The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 31, 1905, Page 3

with Mr. Harley 1 may claim Dorothy a: my own?"” Mrs. Hanway-Harley bowed. daughter, however, must not be und by any promise. daughter, madam,” returned Richard, with a color of pride, *‘shall never be bound by me. Though I hold a score of promises 1 would have no wife who does not come to me of her free choice. 1 do not loock on love as a busi- responded Mrs. “I have only . What is to be : toward your daughter while 1 am searching for that fortune?” It s here that Mrs. Hanway-Harley made her greatest stroke: she reached where he had no defense. ur attitude, Mr. Storms, toward my daughter I shall leave to you for adjust- as a man of honor.” ard crossed the street to Dorothy and told her what had passed. Dorothy kissed him and cried over him and made a wall against their darkling fate. “How I wish papa was poor!” cried Dorothy. “I wish he didn’t have a dol- Then, consclence-stricken: *“No, I Poor pop; he doesn’t hate money, if I do.” & Richard took Dorothy’s sweet face be- tween his hands and looked into her eves. 'will believe me, darling?” “Yel ““Then don’t weep, don't worry. I prom- ise that within the year you shall be my wife. I'll find the way to find the money.” “And hear me promise,” returned Doro- thy. “Money or no money, I'll become your wife what day you will.” Of course, after such a speech there be- fell a sweet world and all of foolish ten- derness; but since the scandalized Ajax would not stay to witness it neither shall you. Mrs. Hanway-Harley sald nothing to Dorothy of her interview with Richard; she appeared to belleve that Ri had saved her that labor. The kind of sneer in this. Fe sneer, Dorothy put no questions was willing, in her resentment, to & understood that Richs b her. Why should he not s be his wife! Dorothy would have been proud to proclaim her troth from the housetops Hanway-Harley had Storri to ¥, when he was an- her room. A moment Harley was at the in cool, collected, no ace of anger. Why did not Dorothy come down to din: Dorothy did not rer because Dorothy not ask Mr. Storms to din- er,”“said Dorothy, her color coming eyes beginning to glow. I St ot your Storri.” ms is not in our set, dear,” Ha Harley coldly » my heart,” returned Dor- villed one seated herself never another word could w from her for Dor- ble whic New Year's day, the diplo on at the White House stood in line with his ¥ and the others fited by being utterly the democrat, 3 utterly the aristocrat, since es that mever fail to fore Richard did not n the procession and forward, at a sna Presidential X foolish ceremony at which sct rebelled. There wa masculine at least, rd would wait in line to le declin to become d on. It was in human na peculiarly claimed it s this nator ¥ w Richard com- handshak Pres with Senator Hanway, latter resent dent being thereby advanced. The President was a smooth, ug personage, of an petite rather an ambition for office Ambition is a ptain, appetite camp follower; for which reason t dent was one who w ever oppose a movem . @8 an individual, the best cs of a canal. He was nar- rrentless, with a mental feet in the mine. conservatively between his d went never so foolishly Jucid how shallow he w 2 trifie thick, he scemed to the ep as skies were hig! any six ot question, however, would have nded him And vet he was in y much lauded as a safe There may have of timid been truth crities, compa pised. He will he wiil v no re- bridges, ut; no s T cn his bosom; the world in its giant com- merces will not make of him Jugh- But he will m 1 profit for a horde of littl 1 seifish inter and that is the sort of President a nated of Money demands, est the cattle bar cattle; a hornless to the slaughter pen more quictly h less of threat to those who han- In a day when Money rules a t care is to knock the & ity and brains. Money orned mentzl forces » world; they might become rd thcught on these matters as he cogsidered this conservative, careful White House one, whose, pains had ever been to think nothing that hadn’t been thought, say nothing that hadn’'t been said, do nothing that hadn't been done. “He is like a bucket of spring water,” thought Richard, as hc turned away, “cool, pure, tasteless. But there isiTt enough of him to put out a fire, or swim a boat, or turn the wheel of any mill of moment.” Richard went into the green drawing- where the younger, gayer spirits eceiving behind the line.” There he saw Dorothy and Bess. Before he could go to them he caught the snarling accents of Storri. He turned; that Russ was almost at his elbgw. Storri, as though for Richard’s ear, was saying to 2 vapid young man whom Richard had geen at the club: ~Oh! that is Miss Harley—the one with the blue eyes and black hair. Bad com- pination, believe me! I, who am a gen- Ueman—a Russian gentleman—give