The Grady County progress. (Cairo, Grady County, Ga.) 1910-19??, May 21, 1915, Image 3
GRADY COUNTY PROGRESS, CAIRO, GEORGIA. Dpi® fir GEORGE BARR SCUTCHEON ILLUSTRATIONS ^ RAY WALTERS copyp/wt, w+. OY DODO, AJAAD A/fD OOYIPAf/Y SYNOPSIS. —5— _I» 11,0 N ®w York home of James Brood Dawes and Riggs, his two old pensioners and (Comrades, await the coming of Broods son Frederic to learn the contents ,of a wireless from Brood, but Frederic, nftor reading, throws It Into the lira and ,leaves the room without a word. Frederic tells Lydia Desmond, his fiancee, that the message announces his father's marriage ■and orders the house propnred for an Im mediate homecoming. Mrs. Desmond, the housekeeper and Lydia's mother, tries to cool Frederic’s totnpor at tho Impending changes. Brood and his bride arrive. Sho wins Fredorlc's liking at first mooting. Brood shows dislike and veiled hostility to his Bon. Lydia and Mrs. Brood meet In the Jade-room, where Lydia works as Brood s Secretary. The room, dominated by a great gold Buddha, Brood's father confessor, Is furnished In oriental mag nificence, Mrs. Brood, after a talk with makes changes in the. household and gains her husband's consent to send Mrs. Desmond and Lydia away. She tries to fathom tho mystery of Broo'd's separation from Ills first wife, and his dislike of his son, but fails. Mrs. Brood fascinates Frederic. They visit Lydia ahd her moth er in their new apartment. Mrs. Brood begins to fear Ranjab In his uncanny ap pearances and disappearances and Fred eric. remembbrlng his father’s East Indian stories and firm belief In magic, fears un known . evil. Ranjab performs feats of magic for Dawes and Riggs. CHAPTER VII—Continued. Then, before their startled, horror- struck eyes, the Hindu coolly plunged the glittering blade into his breast, ■driving It in to the hilt! “Good Lord!” shouted the two old men. Ranjab serenely replaced the sword In its scabbard. "It is not always the knife that finds the heart,” said he, so slowly, so full of meaning, that even the old men grasped the significance of the cryptic remark. “A feller can be fooled, no matter how closely he watches,” said Mr. Dawes, and he was not referring to the amazing sword trick. "No, sir,” said Mr. Riggs, with gloomy irrelevance, “I don't like that woman." The old spell of the Orient had fallen upon the ancients. They were hearing the vague whisperings of .voices tbat came from nowhere, as they had heard them years ago in the mystic silences of the East. “Sh! One comes,” said .Ranjab, softly. "It will be the master's son.” An instant later his closet door closed noiselessly behind him and the old men were alone, blinking at each other. There was no sound from the hall. They waited, watching the cur tained door. At last they heard foot steps on the stairs, quick footsteps of the young. Frederick strode rapidly tyto the room. CHAPTER VIII. I "He Killed a Woman.” ! His face was livid with rage. For a moment, he glowered upon the .two old men, his fingers working spasmod ically, his chest heaving with the vol canic emotions he was trying so hard to subdue. Then he whirled about, to glare into the hall. “In God’s name, Freddy, boy, what's happened?” cried old Mr. Riggs, all a-tremble. J ome minutes passed before he could it himself to speak. Ugly veins stood out on his pale temples, as he Spaced the floor in front of them. Even tually Mr..' Daves ventured the vital 'question, ln-a so'mewhat hushed voice, j "Have you—quarreled with your fa ther, Freddy?” ! The young man threw up his arms jin a gesture of despair. There was ■gt. wail of misery in his voice, as he grated out: “In the name of God, why should he hate me as he does? .* What have I done? Am I not a good son to him?” “Hush!” implored Mr! Dawes, nerv ously. "He’ll hear you,” • “Hear me I” oried Frederic, and laughed aloud in his recklessness. “Why shouldn’t he hear me?" By God, I'll not stand it a day longer. He ■wouldn’t think of treating a dog as Jie treats me. God, I—I, why, he is actually foroing me to hate him. I do hate him! I swear to heaven,- it [was in my heart to kill him down there just now. I—” He could, not go on. He choked up -an'd the tears rushed to his eyes. Abruptly turning away, he threw himself upon the couch and buried his face on his arms: sobbing like a’llttle child. The old men, distressed beyond the power of speech, mumbled, incoherent words of comfort as they slowly edged out toward the