CHAPTER XLIX.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 11933, 5 April 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XLIX.

Continued.

*_/UUL(UUGU. * THIS STONE BHALI. BEAT OUT HIS BRAINS 1' Then, too, though Fanny did not mention it, it was a safe, delightful way to talk of love to this blue- eyed Viking; to talk of the love of other people. ' * To be snre I was brought in it/s ou! Ralph, * And a deal more than you know. There was a side to that story that you would never suspect, and I will tell it to you oonie day. rwy lass.' * Tell me now/ said Fanny eagerly. * No," no, my lass ; we will wait till we see more of each other, for that part of the story brings me and Sir Jerome and bis cousin, Sir Francis, together in j a fearsome way you never suspect/ „ «Pb, do tell me !' cried Fanny, clasping hef hands and looking into his face beseechingly. But Ralph was keen enough to keep tis secret as a bait to further interviews with the charming Fanny. He shook his bead, saying, like:an oracle : * Wait I' , ' Fanny pouted. * It Sir Francis was here yesterday he is hew now/ said Ralph. * If he is here he will be at a wine shop or casino. I know his wava. And I'll go find him and pick a quarrel, and let him feel what weight is in a British tar's arm/ « Ob, don't ! don't !' cried Fanny. * Ay, but I must/ said Ralph. « It's debt I owe/ * Don't/ said Fanny, catching him by the arm. ' Yon might kill him, you are so fearfnl strong/ 1 And what matter to you if he is killed?' . , .. * Oh, no matter of him ; he's not the man I like to see in Sir Jerome's shoes, or sporting bis fortune/ * What, lass ? Do you mean he inherited ?' * Yes, sure. Wasn't he next of kin.' * And I am letting him, the villain, toll in all those riche3, and wear honor and: all that? When I could, and yet I can't, fling him out of all he's got. Let me alone, lass, if he enjoys the Sbtbron fortune, be has to enjoy it with a broken back, or less bis eyes/ * Don't 1' entreated Fanny, * please don't. You will get into prison, you might get hung 1 oh, Ralph, don't 1' ' I'd do anything in life to please you, my lass/ said Ralph, loosing her clasp, and stooping' to pick tip a good smooth pebble the size uf a pomegranate, ' bat this bit of rock has to hammer out Sir Francis Sothron's brains, if I swing as high as heaven for it ' He strode off in such a heat and fury that Fanny began to cry with terror, and running back toward the bouse met Lelia in the walk. ' Why, Fanny, what ia the matter 7' * Ob, Sir Francis Sothron is at the Hotel .Gardere, and a .gnat man_ like a gi*nt is looking him up to kill him !'