my word that blue eyes and black hair mean ason to a lover. No, I can’t take you 1o ber; she has shown a preference for room, me, and I do not care to distinguish her by too much notice until I have thought her over. On my soul, yes; I must think her over!” % Richard’s hand fell heavy and rude on Storri’s shoulder. “Come with me,” said he, Storri- had not cownted on this; those sacred White House walls should have protected him. He looked appealingly at his friend. our friend will pardon you,” sald Ricoard, coolly, “and, for this time, you shall come back safe.” Richard drew Storrl to a where they were by themselv “Pay heed to what I shall s; ted Richard, and his eyes gave forth a gray glimmer liké a saber suddenly unsheathed, “you must never take Miss Harley’s name upon your lips. Should you do so I shall twist your neck as onee 1 twisted your fingers.” Storri began a spluttering stammer of protest and reproach. “Don’t hector me!” whispered Rich- ard witli a sharp fervor of ferocity tha? made Storri start, “or, when next window, we meet In the street I'll take my cane and beat you like a dog!” Storri turned and tried to hide the fear that fed upon him with a tinge of swagger. This the White House —the palace of their President! Storrl was more and more convinced that the ns were a rabble and not a people! “Remember!” said Richard, and the tones were like a threat of death, That evening early Richard met Dor- othy at Bess Marklin’s. He made no revelations touching lhis colloquy with Storri. There was a thick down-come of snow and the new flakes covered the street like feathers to a fluffy depth of two inches. As Dorothy and Richard reached the sidewaik on Dor- return to the Harley house, Richard, with the abrupt remark, “Tll save ou from the snow, my dear! 1t Dorothy in those Pict arms and Dorothy was so amazed by .this gal- attention that she was over be- she spoke a word. As Richard landed her, light as a leaf, within her father's portals, she®said in remon- nt made you do it? DId vou not see that odious Storri comin “It was for Storri I #d it. I wantea to emphasize some remarks 1 had the honor to make to him this afte 3 Dorothy fluttered to her room to pré- pare for the T o'clock dinner, while her unconvéntional loved one turned with a hope of me Storri. The fierce truth was, RI ,.who, as you have been toid, t bottom full as savage as the Russian, had gone hun- gering for hostil with that noble- man. Storri’s comments on Dorothy had exploded all the hateful powder in Richard’s compositior torri may have had some. glint of Richard's feeling: sure it was ugh bent ning at WS S0 une upon ¢ hen he 1y treated by Richard and Dorothy to that picture of Paul and Virginia mod- ernized, e wheeled upon his lieel and disappeared. Richard, search as - he might, met never the shadow nor the ghost of Storri. i went direct to his rooms. Al the ger and jealousy and hate at his soul. Richard’'s and he too craven to make re- othy in Richard's arms; and he to interfere! The day had been v of fire for him. He must make a he must have revenge.. k& ull of a black respive, Storri tore open desk iie took out those Frenth arcs and flutteréd the little package of apérs- between his angry fingers as though the feel of them could give him consolation. He looked at those poor for- geries of his name by Mr. Harley. Then he wrcte a note to that gentleman and urged him, by every name of business, to call without delay. Mr. Harle come ut once. The note in the hands of a messenger, Storri commenced to rove the floor like a rage-frenzied beast. “We shall see!” he cried, tossing his hands. “'I have the father in my fingers— ! in these fingers! 1 can pull him to like a toasted lark—yes, limb from Storri, shall tear him asunder! torture, I can crush! He is mine to destroy! My power over him shall be my power over her! The stubbern.Doro- thy shall come to me on her knees—to me, Storri, whom she has affronted! She shall beg my favor for her father! What should be the ransom? Who shall meas- ure my demands when I have conquered? I, who am to have my neck twisted--I, who am to be beaten like a dog—I shall name to her/the terms. They shall be ruin—ruin for her, ruin for him, ruin for all who have put their slights upon me! The proud Dorothy must give me. herselt to buy her father’s safety! Her pride shall creep, her face lie in the dust! She shall be Storri’s! When her beauty fades —in a year—in two years—I will cast her aside;»1, Storri, whom these feeble peo- ple have defied!” In the midst of the ravings of’the hate- racked Storri there came a tap. A card thrust in. Storri’s onyx eyes gloated 1 the name. * sald Storri. Then to the one “Have him up!” His voice sunk to an exulfant whisper as he heard Mr. Harley’s step in the hall. “Now s my vengeance to begin the feast! They shall know, these feeble ones, what it is to brave a Russlan!