door. They tiptoed into the hall and neither spoke until their bedrooih door was closed behind them. Mr. Dawes even tried it-to see that it was safely latched. • The curtains .parted and Yvonne looked' in upon the wretched Frederic. There was a look of mingled pain and commiseration in her wideopen eyes. For a moment she stood th'ere regard ing him in silence. Then she swiftly- crossed the room to the coach In the corner where he sat huddled up, his shoulders still shaking with the mis ery that racked him. Her hand went out : to touch the tousled hair, but Stopped before contact. Slowly she drew back, with a glance of apprehen sion toward the door of the Hindu’s closet. An odd expression of alarm crept into her eyeB. "Frederic,” she, said, softly, almost timorously. He lifted bis head quickly, and then sprang to his feet. His eyes were wet and his lips were drawn. Shame pos sessed him. He tried to smile, but it was a pitiful failure. “Oh, I'm so ashamed of—of—” he began, in a choked voice. "Ashamed because you have cried?' she said quickly. “But no! It is good to cry—it is good for women to cry, But when a strong man breaks down and sheds tears, I am—oh, I am heart broken. But come! You must go to your room and bathe your face. Go at once. Your father must not know that you have cried. He—” “D—n him!” came from between Frederic’s clinched teeth. “Hush!" she oried, with another glance at Ranjab’s door. She would have given much to know whether the Hindu was there Or still below stairs. “You must not say- such—” “I suppose you’re trying to smooth it over so that they won’t consider him a brute. Is that It?” “Hush! Please, please! You know that my heart aches for you, mon ami. It was cruel of him, it Was cow ardly, yes, cowardly! Now I have said it!" She drew herself up and turned deliberately toward the little door across the room. His eyes brightened. The crooked sneer turned into an imploring smile. “Forgive me, Yvonne! You must see that I’m beside myself. I—I—" “But you must be sensible. Re member he is your father. He is a strange man. There has been a great deal of bitterness in his life. “He—” “But I can’t go on the way things are now. He’s getting to be worse than ever. I never have had a kind word from him, seldom a word of any description. Never a kind look. Can’t you understand how-it goads me to—" “I am your friend,” she said slowly. “Is this the way to reward mp?” He dropped, to his knees and cov ered her hands with kisses, mumbling hi3 plea for forgiveness. “I am so terribly unhappy,” he said over, and over again. “I’d leave this house tonight if it were not that I can’t bear the thought of leaving you, Yvonne. I adore you. You are every thing in the world to me. I—’’ "Get up!” she cried out sharply. He lifted his eyes in dumb wonder and adoration, but not in , time to catch the look of triumph that swept across her face. ' . “You will forgiye me?” he cried, coming to his feet. "I—I couldn't help saying it. It was wrong—wrong! But you will forgive me, Yvonne?" She turned away, walking slowly toward the door. He remained rooted “We Will Excuse You, Frederic.” to -the spot, blushing with shame and dismay. “Where are you going? To tell him?" he gasped. • She waited au Instant, and then came toward him. He never could have explained the unaccountable im pulse that forced him to-fall back, a .few steps as she approached. Her eyes were gazing steadily into his, and her red lips were parted. ' '.'That is as it should .be,” she was •saying,- but he was never sure that he .heard, the- words. His knees grew weak. He waB, in' the toils! "Now, you must pull yourself together,” she- went on in' such a .matter-of-fact tone that he straightened up involuntarily. “Colne! Wipe the tear stains from your cheeks."- • ( t .• He obeyed, but : his lips still quiv ered' with the rage that had been checked by the ascendency of another an'd even more devastating emotion She was standing quite close to him now, her slender figure swaying slightly as it moved by some strange, rhythmic melody to which the heart beat time. Her eyeB -.were soft and velvety again; her smile tender and appealing. The vivid .white of her arms and Bhoulderi? seemed to shed a soft light about her, so radiant was the sheen of the Batin skin. She moved closer to him, and with deft fingers applied her tiny laco handkerchief to his flushed cheek and eyes, laughing audibly as she did so; a low gurgle of infinite