Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

-BONNY JEAN, 67 He sat up and glared fiercely about, while a volley of impre- cations burst from his lips. He was stiff and sore from the effects of the blow, and lying upon the ground in the damp, heavy night dews had not improved his temper; but, after several ineffectual efforts, he was able to stagger to his feet, and walk slowly and painfully. Gabriel Black was playing a desperate game. His intention was to gain possession of the buried treasure, hoping to tempt Jean to be reconciled to her fate, and not dreaming that any woman could resist the golden lure which he would offer. If, however, the poor girl could not be won by gold, why, the treasure would be in his possession all the same, and the Con- ways, not knowing of its existence, would of course be none the wiser. And with such immense wealth in his keeping, Black would be willing to go away and trouble Jean no more, for to him money was the one great object in existence. Alas! it is too frequently the sole aim in life to many human beings. But—though he did not know it—had Jean been aware that she was the lawful heiress to all this wealth supposed to be hid- den away under the marked gum tree, she would willingly have given it all to Gabriel Black if she might thus buy freedom from her hateful bonds and be relieved from his persecution. But Black never dreamed the truth; he measured every one else by his own standard, and did not reflect that a pure, true woman prefers her own self-respect to all the gold cf the universe. He saw that the way to the buried treasure lay through un- pleasant paths. Some one must know all; whoever was his unseen assailant must have been in possession of the secret. He resolved to give up the attempt for to-night, and striking into a narrow, almost imperceptible foot-path, he wandered on through the forest, his brain teeming with plots for future vil- lainy. It was nearly sunrise when, passing through an opening in the pines, he encountered the man whom poor Lady had sent to her father with the tidings of her whereabouts, As the Gomicbooks (E(o)