™ CHAPTER XI. How Mr. Harley Found Himself a Forger. In the economy of the Harleys the gray mare was the better horse, at least the gray mare thought so. Mrs, Hanway- Harley put no faith in Mr. Harley. He was an acaulescent if not an obedient husband and rather than bicker would submit tp be ' noderately henpecked. When the henpecking was carried to ex- cess Mr. Harley did not peck back; he clapped ou his hat, bolted for tne door ped, These measures, while ef- in so far that they carried Mr. Harley beyond the immediate range of Mrs, Hanway-Harley's guns, left that wife and mother with a depleted opinion of Mr. Harley. She could not réspect one who falled to give her battle, being of- fered proper vrovocation; and in that Mrs. Hanway-Harley was one with all the world. To fight is now and then an oblization. Thinking thus lightly of Mr. Harley and remembering, too, that Dorothy could coil him round her finger, quell him with a tear, Mrs. Hanway-Harley did not take him into her confidence as to those love proffers of Storri, and Dorothy’s rebelifon. What would have been the good? Mr. Harley’s advice was nothing, while his countenance, as far as it wenf, would be given to Dorothy the disobedient. = Also, heswould go to Senator Hanway with the tangle. Such a course might bring her brother actively upon the fleld; and Mrs. Hanway-Harley had gleaned enough from her talk with Senator Hanway to know that, shonld he assume a part, it would not be in support of her interest. These considerations came and went in Mrs. THE Hanway-Harley’s mind, with the result that she decided to say nothing to Mr. Harley. Dorothy, for argument of modesty and a girl's reserve, emulated her mother's example of silence. - For one thing, she felt herself In no danger. As against the demands of Mrs. Hanway-Harley, Dorothy, thus far, had held the high ground. Moreover, she was confident of final victory.: No one could compel her either to receive Storri's addresses or cease to think of Richard. Dorothy added to this the knowledge that, should she draw Mr. Harley into her troubles by even so much as a word of their ex- istence, Mrs. Hanway-Harley might be relied upon from that moment to charge . bim with being the author of every dis- appointment - she underwent. . Thus it came to pass that, as Mr. Harley com- placently sat down to dinner that par- ticular New Year's evening, he had not been given a murmur of those loves and hates and commands and deflances and promises and intermediations which made busy the closing days of the.recent year for Dorothy, Richard, Bess, Storri and Mrs. Hanway-Harley. Mr. Harley pos- gessed an' excellent appetite that New Year's evening; it might have been dimin- ished of edge had his ignorance been less. Mrs. Hanway-Harley looked for Storri to drop in, but since the promise of his coming was known only to herself—she did not care to furnish the news of it to Dorothy the rebellious—the failure of that noblgman to appear bred no general dis- may. The dinner went soberly forward, and Mr. Harley especially derived great benefit therefrom. 8 Mr. Harley had just finished his final glass of wine, and was saying something fictional about a gentleman at the Ar- lington upon whom he ought to call, and what a bore calling upon the fictional gentieman would be, when Storri's note came into his hands. He glanced it over, and then seized upon it as the v thing to furnish a lock of integrity to his story of the mythical one. He gave the note a petulant slap with the back of his fin- gers, and remarked “I declare! Here he is writing me to come at once.” 3 Mr. Harley got into his hat and coat, and then got into the street, observing #as he did so that he feared the business in hand might keep him far into the morning. The guilty truth was this: Mr. Harley concealed a private purpose to play cards with a select circle of statesmen who owined a taste to begin the year with draw poker at Chamberlir However, there existed in the destinies of Mr. ley not the faintest-call for all this oration of deceit. Mrs. Hanway-Harley would not haye uttered a whisper of ob- Jéction had he openly declared for an ab- sence of a fortnight, with the design of playing poker, nothing but poker, every moment of the time. But it is the vain fancy of some men to helieve themselves and their company those things most longed for at home. when the precise con- verse of such conditien of lonzing is the one which exists, and this fancy was among the weaknesses of Mr. Harley. Be- sides, he revered the truth so much that, like his Sunday coat, he employed it only on rare occasicns, and when advantage could be arrived at in' no other wa Truth was a pearl, and Mr. Harley felt strongly against casting it before the swine of every common occurrence, when mendacity would do ‘as well or better. Wherefore, and to keep his hand in, Mr. Harley fnvariably romanced in whatever he vouchsafed of himself or+his habits to Mrs. Hanway-Harley. Nor was this so ‘unjust as at a first blink it might seemn. 