his peril.
“There is no understanding possible
The same moonbeam which had between us: you know that as well
aided Alan In the composition of his I.”
mewsage struck across th? o:her’s face,
"Yet one there must be."
and showed it like a hideous Chinese
"I insist that you leave this room
mask of deadly hatred, with its eye­ once!”
balls glaring and Its lips drawn back
“Insist hy all means—and
from tho naked blade gripped between damned! I may leave this room—and
its teeth—a stiletto nothing short of a 1 may not, dear little stater. But one
foot in length.
of us wifi never leave it alive.”
With a sharp, startled movement,
V**ith a start of terror, Rose shrank
Alan swung himrelf bodily about, so back from this strange, wild thing
that, seated again astride the girder, that wore the very shape and sem­
he faced the assassin who sat up, blance of herself.
straddling the girder, his feet hooked
"What do you mean? You cannot
beneath it a stiletto poised in his mean to murder me in cold blood,
right hand to strike.
Judith?"
But even now Alan was in little or
Not I!” Judith laughed harshly.
se than before.
before If he faced “But, since it has pleased Destiny to
no better case
the thug, he faced him with no arms decree that we must both love one
other ttlan his bare hands. He had not man—let Destiny decide between us
even a pen-knife In his pockets.
and bear the blame of murder!”
"Judith!”
With a low cry of desperation Alan
snatched off his hat, a soft and shape­
"One moment!" Crossing to a side
less felt affair, and llung It squarely in table, Judith took up a glass from a
the fellow's face.
tray that held a silver water-pitcher,
Before he could recover—before, and returned with it to the table that
that is. It dropped away and cleared occupied the middle of the floor. At the
liia vision. Alan had bent forward and same time she opened a hand till then
grasped the wrist of the hand that fast clenched and disclosed a small
held the knife.
blue bottle with a red label shrieking
He snatched simultaneously at the the warning “FO1SON!”
other hand, but it eluded him.
"Strychnine," she explained com­
Alan had this advantage, as long as posedly, "in solution.” And emptied
the knife might not strike—that his the bottle Into the glass.
right arm was free, while the assassin
A measure of courage returned to
had only hie left. With this he strove Rose. "Do you expect to be able to
persistently to reach his knifehand make me drink that?" she demanded
and possess himself of the weapon. contemptuously.
As pers stentlv Alan foiled his purpose
“Not 1—but Destiny, if it will! See
by dragging the knifehand toward him here.” From a pocket of her dressing-
and swinging It far out to one side. At gown Judith produced a sealed deck of
the same time he st reck repeatedty Flaying cards. "Let these declare the
with Ills clem h«d right flat at the oth- will of Destiny toward us. I will brer. k
ei'a faoe His blows did little datn- the sea), snuffle the cards, and deal."
aga bay. nd discoucervng the other; •be explained, auitiag acUcu u, wera.
'<>Ul tbi* proved a vary oonsideraUa
"The one who gets the trey
nearts
will drain that glsos. Is it a bar-
gain?”
"Never! Oh, now I know that you
are altogether mad!"
"Perhaps. Are you ready?” And
Judith made as if to deal.
"No—never! 1 tell you I refute!”
Rose chattered, terrified.
“You dare not refuse."
“Why?"
"Because of this."
Whip: ng a small revolver from an­
other pocket of her dressing-gown, Ju­
dith placed it on the table, ready to
her hund.
"You will shoot me if 1 do not con-
sent?”
"Not you—but him. If you refuse,
little sister, 1 will shoot Alan Law
dead when he comes to keep his ap­
pointment with you.”
"Ah!” Rose cried in mingled fright
and amazement. "How did you find
out?"
"Never mind. Is it a bargain, now,
about the trey of hearts? Remember,
I shall keep my word about this pis­
tol.”
With a shudder Rose bowed her
head.
"Deal,” she muttered fearfully, “aDd
may God judge between us!”
One by one she stripped the cards
from the top of the deck, dealing first
to Rose, then to herself.
One by one they fluttered to the
table on either side the glass of poison,
and fell face uppermost.
The trey of hearts fell to Judith.
There was an instant of silent dread,
ended by Rose, as Judith’s hand moved
steadily toward the glass.
“Judith!" she implored. “Don’t—I
beg of you—I didn't mean It—I take
back my consent—”
“Too late!” said Judith, lifting the
glass and eyeing its contents with a
strange smile.
"Judith! you cannot mean to drink
it?”
"Can’t I, though?" the other laughed
mirthlessly. “Just watch me!”
With a strangled cry Rose covered
her face with her hands to shut out
the sight, stood momentarily swaying,
and dropped to the floor in a complete
faint.
Delaying only to recognize this phe­
nomena with a pitying smile for the
weakness of spirit that caused it, Ju­
dith’s glance darted through the win­
dow and saw that which caused her to
stay her hand an instant longer.
On the topmost tier of girders of the
building opposite, Alan Law stood
amid a little knot of amused and ani­
mated laborers, one foot in the great
steel hook of the hoisting tackle, both
hands clasping the chain that linked
it to the gigantic block.
And as Judith stared, he smiled at
something said by one of those about
him, looked back, and waved a hand
to some person invisible.
Immediately the arm began to lift,
the tackle to move slowly through the
blocks. Very gently he was swung up
and outward. . . .
With a cry Judith flung the poison
heedlessly from iier, leaped across the
room, and snatched up the street gar­
ments Rose had dropped at her siscer u
entrance.
In another moment she was strug­
gling madly into them.
Before the shadow of Alan, clinging
to the hook and chain, fell athwart the
“Not I—but Destiny, If It Willi”
window, she was dressed and clam­
bered out upon the sill.
“Sweetheart!
My bravest little
woman!”
The hook hung eteadily within six
inches of the window-ledge. Alan ex­
tended his arm.
"Nothing to fear, except lest I hold
you too tight, dear one!”
Without a word Judith set her foot
beside iiis in the hook, surrendered to
his embrace, and closed her eyes.
Immediately they were swung away
from the window, over toward the op­
posite sidewalk, and gently lowered to
the street.
"Maybe this Isn’t a good scheme!”
Alan exulted in the innocence of his
heart. “But I think it is. And those
workingmen think it a great lark—I
told them the simple truth, you see:
that we were eloping!"
By way of answer Judtth breathed
only a word of tenderness.
And that instant the hook paused
and Alan stepped off upon the side­
walk.
"Safe and sound—and not a soul
over there the wiser as yet!" he de­
clared with a derisive nod toward the
home of Trine. “Come along. Here’s
a limousine waiting. In twenty min­
utes we’ll be at the ferry, in forty over
in Jersey.
mi hour married,
within four hours safe at sea!"