The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-11-17
Sir John snapped his fingers in his

by Jupiter, lnaI \ SOOu. hoN uIu
you learn that, Willp
Heard her ask for the money, and
get it, from lane behind the garden.
lisa check"
Sir John got up, and began to button
his coat.
'.Get my hat, VIII, there's good fel,
low,
He was evidently oyerhowing with
good humor. Will went, obediently,
and brought from up stairs the baronet's
hat and gloves. He put on his hat, and
was going to the door, when he turned
back, and took small bundle of letters
from his breast-pocket. He gave them
TO his companion, saving
Perhaps it will be safest TO leave
these with you for the present, Will
Take great care of them-it's q great
mark of trust. This bundle is the cream
of the joke. These are the letters them
selves
"Well, but" said VIII, taking them
doubtfully, and with puzzled expires.
sion, "don't you want them with you
Isn't she going to buy them of you"
"Do yon think l shall be fool enough
to give the letters up!' said the baronet,
slowly. "Why, man, there's fortune
in the bundle, with proper manage
ment."
"You are deep one, Sir John, and no
mistake"
With that, VIII slowed away the bun
die in an inner pocket, and Sir John
left the room.
/ will not stop to describe my feelings
as listened TO this convcrsation-thc
boiling of my blood, and the hard, in
voluntary clenching of my hands, rs |
pictured to myself all the suflerings that
poor Helen must have gone through in
the clutches of this scoundrel.
waited till he had gone down the road
past the windows of tho cofiee-room,
hesitating what to do. To get hold OF
the letters being the object, how
should set about it 7 / might fight Will
for them, and / would have backed my
selfa any odds against the weak, disso-
lute-looking scamp; but then this would,
after all, be nothing short of robbery.
AS l hesitated, with my hand on the
door leading into the coffee room, it so
happened that Will settled the question
for me. He was standing at the win
dow, and looking after the retreating
figure of his patron, and, as he turned
away, he ground out between his
teeth
~ Course him! l wish / was quit OF
him.
The alliance between the two, then,
was only skin deep. / opened the door,
therefore, noisily, and walked in the
room. The man started asif he had
been shot, and grew pale rs death.
WELL" said, walking TO between
him and the entrance door, to provide
for all contingencies, Il want TO have Il
little talk with you. Eve just heard
your conversation with Sir John Stagg
| haven't much time, so / will come Il
the point at once. How much of that
thousand pounds do you think he will
give you for what you have donef'
Wills white and trembling lips re-
fused to obey him for the moment. He
had sunk back into chair, and was
looking up at me with face of great
terror.
"Do you think he'll give you hun
dred poundsp
"Not he, confound him. It's little
enough I'll ever get frum him again
wish / was quit of him, do, upon
my life, sir" reiterated Will, with many
oaths I need not set down, possessed
r--L--tn- ---.ti--.i--a- H-a.as - 7 'r1,a
detective policeman. "But I'm poor
devil, sir He winds me round his fin
ger; can't get free of him, for haven't
Il penny in the world but what he gives
me-"
"Look here. If you give me that
packet of letters he just gave you, you
Shall have two hundred and fiftypound'
here on the spot"
| could see that the sun dazzled hi:
minds eye and took away his breath.
"Sir, | can't. He'd murder me, he
would, indeed"
Nonsense. With that amount OF
money you could be off, and need never
see him again. If YOU don't accept my
offer, you and he will both be arrested
for the conspiracy. / shall arrest him,
| said, willing TO favor that notion
about the detective policeman, "in any
case. So you have your choice; you
may either give me the letters, and re-
ceive two hundred and fifty pounds, or
leave this room i'll custody of a police
man."
The last word made him rise at once,
as if to get ont of the way before that
confrctemps could possibly occur.
'You don't go any other way" |
said, giving him no gentle push back
wards, with my open hand.
Glow will you give me the money,
sir" III give you the lctters-l will in
deed"
"rll give you something over hundred
pounds in notes that | have about me,
and the rest in "A check. The landlord
knows me: we'll have him in rs 4 wit
ness, if You like"
"Oh, no, SIR cried VIII, eagerly. It's
all right, sir.'
4 The notion of witnesses was evident
IDENTIFY rcpugnant to Will'snature in the
highest degree.
/ counted out the money on the ta-
bic, and wrote the check. VIII, mcan-
while, holding the letters half drawn
out of his pocket, and with the other
arm clasped over them with character
istic suspicion.
'.Look here, sir" he then said, as,
standing by the table, he put his treinb.
ling bony fingers over the pile of notes,
''the gentleman III save seven hundred
and fifty pounds by this. Take half the
letters now, and then make il mon
key and have the other half when Sir
Johns laggedr'
] saw the way to treat Will. In an
instant had my hand in his neckcloth,
and clapping my foot behind his, i
tripped him up, and threw him heavily
on the ground.
"Give me the letters. sir," said
Without word of Iemonstrance, he
got up and gave the precious packet.
felt thrill go through me as put il
in my breast.
:. II beg your pardon, sir; didn't mean
to anger you, SIR" said Will.
i left him gathering up the money
took my hat, and left the room.
wharton's Mill was good mile and q
half from the inn, and Sir John had got
ten minutes start Of me. / was very
eager to intercept him, if could, and
so spare Helen the interview he intend
ed. A thought occurred to me. l
+rrna1 ;pto fb. afahia hasiIa thn inn