1f Mr. Harley misled Mrs. Hanway-Har- ", ley as to'his personal movements, she in_ return told him nothing at all of her own, the result, to wit, total darkness, being the same for both. However, they were rerfectly satisfied, rightly esteeming: the situation one wherein, if jgnorance were- not bliss, at least it was folly to be wise. The winter evening, still, not cold, was clear and crisp, with the snow squeak- ing cheerfully under foot, and Mr. Harley waddled on his way toward Storri's door in that blandness of mood which comes 'to on> whose wine and dinner and stom- ach are in comfortable accord, Waddled is the word; for with his short legs, and that profundity of belt proper to gentle- men who have teached the thitner side of middle age, and given years to good eat- ing and drinking, bir. Harley had long ince ceased to walk. Mr. Harley was not surprised by the urgent character of Storri’s Summons. Doubtless, the business related to Credit Magellan, and what steps in Wall street and the Senate were being taken for conquest of Northern Consolidated. Al fairs in those theaters of commercial e fort werz as they should be. Things. were moving slowly, they must of neces- sity move slowly, and Storri had grown impatient. The Russian's warmth was expected; Mr. Harley had read him long. since like & primer book. Storri was ex- citable, volatile, full of fever and im- pulse, prone to go off at tangents. In scme stress of nerves he had sent for Mr. Harley 'to urge expedition or ask for explanations. The thing had chanced befora. Mr. Harley would co6l him into calmness with a dozen words. - Storri’s poise restored, Mr. Harley would seek those speculative statesmen, lusting for draw. poker. He should be with them by ten o'clock—a tipe hour for cards. Mr. Harley wculd oppose poker in its usual form and argue for tablé-stakes—five thousand dollars a ccrner. Two of the spceulative statesmen were not: worsh five thousand dollars. So much the bet- ter; in case he were fortunate, Mr. Har- ley would accept thelr paper. The last was to be preferred to mouey. Mr. Harley had many irons of legislation in the Con- gressional fires;” a statesman’s note of hand_should operate to pave the way when his influence and his vote were to be asked for. Should Mr. Harley lose at poker, his losses’ would Dbe charged against that railroad and those coal com- panies whose interests about Congress it was Mr. Harley's mission to conserve. There was no doubt of the propriety of such charges; they belonged in any ac- count which was intended to register the cost of* legislation. If you but stop and think, you must see the truth of the above. Thus cantered the cogitations of Mr. Harley until, fetching up at his jour- ney's end, he sent in his card to Storrl. At Mr. Harley's appearance, Storrl's arm-tossing and raving ended abruptly. He became ofly-and purringly suave, and bid M:. Harley light a cigar which he tendered. A cat will play with a mouse before coming to the final kill; and there was a broad streak of the feline in Stor- ri. Now that his victim was within fer them; the broker will not accépt, plans would assuredly be “epring, he would play with him as pre- /liminary to the supreme joy of that last lethal crunch. ~ Following the usual salutations, Mr. Harley sat in peace and favor with him- self, walting .for Storii to begin. He would let Storri vent his excitement, blow off steam, as Mr. Harley -expressed it; and then he would go about those calm- ative steps of explanation and assurance suggested of the case. 8 Storri strode up and down, eying Mr. ppre- with a mixed expression of cru- hended as a criminal, would be ruin. - Harley elty and triumoh which, had Mr. Harley caught the picture of it, ight have made him feel uneasy. However, Mr. Ry e A} SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. > RN = oy Harley ‘was not Jlooking at Storri. He was thinking of ending the interview as quickly and conveniently.as he might and hurrying posthaste to those speculative ones. R “Why did I bring you here to-night?” asked Storri at last. “Northern Consolidated, I suppose,” said Mr, Harley, looking up. .Storri 1aughed, and a white flash of his teeth showed in a tigerish way. “Come!” cried Storri, smiting his hands in a kind of rapture of cruelty; “I will not, what you call It, beat about the bush. 1t is not Credit Magellan; It is not Northern Consolidated; no, it is not busl- ‘ness at all. What! shall Storri be for- ever at some grind of business? Shall he never pause for love? My Czar would tell you another tale. , Listen, my friend. 