sweetness and concern. • He stood like a statue, scarcely breathing, the veins in his throat throbbing violently. "There!" she Baid, and deliberately, touched the mouchoir to her own smil ing lips,. before replacing It In her bodice, next to the warm, soft sltln. “I have been thinking, Frederic," she said, suddenly serious. “Perhaps it would be better if we were not alone when the others came up. Go at once and fetch the two old mon. Tell them I expect them here to witness the magic. It appears to be a family party, so why exclude them? Bo quick!” He dashed oft to obey her command. She lighted a cigarette at the table, her unsmiling eyes fixed on the door of the Hindu's closet. Then, with a little sigh, she sank down oh the broad couch and stretched her supple body in the ecstasy of complete relax ation. The scene at the dinner table hod been mo3t distressing. Up to tho in stant of the outburst her.husband had been In singularly gay spirits, a cir cumstance so unusual that the whole party wondered not a little. If the others were vaguely puzzled by his high humor, not so Yvonne. She un derstood him better than anyone else in the world; she read his mind as she would have read an open book. There was riot, not joy, in the heart of the brilliant talker at the head of the table. He was talking against the sav agery that Btralned so hard at its leashes. At her right sat Frederic, at her left the renowned Doctor Hodder, whose feats at the operating table were vastly more successful than his efforts at the dinner table. He was a very wonderful surgeon, but equally famous ns a bore of the first rank. Yvonne could not endure him. Mrs. Desmond and Lydia were there, This was an excellent opportunity to entertain them on an occasion of more or lesB magnitude. Frederic, deceived by his father's sprightly mood, entered rather reck lessly into the lively discussion. He seldom took his eyes from the face of his beautiful stepmother, and many of his remarks were uttered sotto voce, for her ear alone. Suddenly James Brood called out his name in a sharp, commanding tone. Frederic, at the moment, engaged in a low ex change of words with Yvonne, did not hear him. Brood spoke again, loudly, harshly. There was dead silence at the table. We will excuse you, Frederic,” said he, a deadly calm in his voice. The puzzled expression in the young man’s face slowly gave way to a steady glare of fury. He could not trust himself to speak. “I regret exceedingly that you cannot, take wine in moderation A breath of fre3h air will be of benefit to you. You may Join us upstairs later on.” “I haven't drunk a full glass of champagne,” begun the young man in amazed protest. Brood smiled indulgently, but there was a sinister gleam in bis gray eyes. “I think you would better take my advice,” he said, levelly. Frederic went deathly pale. “Very well, sir,” he said in a low, suppressed voice. Without another word he got up from the table and walked out of tbe room. He spoke the truth later on when he told Yvonne he could not under stand.' But she understood. Bhe knew that Jame3 Brood had endured the situation as long as it was in his power to endure, and she knew that it was her fault entirely that poor Fred eric had been exposed to this crown ing bit of humiliation. ' As' she sat in the dim study, await ing her stepsoft's reappearance with tie two old men, her active, far-seeing mind was striving to estimate the .cost of that tragic clash. Not the cost to herself- or tb Frederic, but to James Brood!" , The Messrs. Dawes and Riggs, inor dinately pleased over, their rehabilita tion, were barely through delivering themselves of their protestations of undying fealty, when- the sound ot voices came up from the lower hall. Frederic started to leave the 'room, not caring to face those who had wit nessed his unmerited degradation. Yvonne hurried to his side. “Where are you going?" she cried, sharply. He stared at her in wonder. “You cannot expect me to stay here—” “But certainly,” she exclaimed. “Listen! I will tell you what to do." Her voice sank to an imperative whis per. He listened in sheer amazement, his face growing dark with rebellion as slie proceeded to unfold her plan for a present victory over his father. “No, no! I can't do that! Never, Yvonne,” he protested. “For my sake. Freddy. Don’t forget that you owe .something to me. I command you to do- as' I tell you. It is the only way. Make haste! Open the window. Get