The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8295, 26 November 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

{["The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAPTER XXlV.—Continued

He glared at Mr Weeks, while Mr Weeks nodded and purred, while Isaacs burst out laughing "Stanley, do endeavour to keep yoursolf in check a bit. Can't you see that I'm joking? _ One can't be too discreet even in simple matters, but with such business as we have in. hand " He gazed sorrowfully at the bully, and the bully mimicked him, at the same time punctuating every word with a dirty forefinger. "Now, see here, Mr Isaacs, I know your game; I can see right through you, with all your diplomacy. When we've won the fight, you'll try to evade responsibility. You'll swear anything—do anything—for filthy money. But I'm going to have it in black and white, and if you try to repudiate one word "of it I'll kill you! Do you hear? You came into the swindle with the idea of sucking me and old Weeks dry, and then chucking us into the gutter. You've stepped to your present position over the bodies of women and children. Now you've got a man to deal with—a man who has been changed into a fiend through cruel circumstances." Isaacs became almost livid. He began to realize that he was in the running to the scaffold. Stanley enjoyed his craven fear, and, pointing at him, laughed aloud. "Look at old gallows-face! Fancy the old fox dropping into the trap I set for him. Fancy making the man who is to be my son-in-law his political agent." "Is the fine hand of your son-in-law to be in all this?" Isaacs asked, at the same time wondering if Duke Deverell had a price. "Ask him. Here he comes." " 'Sh! Not a word, I am perfectly satisfied that I'm in good hands. We stand or fall together." Chris Stanley unlocked and unbolted the double blaize-lined doors, and Duke Deverell walked into the room, bowing low, and smiling blandly. "Have a glass of champagne, Dtfke,', Stanley. "It's Hilda's birthday. I told her how we should celebrate it." "Don't roar like a bull," cautioned Deverell. He spoke sharply and frowned. "We carry our lives in our hands, as it were. W.e have met here to conspire against the life and property of a good citizen, and a single blunder may cost us our liberty for a long term of years." "I must protest," Isaacs said feebly. "It is quite understood " f'That you take the lion's share in the event of success, and come out scatheless if we bungle it!" laughed Deverell. shaking his head playfully. "Fill up my glass, and shove the cigar box over here. Thanks." "Just what I've been telling Isaacs," Chris snapped. "We're equal to all things now,, and there are four partners in this firm." "Sit close, all of you," said Duke Deverell, taking a packet from the breast pocket of his coat. "Typed on Dick Tressidy's own machine, by Dick Tressidy's own typewriter —yclept Hilda Craven!" Deverell grinned. "Run your eye through it gentlemen," he continued, handing one sheet to each. "They- , 're all the same, word for word." "I know what it is, and am ready to sign," Stanley said. "Hurry up, Isaacs; these things have to be f signed by four of us." The Jew's eyes bulged, and his face was unearthly pale. "An equal partnership for services rendered," he quoted. "What are these services, Mr Deverell?" "Sign!" roared Stanley. "As : though you don't know!" He snatched up a pen. "Now, Weeks. There's a gold mine in it." Lucas Isaacs submitted with a bad grace. He was shaking like a leaf, All this was so irregular—it was with precedent. Could he swear that it was done under protest, should the occasion arise? Or that it was a forgery? The'latter would be the safer course, and,' with this end in view, he wrote his usual signature with schoolboy care. It looked like a good but slightly shaky copy of the real thing. "My nerves are on the jump," he explained. A wicked smile fluttered about Deverell's lips when he examined it. "Yes," he flashed a long sideglance at the Jew, "I understand, I've done the same thing myself. But this will do." "Now, Gentlemen," called Chris Stanley, rapping on the table, "drink to our success, and to the health of my daughter Hilda—to whom, more than to anybody else, that success will be due." ' ."Hilda-fbeautiful Hilda!" said Deverell, emptying his glass; then he turned to Isaacs, and talked easily and gracefully. "I've been holding half a score of open air meetings every fine night and the sham working man is enthusiastic. I don't believe that I have tortured my brain to discover a single fact for his consumption. This class of men hates facts, and is one .of God'sunreasoning animals. I have pandered to the bestrial part of him, and that's about seveneighths of the brute." Lucas Isaacs listened and nodded. Ho felt that his ambition had carried him to the sharp edge of eternity. He had looked upon Chris

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Anther of "Clyda's Love Dream," " Nina's Repentance," "Her Soldier Lover," "The Mystery of Wood- ' croft," " For Love of Marjorie," etc.

Stanley as a noisy bully ; Weeks a petty sort of thief—nervous—cowardly. They were to be puppets in the show. But now He heard Deverell talking. "Yes, I know that the funeral takes place to-day, and that it may have been a good time to strike, but I have elaborated my own scheme. I have chosen a Sunday night, either the next Sunday for the fun. The works are practically closed down on a Sunday, and thera is only an old watchman there. In all probability there will be a good-sized riot. I can let loose a mob of five or six thousand ; the brutes are only waiting for the signal. But gentlemen,! I will not weary you with particulars. As a very recent member of the gang known in Italy and New York as the ''Red Brothers" I can make an explosive which will transform the works.of Dick Tressidy into a scrapheap in the twinkling of an eye. It may affect our own walls slightly, but that is a trifling matter when we consider the certain result. I should not object to putting Tressidy himself out of the field," he added reflectively. He flicked the ash off the end of his cigar, and smiled at Stanley. [to be continued.]