1 have done you the honor—I, Sto:ri, a Russian nobleman, have done you the honor to adore your daughter.” ° Mr. Harley gaped and stared; he could not have been more impressed had the statue of Liberty which topped the Capi- tol dome stepped down for a stroll in the Capitol grounds. And yet he was not ehocked; If Dorothy had decided on Stor- ri for her husband, well and good; he was too indulgent a father to quarrel with her. “I have spoken to Mrs. Hanway-Harley of my passion,” continued Storri, still pacing to and fro. ‘*She is so charming as to encourage it.” ““Why, then.” broke In Mr. Harley. in evident relief, “you have gone the right way about the matt If my wife fa- vors you, assuredly you may count upon my consent.” “Bah!” returned Storri, snapping Ris fingers. “Mrs. Hanway-Harley consents; vou consent; I am flattered. The fastid- ious Miss Dorothy, however, refuses my love—puts - it aside! Storr} is not the man! On my soul! Storri is declined by a little American who draws her blood from peasants!” and Storrl threw his hands palm upward, expressing self- contempt in view of the insult thus put upon him. 3 “Does my daughter decline your love?" “It is not that.” Storri could not for his vanity’'s sake, even after he himself had used them, accept those terms. “Her rt has—what shall we say’—a tenant. Your daughter has gone among her own kind with her love. It is that fellow Storms—it s he whom your daughter's taste prefers.” “Dorothy loves Mr. Storms,” said Mr. Harley, speaking slowly, as men will on the receipt of surprising news. ‘“And she does not love vou.” After a thoughtful pause Mr. Harley concluded: “It is a subject abeut which I should hesitate to counsel my daughter.” “I do not ask vou to counsel her: you shail compel her. “Why, sir!” exclaimed Mr. Harley, starting up and growing apoplectic with anger, “do you imagine that I'll force my child into your arms? If you were that Czar whom you are so fond of quoting 1 would, not do it This came off in a great burst, and Mr. Harley* in his turn began to pace the floor. Tha'two passed and repassed each other as they walked up and down, Mr. Harley puffing and swelling, Storri sur- veying him with leering superiority. “Sit cown!" cried Storri suddenly after a minute spent in marching and counter- marching. ¥I wilj show you that you are in my hand.” Storri had become calm and business- like; his new manner mystified Mr. Har- ley and worked upon hlrgi He dropped into the chair to which Storri motioned gim. From his pocket Storri tpok out . French shares. “Do you sec where you forged my pme?”’ said he. “Can you tell me the ment for forgery?” +#Forgery!” panted Mr. Harley, in a whirl of rage and wonder. “Did you not “tell me to write your name? Was it not to sustain your deal in sugar?”’ *“Come—you Harley—you John Harley,” returned Storri, his cruelty beginning to bubble into exultation, *“how small a thing you are when opposed to Storri! See, now; it begins when you sacrifice for me those $7000. It was then I set a trap for you—you, the cunning Mr. Hailey! It was 5o simple; I need only give you a chance to forge my name and you forge it. ¥rom that moment you have had but the one atternative. You must follow my commands or you must take the common course of ‘criminals and go to prison. And now—you Harley—you John Harley— you, who pride yourself for your respec- tability, for our place in the world, for your illustrious relative, Senator Han- way—hear me: You are to be my slave—my dog to fetch and carry. You are o do my will or I swear by my Czar and by the heart in the breast of my Czar that I'll drag you before the world as a felon.” . Storri delivered this menace with a ruthless energy that sent it home'like a javelin. It struck ..e color from the ruddy ' countenance of Mr. Harley and left him white as linen three times bleached. “Ye: inan e went on the vindictive Storri ultant crow, “u.d you little peo- ple believe you were to laugh at Storri and pass unpunished? Did you think to insult him and-escape his vengeance? Bah! the superfine Dorxothy is to spurn Storri for a varlet like this Storms! She is to laugh at Storri's love and tell how she refused a nobleman! Excel- lent; e shall see her laugh when her father—Mr. Harley—John Harley—the great John Harley—brother-by-law of the still greater Senator Hanway— stands in the, dock as a forger. Will not our Dorothy laugh? John Harley, forger: why not! Mr. Harley sat ghastly and still, while §torri rambled on for the mere pleasure of torture. He did not leave Mr. Harley a hope wherewith to prop himself. The deal in sugar had been in Mr. Harley's sole namc—an Indi- vidual deal: 'Fhere was not the flour- ish of a pen to prove Storri’s interest. ‘Storri would -even show how, for that very sugar stock, in that very market, he ‘was dealing the other way, selling 10,000 shares. “ “But you paid your half in