Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1900 — 'Twixt Life and Death [ARTICLE]

'Twixt Life and Death

CHAPTER XXXll.—(Continued.) “You’re at liberty to search the place If you like. Why don’t you?” “Oh, we don’t intend to give ourselves any trouble about it,” said Cummings. “We have picked up a little information from the men ht work in the park—information that Dr. Meredith and the people on the other side would pay handsomely for.” “That’s it,” said Mrs. Redmond, “and we shall sell to the highest bidder.” “Oh, that’s your game, is it?” muttered Redmond between his set teeth. “It is,” said Cummings, calmly. “You cau’t get blood out of a gatepost,” Redmond said, after a pause. “I tell you I have got no more than you Bee here.” “Let’s stick to business,” insisted Cummings. “Xow, then, about this timber. From what we picked up ns to the value of trees, and a rough calculation as to the number you’ve cut down, it’s pretty clear that the sum realized runs into four figures. Where is it?” “Where is it?” cried Redmond, exasperated to think that the money was not In his possession. “Why, here it is,” und pulling out his notebook, he showed the rough account he kept there of money owing, and made it clear, rather by-his manner than the statement of facts, that he could not get the debtors to pay. His vehement indignation xvns real. He ex-en went so far as to own to the extortion of a trifle from the wheelwright that morning. “Well, if the motley has not come in yet, we must wait till it does.” said Mrs. Redmond. “I can make myself comfortable here. “We shall soon find out whether you are telling the truth or not,.” said Cummings. “I shall stroll over to I.ullingford to-morrow and make inquiries.” “Oh, will you?” “Yes, I shall.” Redmond looked at the pair with savage chagrin. He surmised rightly that the general reluctance to pay now was based upon the hope of not having to pay at all. The rumor he knew had got about that the timber was not his to sell —but he was in difficulties which would oblige him soon to bolt. He was aware that his own poverty-stricken appearance encouraged the belief and strengthened the debtors in their determination to withhold payment as long as possible. The presence of two other needy wretches at the Towers must make matters worse. lie turned away in mate dismay. Then he set at watching them, biting his nails, while a thousand pleasing possibilities resolved in his mind. So many accidents might happen, and some of these accidents might be fatal to both. The merest trifle, like the movement of a hand, might lead to such an accident. As this thought occurred to him he raised his hand, yet •till gnawing his nails nt the knick, and looked round the room in eager search of the trifle that was to rid him of these two who threatened to ruin his last chance of success. At midnight, when the house was all silent, a stealthy form entered one of the lower rooms carrying a handful of matches and a jar of paraftne. It was Redmond, and he approached a pile of litter that he had prepared an hour since. He had removed the keys from several doors, so that, the spring locks setting, escape would be difficult for any aroused before the flames gained headway. Finally he applied the match —there was au instantaneous flash, a roar. He had reckoned on the litter lighting gradually and on sotting fire to the strawin several places, but it blazed up with a rapidity that upset his calculations. In an instant it seemed that the whole mass of saturated straw was one sheet of flame, leaping up to the celling and blinding him with its glare. Dropping the lamp, he dashed rqjind the table nnd made for the door. A stool stood in his way; he struck his foot violently against It and stumbled, knocking it over. It rolled, and stumbling once more against It, he fell forward against the half-open door. It shut to with it bang; but above the crash his ear caught the appalling ring of the loosened haudle ns it slipped out nnd fell upon the paved floor outside. With bristling horror he put his hands upon the lock; the spindle was gone—there was no means of opening the door. And now turning to the blazing pile, with the last hope that there might yet be time to stamp out the flames, he heard shrieks arise above the hollow roar of the raging Humes, which no human effort could noxv extinguish. Long tongues of creeping tire blasted into adjoining rooms. Redmond retreated as they crept toward him like n vengeance, bending down to gasp for air. But there xvns no air; the flrg had sucked It up und xvas growing dull for want of it. His wife nnd Cummings had censed to shriek; the smoke stifled their cries. Suddenly there was a crash of glnss; Cummings hnd found n xvindow and torn the glass and sashes out with hi* hands In the frantic need of air; But with the Inrush of air the flame* burst up with fresh energy, xvrenthing the ceiling and curling out through the broken xvindow to lick the air, enveloping the wretch who hung stupefied nnd powerless over the sill. The flames were at Redmond’s feet. He opened his mouth nnd gasped for breath; the fire seemed to penetrate to his very soul. He threw up hi* arms, reeled forward nnd dropped with a thud After that there was no other sound but the roar of the flames, ,lhe cracking of wood and the fall of glass and plaster.

