Show by ST oralge RATHBORNE author Autho of attle U N tin the ap p der 1 web er dr jacke ms abnee to 1901 street and nd smith new how yorla CHAPTER APTER XII waylaid by the ogre this spirited way may of doing things struck charlie as just about right it suited his own aggressive nature always bent upon carrying the war into the enemy s country and striking quick blows kind of you artemus he eald said and I 1 shall be only too pleased to meet the captain fate decreed that they should meet capt brand as they sauntered toward the exit both gave him a cold bow it was no more nor less than he was accustomed to from these friends of arline and yet he looked after them suspiciously ahl had he but dreamed of whither they were bound and for what pur pose the ogre would have considered that the case called for something beyond suspicion keep an eye on him artemus eald said charlie well rather it would precipitate matters it if he chanced to see us meet the original ghost of we may so term capt brand bat but apparently the ogre had awak ned ened to the fact that he was assailed by a thirst which would not be de bled tied tor for the last they saw of him he was heading in a bee line tor for the barroom once clear of the hotel the two friends turned along the avenue artemus knew where he was going tass was his old stamping ground over which he had ranged for years always searching for that willo will the wisp which until now had eluded his grasp a sensation that would take the theatergoing theater going public by storm and make his reputation at a bound so he led charlie at length into a public house where many men came and went where silver and cut glass gleamed upon the buff buffet et back of the bar and tables invited a social chat before they reached a distant table charlie had located his man it was easy enough after he had points given to him nor was mas artemus an iota out of the way in his rough and ready diagnosis it of the mans man s character charlie saw he had been a bluff genial sailor and these years of wild life on the sahara with the wander ing tribes of nomads into whose hands be he had fallen had not bradl bated these predominant traits warmly he shook the hand of the wanderer eye looked into eye and read there the nature of the man back of it ald capt brand was mas thanking heaven mentally that his child had been beloved by one whom he lecog nihed in his soul to be nature natures s noble man long they sat there and con versed the hours passed unheeded charlie was enthralled by what he heard there was no braggadocio about this man as in the case of the ogre and yet he had evidently passed through adventures beside which even the imaginary ones of the other paled into insignificance he asked eager questions about his child and it could be seen how anxious the father was to enfold her in his arms taken in all they passed a most pleasant time of it and were finally astonished when one of the waiters came with the information that mid night had arrived it was time to close the house and would mould the gen tiemen have the kindness to vacated which of course they did were an other meeting capt brand also yearned to cm em brace his wayward boy whom he felt sure he could easily lead into the right path charlie walked on air as he re turned alone to the hotel artemus pleading private business elsewhere possibly his study of dramatic art included also the stars 0 of tahe stage and he thought it his duty to see some divine casino girl to her home there were many reflections to keep charlies poor mind in trouble and ward off sleep this appearance of the real brand on the scene was a remarkable event so opportune that he ile could not but look upon it as providential indeed had the affair been left entirely in bis his hands the chances were he would never have conceived so brilliant a climax as to raise brand from the grave he was supposed to occupy in africa and bring him upon the scene to confound the ogre little did this latter individual dream of what was in store for him or that he stood upon a volcano that was ready to explode it was a man very well satisfied with the way the world treated him who sauntered into the windsor late that night and ran upon his bete noir at the very first turn charlie believed brand had been waiting for him his manner seemed to declare it what could he want there was something so exceeding audacious about the fellow s game that charlie was forced to admire his nerve even though he felt angry with him at the iame tame time because he had deceived arline capt brand as we me may still call the old rogue through courtesy though well aware that this was not his right name capt brand bad evi dently made up his mind that the time had come tor for a plain under standing with this young fellow who courted arline he had fortified himself for the in with various potations calca according to his way of think ing to put courage into a man so he had kept watch waiting for stuart to appear and doubtless his particular thirst needed attention at frequent inter vals charlie saw at a glance the man was hardly himself as usual when the liquor was in the wit went out he might have preferred avoiding the interview it if given gh en his choice since no good could come of it save to let this man understand they were deadly foes but brand intercepted him and appeared to be decidedly in earnest charlie knew no reason why he should run away he ile believed he could give the fellow as good as he sent a roland for an oliver and per naps haps find a chance to pick up some information it occurred to charlie at that mo ment how much of truth there might be in the old saying to the effect that whom the gods would destroy they first make mad capt brand exhibited a fair sam pie of it he was not only mad but slightly inebriated not enough to in with his utterance but to muddle his wits a bit and render him incautious of a truth whisky has ere this played the deuce with the most won darful plans that were ever con elved in the minds of men charlie could not refuse the horny palm offered to him it had served its owner many a good turn and also brought him into much trouble I 1 want to see you stuart very important t wait till morning come this way it you please know its late but wont detain you long must get it off my mind