the breath of air he prescribed. And when they are all here, apologize for your condition!” When Doctor Hodder. and Mrs. Gun ning entered the room a few minutes later young Brood w-as standing in the open window, drinking in the cold night -air, and she waB blithely regal ing the blinking old men with au ac count ot her stepson's unhappy efforts to drink all of the wine in sight! she told it, it was a most amusing experiment. James Brood was the last to enter, with Miss Followoll. Ho took in tho situation at a glance. Was it relief that sprang into his eyes as ho saw tho two old men? Frederic came down from the win dow, somewhat too swiftly for one who is moved by shame and contrition, and faced Ihe .group with a .well-assumed look of mortification in’ his pale, twitching face. Ho spoke in low, re pressed tones, but not onco did ho pormlt his gazo to encounter that of his father. "Im awfully sorry to have nmdo a nuisance of myself. It does go to my bond and I—I dnro say tho heat of the room helped to do the work. I'm all right now, however. Tho fresh air did me a TVot of good. Hope you’ll overlook my.foolish attempt to ho a devil of a fellow.” Ho hesitated a mo ment and thon went on, more clearly. “I’m all right now, father. It shall not happen again, I can promise you that.” A close observer might have seen the muscles of his jaw harden as he uttered the .final sontenco. Ho Intended that hts father should take it as a threat, not as an apology. Brood was watching him closoly, a puzzled expression in his eyes; gradu ally it developed into something like admiration. In the clamor ot voices that ensued the older man detected the presence of an underlying note of censure for his own behavior. For tho first time in many years he experi enced a feeling of shame. Someone was speaking at his elbow. Janey Followell, in her young, enthusiastic voice, shrilled somethlug Ho came swiftly into tho room from the ball, and not frbm his closet Tho look ot relief in Yvonne's eyes was short-lived. She saw amazoment in the faces of the two old men—and know! “After wo have had tho feats ot nmglc/’ Brood was Baying, "Miss Dob- inoud will road to you, ladteB aud gen tlemen, that chapter ot our journal—” "My Gawd!" groaned both ot tho middle-aged gentlemen, looking at their watches. relating to—" "You'll hnve to excuse mo, Brood, ronlly, you know. Important engage ment uptown—" “Sit down, Cruger," exclaimed Hod der. "Tho lady won’t miss you,” 1 —relating to. our first encounter with the great and only Ranjab,” pur sued Brood, oracularly. “Wo found him In a little village far up in the mountains. He was under sentence of death for murder. By tho way, Yvonno, the ltrls you have in your hand is the very weapon the good fel low used in tho commission ot his crime. He was in prison and was to dio within a fortnight after our arrival in the town. I heard of hts unhappy plight and all that had led up to it. His case Interested me tremendously. One night, a week before the proposed execution, my friends and I stormed the little prison and rescued him. We were Just getting over the cholera and needed excitement. That was fifteen years ago. He has been my trusted body servant evor since. I am sure you will be interested in what I have written about that thrilling adven ture." V Yvonne had dropped the ugly knife upon the table as if.lt were a thing that scorched her fingers. Did he—really kill a man?" whis pered Miss Janey, with horror In her eyes. 'Ho killed a woman. His wlfo, Miss Janey. She had been faithless, you see. He cut her heart out. Aud now, Ranjah, are you ready?" The Hindu salaamed. “Ranjab is always ready, sahib,” said he. CHAPTER IX. .He Was Getting Hla Few Things To gether In His Room. into his ear that caused him to look at her in utter amazement. .It was so astounding that he could not believe he heanj aright. He mumbled in a questioning tone, "I beg your pardon?' and Bhe repeated her remark. “How'wonderfully like you Frederic is, Mr. Brood." Then she added: “Do you know,' I’ve never noticed it until tonight. It’s really remarkable.” 