the deal in my name.” Mr. Harley's ‘voice, commonly rich and full,” was huskily dry. “That, when I show it will prove vour interest.”” “And how are you to show it?" cried Storri. “I paid in momey; I did not. give you a check. There's not an ex- culpatory scrdp at bank or broker's in your defense. You make a deal; you are crowded for margins; you have my French shares in your pocket as my agent in another transaction; you of- of the losses they do not have my signature; - you- are back in five minutes with a forg- ery and obtain the money you require. The thing is complete; I tell you, Har- ley—Jolm Harley—you are trapped. suere is no escape; I have my knee ‘ON' your nedle,™ 7E £ &2y Mr. Harley, still white, was begin-- ning to regain his mental feet. ~He saw the apparent hold that Storrl had upon him. It was énough. To be mere- 1y charged as a forger—to be utter ruin, even if ‘the affair were there to end. It Would mean the downfall of Senator Hanway's hopes of a White =N —— House. The simple arrest—it would go like wildfire throughout the press— meant destruction for Senator Han- way, for Dorothy, for Mrs. Hanway- Harley, for all. ‘White and stricken, Mr. Harley pon- dered these questions, while Storrl watched him. Storrl himself did not care to vush for extremes. In bis vain egot- ism, which was ltke a madness, he would not have scrupled to brand Mr. Harley as a forger had he been defied. But such a step was not what Storri_almed at. It was his own possession of Dorothy rath- er than a vengeance upon Mr. Harley that he sought to compass. Therefore, as Storri made plain his power and threatened {ts exercise, he conside; Mr. Harley with the narrow intent: of a lynx. He was striving to measure the other’s resistance. He noted the hor- ror of Mr. Harley at the term forger; he observed Mr. Harley's growing sense of helplessness as he, Storrl, set forth how Mr. Harley lay in the toils. Now, when Mr. Harley was prostrate beneath the harrow of every alarm, Storri, sure of success, went off on an easfer tack—that is, easier for Mr. Harley. 8 “But_why do we lose our self-control?” cried Storri, voice and manner changed from black to white, clouds to sunshine; “we are men, not angry children! See, now, 1 want nothing a gentleman' of honor .might not grant, I love your daughter — good! a = Russian nobleman loves your daughter! Is that disgrace” You approve; your wife approves! The daughter is young; she must be wooed before she is won. What then: Is Storri to despair? The lady would put Storrl’s love to theé test. She says: ‘You must court me before you shall wed me. You are not to have me without a struggle, lest you think me of small worth." The lady has pride; the lady has discretion: the lady sets a value upon herself. Why should she not? It compels me, Storri, to appreciate her charms still more ana more. There; I have painted the state of affairs. I have now but two requests; I will not call those recuests commands.” and Storri rustled the French shares sug- gestively. “Ne, I am to call them re- quests. Can you not exereise a paternal authority to have your daughter receive my respectful visits? Also, can you not exercise it to put an end. absnlutely:&ln r. end, to her interviews with this Storms?"” “How can 1 compel her?” “You must do it!" roared Storri. his anger takinz renewed edge. “You must, What! am I to be thwarted, Two things and she is you shall! affronted, undone by 2 girl? 1 demand: she is to see m not to see that Storms. It is little for a child to pay for a father's safety, little for a man to pay fer his oWn. What forger or what forger's daughter has made such terms? ‘Bah!" The insult scarcely roused Mr. Harley: he was stunned, his face was clammy with sweat. It was like a dream of horror; Look where he would, there showed but the one door of eseape. Stocri was to see Dorothy; Derothy was not to sce ichard. After all, it did not present unbearable conditions. Morebver, time would bring about its shifts. In a week, in a month, in six months, Mr. Harley might have Storri helpl as Storri now had him. 1t was a case for delay; Mr. Harley must have breathing space. “Thdt is all you require?” said’ Mr. Harley, his voice the same dry, husky croak. “You are to see my daughter, and Mr. Storms is not to see her?” “Do that, and I will answer for the balance!” cried Stor:i. “Do that, and she will love me—she will be my wife!” “And no more talk of—of forgeries?” “My dear Mr. Harley!” exclaimed Stor- ri, “I am a gentleman—a Russian gen- tleman. I ask you, in candor, does a gentleman arrest his wife's father on charge of forgery? Gome, let us have confidence in one another. We are friends, are we not?