so charlie obliging always went with him brand had his eye on a couple of chairs in a corner where they would be isolated what he bad had to say was of a vate nature and admitted of no eavesdropper nor would it have been safe for any curious person to have loitered near while he was la in this chaotic condition of mind prudence does not ally itself with the indulgence in strong drink ah ali said the other dropping into a seat with the air of a weary man fairly well loaded this Is something like comfort stuart I 1 ve learned in my long and wearisome exile the value of taking it easy while you may trouble flies fast enough as it is by the way excuse me but I 1 quite neglected to ask you to join me in having something thanks I 1 should have declined anyway then no harm done now of course you wonder what ive I 1 ve button holed you for naturally so cant you guess guesse 9 too tired to make the effort to night besides I 1 im m not good at conundrums ha ha this Is a conundrum sure enough I 1 consider all girls puzzles then it is about h hm in your daughter 7 9 about sweet arline sure enough As a fond parent I 1 am of course solicitous concerning her future and especially since she will in du due e time wish to give up the obedience she has so willingly shown toward my author ity and assume the sacred relation of wife toward some bright young man that solicitude my dear stuart brings me to a critical moment in my career brings me in contact with aou ou charlie pretended to be dense he even assumed surprise and perplex ity how can your future concern me he asked ah ali you are disposed to be humor ous my lad or perhaps you wish to conceal your confusion under a brave exterior very good every man to his taste and I 1 am read ready Y to meet you fairly now let us reach an understanding I 1 am quite agreeable cheerfully the returned exile rubbed his hands together and new hope forced a smile upon his face I 1 will say this stuart that of all the beaux who have come courting my sweet girlee I 1 don t know of any one I 1 would rather have tor for a son in law than yourself remarked the astute captain soberly ah ali thail s awfully of course I 1 m concerned about her welfare her future happiness what fond papa would not be inter ested I 1 have been studying you young man when you little dreamed your fate was being decided held in the hollow of my hand so to speak what conclusions did you asked charlie calmly lighting a fresh weed from the old cigar I 1 made up my mind that you were a very clever clear clears s gated reason able fellow that my child could be sate safe in your hands and would never regret having transferred her lib erty that was very good of yau smil tog ing and I 1 finally concluded that the time bad had arrived subject to a condi fion tion when I 1 might give over my charge forever when arline would no longer be subject to my parental authority for you know she has been a very dutiful daughter you mention a condition sir sira yes only one may I 1 ask what it concerns capt brand smiled broadly AL lau myself and my future support he said the cat was out of the bag capt brand desired to make terms with the man whom destiny had appointed to be ills his successor charlie felt the deepest disgust for so base a wretch and determined to bait him as the toreador does the mad maddened denea bull let me see do I 1 understand just what you mean you now receive a certain allowance from your daughter which she has willingly given you as a pledge of her affection this you fear may be stopped should she mar cyp ry yes yes you have it down very pat and believing that I 1 have at least a fair chance to secure her consent to be my wife you are desirous of entering into some specific arrangement with me whereby this allowance may be continued during your lifetime that Is it exactly you could not have hit it better had you though the whole thing out charlie s manner gave him great hopes that he had found a ready dupe now be perfectly frank captain are you fully satisfied with the amount well there s a point I 1 wanted to put before you there are times when truth to tell I 1 have thought the dear child of course unconsciously was treating me shabbily twice the amount would put me on easy street and I 1 in sure she wouldn t miss it at all the glow of avarice was in his face bis his eyes snapped eagerly and char lie ile could see his fingers working as though in imagination they already clutched the golden prize ah ali twice the amount would satisfy you then captain charlie queried softly I 1 am sure of it and on my part I 1 would agree to use all the influence I 1 possess in order to make her yours forever think of it my hearty that sweet girl Is worth any sacrifice there are men doubtless who would quadruple the annuity it if they could secure so rich a prize but sir my conscientious scruples stand in the way above all things I 1 must see her happy charlie was secretly amused it was as good as a play to him A laudable ambition for or a fond parent I 1 am sure and the curiosity I 1 entertained regarding the limit of your desires has been most amply satisfied curiosity do I 1 understand you aright sira do you mean to er r imply that you had no other motive in making such rigid and searching in quirles into the sacred feelings of a R parent parents s heart curiosity the devil devill he snorted it is a cool word but it covers the case so let it pass perhaps er my terms have been a little bit too high and it might be possible for us to affect a comero mise oh no not a bit too high in deed five ii v times as much would not be considered excessive it if you could de liver the goods you doubt my ability 7 eagerly I 1 know it for an actual certainty as he looked squarely into the cap bains bold eyes that now tell fell before his gaze I 1 can prove my power over the girl I 1 will influence her to turn coldly from you when next we talk terms my price will be double what I 1 ask now there are others mr charlie stuart who aspire to secure what you have spurned what of the fine sense of honor that compels you to consider your daughters 7 9 tauntingly bah bahl mere words and you know it what of that wonderful sense of intuition which warned you I 1 was the mate appointed by destiny to watch over your daughter s future and yours to be continued |