BY FRANK BARRETT

and, now that memory xvas restored, Anderson had asked to see his sister, and she was called upon to face him. Overwhelmed by shame, remorse and despair, she was powerless to make any effort of self-defense. She felt that the end was come, her last resource gone, and that there was no alternative but to submi( to the current of events and to be sxx’ept helpless into thp.Jffidc sea where lost souls sink. Almost without consciousness she accompanied Sweyn into the room where the two doctors waited with Anderson to test the extent of his recox-ery by this experiment. The two doctors rose. It was the first time they had met Nessa. ”M.v wife, Dr. Ilcwet, Dr. Channing,” said Sxveyn. Her cold hand did not respond to his pressure; she made no sign of understanding, but stood immovable before Anderson. “Is this your sister?” Sxveyn asked, anxious to get the scene over and relieve Nessa. Anderson took time to consider, nnd then, shaking his head, said: “No, that is not my sister. Elsie is fair; not dark; she is shorter and not handsome. This is not my sister.” “Are you sure?” “Quite sure.” “Then you do not know this lady?” “I am not sure," Anderson said, slowly. “And yet T think ” he paused. Di'. Channing intrrpnsed7“seeing the’intense anxiety in Sweyn’s face as he xvatched Nessa.

“We are taxing Mrs. Meredith too much——he began. But Nessa stopped him xx'ith an impatient movement of her hand. "If you remember me,” she said to Anders.>n. in a clear, loxv voice, “tell all you know.” "I cannot rememlier all.” Anderson said; “yet something floats in my mind as I look at you ” “Is it not possible that you hod two sisters—another besides Elsie?” suggested Dr. Ilexvet. "Ah, that must be. it!” Anderson said, quickly. “Let me think.” lie xvas silent a moment; then, xvith awakening recollection, he continued: "Yes. I remember before I xx-eut to sen. a lad. my mother gave birth to a child. I see,the little one in its nurse’s I ran away from home—a long while ago—in the time that is most clear to me.” "The time before your accident?” said Channing; "that is ten years ago. Then Mrs. Meredith could not have been more than eight or nine—quite a child.”'— “Then she must be my sister,” Turning to Nessa, the doctor explained that most of the events that had occurred since his accident had failed to leave any impression,on Anderson’s mind and xvould probably never be recalled. Then, as Nessa was seized xvith a sudden tremor on hearing this, he cast a glance at Sxveyn, signifying the advisability of terminating the painful scene. Sweyn led her back to iter room, making no comment on what had passed—saying, indeed, scarcely half a dozen words, lb her room Nessa sank into a chair nnd bowed her head, speechless xvith conflicting emotions. Sweyn stood by the door a moment, looking at her in pity, nnd then left the room without speaking. Almost before the door closed Nessa started to her feet, resolved to take the course shaped by her conscience. From her wardrobe she removed the plaiu black dress, the plain bonnet nnd jacket she had worn in her situation at the I’nlace xvhen Sxveyn found her there, nnd which she had kept for the sake of dear associations. She laid aside her afternoon gown and put these on. -Then she drexv off the bracelets from her xvrists and the rings from her lingers—all save the wedding ring—and put them in the jewel case Sweyn had given her. The three doctors went downstairs nnd sat talking about the case for ten minutes; then Hewet nnd Channing left, nnd Sxveyn, going into his study, threw himself in his chair nnd waited. It was not long before the door opened and Nessa came in, n« he expected she would. “I want to speak to you, Sweyn, if you can gix T 9 me a little time,” she said, standing half way between the door and him. “All my time is yours,” he ausxvcred, setting a chair for her. She sat down, fearing her strength xvould fail, and after a moment’s silence, said: “I have done you a grievous wrong, nnd I have come here to make xvhnt reparation remains possible to me. I have been selfish and ungenerous to you xxho hare given me so much,” she faltered. An irresistible impulse led Sxveyn to lay his hand upon he rnrm. She hnd uot the force to resist his touch. “You would not touch me if you knew all,” she continued in faltering tones. “You will shrink from me, you must despise me, when I tell you what I am.” “I nm waiting to hear; tell me quickly,” he said, “Sweyn, I am not that man’s sister! I am not your xvife! Tnm his!” "Heaven be praised for this!" murmured' Sweyn, reverently. "I have been waiting to hear you tell me this; xvaiting with the sure conviction that your dear soul would triumph in the end. Without that conviction I could not huve let you suffer in secret through the long hour* of night nnd day that have passed since I learned all. But I xvould not rob you, darling, of your triumph; I would not deprive myself of this great joy.” He rose to hi* feet and cried in pride. "Noxv I can say m.v xvife 1* honest; she cannot wrong me.” “I do not understand,” Nessa exclaimed, in perplexity. "Now that my tongue is free t.» speak, you shall know quickly, iny de«r love. I know all. I have seen Anderson’s keeper, Hexham. In treeing Anderson with the help of the police the villainous plot ngaiMt you was discovered. This morn-

ing the whole cane was laid before ns by* the man employed by Hexham—a man named Griffiths, who already knew soswrthing of your history.” “But If you know so much, you must know I am not yo« xvife!” ‘T knoxr that you arc my wife. Y-*n are mine and not Anderson’s. That was no ffiarriage. If he had been free to make you his wife, such a. marriage as that could be annulled. Btit he was not free. He xvas already married, and his wife still lives!” “Oh, this mercy is more than I deserve!” cried Nessu, in trembling gratitude as she sank to her knees. —, —— Sweyn raised her in his arms and said: “More than you deserve, beloved darling? no! Y'ou have fallen into error and made atonement. You have triumphed over yourself, and there should be joy in heaven now over your x’lctory!” (The end.)