—we, who are to be in closer alliance when your daughter be- comes my Countess wife, Bah! who shall talk of forgeries then?" The evening was still young—9 o'clock— when Mr. Harley found himself again in the street, bending hig slow step home- ward. He was wholly adrift now from any thought of those speculative ones at Chamberlin's. What Storri had said en- grossed him miserably. He entertained no doubt but what Storri would carry into execution those threats of arrest should his desires concerning Dorothy meet with opposition. The fear of his own disgrace appalled Mr. Harley. He did not lack for courage, but his inter view with Stor:i had buried him beneath a spell of terror. It was peculiarly a condition to fright- en Mr. Harley to the core. H{ was proud in a coarse way of the fortune he had gathcred. He had based himself on his position as a business, not to say a legisiative, force, and used it to patronize, not always delicately,-those among his fellows who had not climbed so high. In exacting what was a money due he had ever proceeded with but little scruple, He had measured his right by measucing his strength, and had not failed to take his pound of flesh. In bricf, Mr. Harley, pos- sessing, like many another fat gentle- man, those numerous porcine traits of brutal selfishness and a lack of sentiment or sympathy, had considered always his own interests, following them though they took him roughshod over angther’s dearest Topes. For which good reasons Mr. Harley had foes, and knew it; there would be no absence of rejoicing over his downfall. 5 But what could Mr. Harley offer for defense. What, beypond mere compli- ance with Storri's wishes, might avert those calamities that seemed swinging in the air above him? He ' considered everything, and de- vised nothing; he was like a. man without eyes or as one shut in by night. In his despveration a flighty thought of taking Storri's life appealed to him for one murderous moment. It was only for a moment, and then he thrust if aside with a shudder; not from any morality, but his instant common sense showed how insane it would be as a method of escape. and with that he shrank from it as from a precipice. And yet there was to be no standing still; he must push on in some direction. Mr. Harley, being himself a business soul, did not omit to consider how far Storri might be held at bay by showing him the certain destruction of Credit Migellan should he persist to the bit- ter length of forgery charges and open war. ‘Mr. Harley might be disgraced, destroyed: but what then? Storri's trampicd flat; millions, about to come into his hands, would be swept away. These, as arguments to be addressed to Storri. no sooner entered the mind 'of Mr. Harley than he dismissed them as offering no solution of his 'pg.s, He had felt, rather than seen, the bar- “barism of Storri beneath the tissue of what that nobleman would have styled Lis elegunt refinement. Storri was a coward, and therefore Storri was ma- lignant} he had shown, as he went promising disgrace to Mr. Harley, that petulance of evil which is remarked in savages and cruel children. Storri was dominated of a passion for Trevenge; Do I ask much? ' under sway of that passion no chance of money loss would stay him; he would sacrifice all and begin his schemes anew before he would deny himself those vainglorious triumps upon which he had set his heart. He hated Richard; he hungefed for Dor othy; and Mr. Harley knew how he would go to every extravagant extent in feeding those two sentiments. Mr. Harley sighed dismally as he re- viewed these conditions; he could do nothing, and must serve, or seem to serve, the villain humor of Storri. What were those two demands? Storrl must meet Dorothy, and Richard must not. There was no help; Mr. Harley in his present stress would see Dorothy and bez her co-operation. He would not tell the whole story, but he would say that he was borne upon by trou- ble and ask her to acqulesce in Storri's conditions. He would promise that those conditions were not to live for- ever. Deciding thus, Mr. Harley went for- ward on his homeward course; he must see Dorothy without delay, for he would be upon the rack until the pain- ful conference was ove: The night was chill as New Year's nights have a right to be, and yet Mr. Harley was fain to mop his forehead as though 't were the dog days. As he neared his own door his reluctant pace became as slow as sick men find the flight of time. There had come no one to the Harley New Year's evening to engage the po- lite attentions of Mrs. Hanway-Harley, and that lady, being armored to the teeth, in the name of comfort had re- tired to her own apartments with a purpose .to unloose what buttons and remove what pins and’ untle what strings stood between her and a great bodily rellef. Dorothy was of neither the size nor the years at which women torture themselves, and, having no quarrel with her buttons and pins and strings, sat alone in the library. She was deep in a novel that