ther side of her ashen face, a gray dress
covered her attenuated frame, and her arms were folded cross-wise over
her bosom as he had seen her last, but now her eyes were wide open,
yellow, and glassy. Then slowly, very slowly, she seemed to move toward
him, her eyes fixed on his, piercing his very soul. Nearer, nearer,
nearer she came, until now, rising above him, she stooped as if to touch
his lips with the kiss of death. He could not breathe or move, conscious
only that an awful horror was upon him and a tiny mallet beating on his
brain.

Then that hideous, deathly, pallid face, cold and clammy, was pressed
upon his, the faint light seemed to fade into darkness, and he knew no
more.

CHAPTER XXXI

THE GLAD HAND

Albert Page had just finished reading his morning mail the first day of
September, when his office door opened and he saw the genial face of
Uncle Terry enter.

"Well, well!" exclaimed Albert, springing to his feet and advancing to
meet his caller. "How are you, Uncle Terry?" Then, as he seized that
man's hand in both of his, and shook it heartily, he added in one
breath, "How is your good wife and Telly, and when did you arrive, and
why didn't you let me know so I could meet you?"

"Wal," answered Uncle Terry, seating himself, "I got in purty late last
night an' put up at a tavern near the depot."

"But why didn't you write or wire me, so I could have met you at the
train and taken care of you?" asked Albert.

"The fact on't is," replied Uncle Terry, removing his hat and laying it
on the floor beside him, "I've allus pulled my own boat in this world,
an' it sorter goes agin the grain now to hist the oars over to 'nother
fellow." Then reaching into his pocket, drawing out a letter, and
handing it to Albert, he added, "'Bout two weeks ago I got this 'ere
from that dum thief Frye. I was 'spectin' the gov'ment boat 'long most
every day, and so couldn't cum any sooner."

Albert read the letter and gave a low whistle. "Frye must have been
either very hard up when he wrote," he said, "or else the other parties
are crowding him and this is his last effort to fleece you. I have heard
that he has been speculating in wheat lately, and it may be he has got
caught. I hope so, for it will be easier for us to bring him to terms. I
have my plans all mapped out and I think we had best go for him at once,
while he is likely to be in his office." Then calling to Frank, and
rapidly writing a check for five hu