'It is a most gratifying discovery,” said he, and turned to speak to Mrs. Desmond. He did not take his gaze from Frederic’s white. Bet face, how ever! and, despite the ,faot that he knew tho girl had uttered an idle com monplace, he was annoyed to find himself studying the features of Ma tilda’s boy with an Interest that seemed almost laughable when he con sidered it later on. His guests found much to talk about in the room. He was soon being dragged from one object to another and ordered to reveal the history, the use and the nature of countless things that obviously were Intended to be just what they seemed; such as rugs, shields, lamps, and so forth. He was abjy. aslsted by Messrs. Riggs and Dawes, who lied prodigiously In frenzy of rivalry. "Wlmt n perfectly delightful Bud- dim," cried Miss Janey, stopping in front of the idol. "How perfectly lovely he 1 is—or i3 it a she, Mr. Brood?!’' Frederic joined Lydia at the table, “A delicious scene, wasn’t it?” he asked, bitterly, in lowered tones. Her fingers touched his. “What did he mean, Freddy? Oh, I felt so. sorry for you. It was dreadful." “Don’t take it so seriously, Lyddy, ho said, squeezing her hand gently. Both of them realized that it was the nearest thing,. to a caress that had passed between them in a fortnight or longer. A wave of shame swept through li(m. “Dear old girl, my dear old girl,” ho whispered brokenly. Her eyes radlated.joy, her lips part ed in a wan, tremulous smile ot sur prise, and a soft sigh escaped them “My dear, dear boy,” she murmured, and was happier than she had been in weeks. “See hero, old chap,” said one of the middle-aged gentlemen, again consult ing his watch as he loudly addressed his host, “can’t you hurry this per formance of yours along a bit? It Is after ten, you know.” “I will summon the magician,” said Brood. “Be prepared, ladies and gen tlemen, to meet the devil. Ranjab is the prince ot darkness.” He lifted hiB hand to strike the gong that stood near the edge of the table. Involuntarily four pairs of eyes fas tened their gaze upon the door to tbe Hindu's-closet. Three mellow, softly reverberating “booms" filled tbe room, Almost instantly the voice of the Hin du'was heard. "Ai-ee, sahib!".. The Sorceress. The next day, after a sleepless night, Frederic announced to his stepmother that ho-could no longer remain under his father's roof. He would find some thing to do in order to support him self. It was impossible to go on pre tending that he loved or respected his father, and'the sooner the farce was ended the better it would be for both ot them. She, too, had passed a restless night, a night filled with waking dreams as well as those which came in sleep, There was always an ugly, wriggly krls in those dreams of hers, and a brown hand that was forever fascinat ing her with its uncanny dpftnesB, Twice in the night she had ciutched her husband's shoulder in the terror of a dream, and he had soothed her with the comfort of hts strong arms. She was like a little child “afraid of the dark." Her influence alone prevented the young man from carrying out his threat. At first he was as firm as a rock in hiB determination. He was getting Ills few possessions together In hiB room when she tapped on his door. After a while he abandoned the task and followed her rather dazedly to the boudoir, promising to listen to reason. For an hour sho argued and pleaded with him, and in the end he agreed to give up what she was pleased to call his preposterous plan, “Now, that being settled," she said with a sigh of relief, "let us go and talk it all over with Lydia." He started guiltily. “I'd—I’d rather not, Yvonne," he said. "There’s no use worrying her With the thing now. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer that she—er—well, somehow I don't like the Idea ot explaining matters to her. 1 She was watching him narrowly. “It has seemed to me of late, Frederic, that you and Lydia are not quite so— what shall I say?—so enamored of each other. What has happenod?” she inquired so innocently, so naively, that he looked at her In astonishmont. “I am sure you fairly live at her house, You are there nearly every day, and yet—well, I can feel rather than see the change in both of you. I hope—■" "I’ve been behaving like an Infernal sneak, Yvonne,” cried he, conscience- stricken; "She’s tho finest, noblest girl in all this world, and I’ve been treating her shamefully.” “Dear me! In what way, may I inquire?" “Why we used to—oh, but why go into hll that? It would only amuse you. You'd laugh at us for silly fools, But I can’t help saying this much— she doesn't deserve to be treated as I’m treating her now, Yvonne. It’i hurting her dreadfully and—” Sho laughed softly. “I’m afraid you are seeing too much of your poor stepmother,” she said. His eyeB