reeled with ardent love and had fallen to despis- | ing the lover because he did not re- semble Richard. \ It was in the Mbrary that Mr. Har- ley came seeking Dorothy. When he found her he sgpod stock still. unable to speak one rd of all that tide of talk which weuld be necessary to bring before her hig dangerous perplex- itles and the one manger of thelr pos- sible relief. Dorothy at his step looked up, pleased to have him home so early. She was about to say as much. but at sight of him the words perished on her tongue. It was as though her heart were touched with ice. Mr. Harley's countenance had been of that quasi claret hue called rubicund. It was now turned gray and pasty and hls cheeks, as firmly round as those of a trumpet- er, were pouched and fallen as with the ' palsy of age. He looked ten years P> worse than when he went forth two | hours before. (‘r., | 2 a& Dorothy sprang up in alamm; she feared that he was ill “Let me call mamma!” she cried; me call Uncle Pat! You are sick. “No; call nobody!” said Mr. Harley feebly, and speaking with difficulty. “I'm_not ill; I'll be right in a moment.” “let. Then he had Dorothy back into her 7 /// chair, gazing upon her the while In a IS stricken way, as though she were =y /:' nangman or headsman, and he before e\ o her for execution. Mr. Harley was 7 ) held between terror of Storri and f"},"lu\' shame for what he must say to Dor- othy. Wondering what fearful blow had fallen upen them Dorothy sat fac- ing her father the color of death. “Tell me, papa,” she whispered, with a terror in her tones, “tell me what has happened.” Despgir brought a sickly calmness to Mr. Harley; he cleared his mind with a struggle and controlled himself to speak. He would say all at once and leave the rest with Dorothy. “Dorothy,” he began, the iron effort he was making being plainly appar- ent, “Dorothy, I have had a talk with that, scoundrel without & conscience, Count Sterri. I do not pretend that I come willingly to you from him. I teli oy However, that I am fearfully with- in that villain’s power, and cannot help myself. No, I've done no crime, but none the less Le has it in his hands to cover me with disgrace—destroy me, and every sign of me, from the midst of re- spectable men. It would avail nothing should I show you how he spread a snare for my feet, and how blindly I walked into it. I can only say again that he has me helpless, hand and foot; I am his to make or break in all that a man of honor or station holds dearest. He can cover me with infamy at will; he can unloose upon me an avalanche of disgrace, and witht the one blow crush us all. I keep back nothing, exaggerate nothing. I mere- ly lay bare to you what is. Once the stroke falls T shall never again hold up my head. Indeed, I shall not live to see it fall, for when I know it is inevitable I shall take my own life.” Mr. Harley paused a moment to recali his coolness, while Dorothy, her little hands crushed between her knees, sat panting like a spent hare. “T have given you my precise position,” continued Mr. Harley, with a sort of hopelessness. “I shall now tell you the conditions upon which my safety depends. They rest with you; I stand or fall as you decide.” Dorothy tried to sveak, but her voice died on her lips. “If you receive Count Storri, not as a lover, but as an acquaintance, or, if you will, a friend; and if you have no further meeting—that is, for a month—or perhabs two—or at the most three—have no further interviews, 1 say"'—Mr. Harley blundered a trifle as he saw Dorothy’'s face whitening with the sorrows he was laying ubon her—“have no further interviews with Mr. Storms, T am saved. Forgive me, forgive your father who has so fatled of his duty that, instead of protecting you, he comes to you for protection. There is no more: You have my fortune, my good repute, my life in your charge. If you meet Count Storri in friendship, if you refuse Mr. Storms, I am secure. Should you fail of either, then. by heart and soul! I think it Is my end!” TN ! U7 SN0 S CHAPTER XIIL How Mr. Popling Was Inspired. Next to Richard, Dorothy worshiped her father. Women never weigh men closely; with them it is the kindness of men that counts, and all her life no one could have been more génerously affec- tionate than was Mr. Harley to Dorothy. And now her estimate of him became her memory of his unflagging goodness; and this kept her from harsh judgment as he told what heartbreaking sacrifices she must make. Nor did she distrust a syl- lable; nor would she ask for explanation. The latter she would avoid; it was enough that Storri held her father at his horrid mercy. As the setting forth in detail of Storri's cruel power she in- stinctively closed her ears as she would have shut her eyes against a fearsome sight. Dorothy had never a question; and when Mr. Harley was done she seem-