narrowed. “You’ve made me over, that’s true. You’ve made all of us over—the house as well. I am not happy 'unless I am with you. It used to make me happy to be with Lydia—and we were always together. But I—I don’t care now—at least, am not unhappy when wo are apart, You’ve done it, Yvonne. You’ve made life worth living. You’ve made me see everything differently. You—" She stood up, facing him. She ap peared to be frightened. “Are you trying to tell me that you are in love with me?” she de manded, and there was no longer mockery, raillery in her voice. His eyes swept her from head to foot. He was deathly white. “If you were not my father's wife I would say yes,” said be, hoarsely. Sho laughed. "J shall pay no ats tentlon to such nonsense. You are an honest fool anil I don't blame you. Wlsor mon than you have fallen In love with mo, so why not you? I like you, Freddy, I llko you very, very much. I—’’ You like me because I am lii*H| son," ho cried hotly. “If you were not his son t should despise ■ you,” sho said deliberately, cruolly. He winced. "There, now; we’ve Bald enough. You must bo sensible. You will discover that I am very, vory sensible. It is Lydia whom you love, not I." "Boforo heaven, Yvonne, I do love her. That’s what I cannot understand nbout myself.” Ho was pacing the floor. But I understand,” she said, qui etly. "Now go away, please. And don’t lot mo hoar another word about lenving your father’s house. You are not to take that stop until I command you to go. Do you understand?" Ho stared at her in utter bewilder ment for a moment, and slowly nodded , his bond. Thon ho turned toward the door, shamed and humiliated beyond words. As ho wont BWiftly down tho stairs his father came out upon tho landing abovo and leanod over the railing to watch his descent. A moment later Brood was knocking at Yvonne's door. He did not wait for an invitation to enter, but strode into tbe room with out ceremony. She was standing at the window that opened out upon the little stone balcony, and had turned swiftly at the sound of the rapping. Surprise gave way to an expression of dtspleas- uro. “What has Frederic been saying to you,?” domandod her husband curtly, after lio had closed tho door. A feint sneer came to her lips. “Nothing, my dear James, that you would care to know," sho said, smol dering anger in her eyes. You moan something that I shouldn’t know," he grated; "Are you forgetting yourself, James?” coldly. He stared at her incredulously, “Good Lord! Aro you trying to tell mo what I shall do or say—” Sho camo up to him slowly. "James, we must both be careful. We must not quarrel.” Her bauds grasped the lapel of his long lounging robe. There was an appealing look in her eyes that checked tho har3h words even as they rose to his lips. He found himself looking into those dark eyes with the same curious wonder in his own that had become so common of late. Time and again he had been puzzled by something he saw iu thotr liquid depths, something he could not fathom, no matter how deeply ho probed. “What is thore about you, Yvonne, that hurts me—yes, actually hurts me ■when you look at mo as you’re look ing now?” he cried, almost roughly. “There is something in your eyes— there are times when you soem to be looking at me through oyos that aro not your own. It’s—it’s quite un canny. If you—" "I assure you my eyes are all my own,” she cried, flippantly, and yat there was a slight trace of nervdue- ness in her manner. "Do you intend “I Have Advised Him to Bide HIS Time.” ■ l to bo nice and good and reasonable, James? I mean about poor Frederic?" His face clouded again. “Do you know what you are doing to the boy?” he asked bluntly. “Quite as well as I know what you aro doing to him.” she replied quickly. He stiffened. "Can't you see what it is coming to?" "Yes. He was on the point ot leaving your house, never to come back to it again. That’s what It is coming to,” Bhe said, lively. "Why—why, he’d starve!' cried the man, shaken In spite of himself. “He lias never done a day’s labor, ha doesn’t know how to earn a living, He—’’ “And who is to blame? You, James, you! You have tied his hands, aud have penned him up in—’’ “We will not go into that," he inter* rupted coldly. “Very well. I have advised him to Bide his time.” (TO BE CONTINUED.) Goes the Limit. When a woman Is angry she tells • man just what she thinks of him—amU incidentally, just what she thinks otiv, er people think of him.