The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-08-18

manifesting considerable solicitudeabo
other peoples affairs, IL can't say,
I'm sure"
| took Charley's implied hint and did
not revert to the subject again. We
commenced our work of destruction in
Mapperley Wood early the following
morning, aud q week afterwards the ia.
BILE at Mapperley House groaucd beneath
the weight Of partridges and quails
which We provided 70. it. Hatfield ac.
companied US very frequently, but he
was a poor shot, aud did not seem to
manifest any particular interest in the
sport. Two hours in the morning were
usually enough for i'm, and then he
would shoulder his gun aud march home
to read Tennyson or Longrellow to May
and leave Charley and me to carry on
the war alone think one reason of
his indifference to cunning lay in his
antipathy to Charley's huge mastiff
Crusoe, who, although worthless in
hunting, always accompanied us, keep
ing respectable distance in the rear,
in full consciousness that he never was
made for a game dog and that Leopard
and Spot, Charley's settlers, understood
the business in hand great deal better
than he did He was magnificent
fellow, however, and lord of all the
manor grounds, aud in consideration of
his faithful services as sentinel during
the night, Charley never refused to take
him with US on our excursions by day.
The feeling between himself aud Hat
Held was quite mutual, for. the latter
never ventured near the dog but Crusoe
would show his teeth and growl at him
most suspieiously.
One morning Charley aud | unbushed
flock of pMtrdges, aud when they
settled again the dogs were unable to
lind them. In our endcavors to discover
the lost birds We became widely separa-
ted, and at last, towards twelve clock,
tired with the mornings work | resolved
to return to the house. As approached
the grounds of the mansion heard
voices in the shrubbery, one of which
recognized as Hatfeld's and so stopped
to listen whether the other were not
Charley's The persons OF the speakers
were hidden from me by the thick
growth of evergreen beyond the walk,
but | could hear every word of their
conversation quite distinctly.
| tell you" said Hatfield, ." that l
must have more money"
Aud | say" returned the other,
whom | instantly perceived was not
Charley, but stranger, "that | have
advanced all | am going to on this
cursed nonsense. | don't see any like.
iihood of getting return for my invest
ment"
i've done all that | agreed to do"
said Hatfield.
You promised to marry the GIRL"
said the other
Well, | am engaged to be married
to her."
But you have fallen in love with
her, too"
What. Of that?"
Much. If you have got spoony in
the matter, there is very little chance
OF my getting my money back. When
we struck this bargain, Daniel Hatfield,
1t was to be purely business arrange
ment. | was to furnish the money aud
set you up in good style. You were to
do the work aud marry the girl. When
we got possession of her property, we
were to divide the profits. Now you've
broken faith and got sweet on her, and
you know, as well as | do, that if you
marry her, not one cent of her money
shall | ever set eyes on"
Tom Burns" said Hatfield, 81 told
you when l was in such trouble six
months ago, that if you would pay off
my debts aud advance me enough to
live on until next year, would under.
take to marry rich girl, and that you
should be paid for your investment at
least four fold out of my future wife's
estate. To this yo1 agreed, and the re-
suit of our bargain was that | sought
the acquaintance of May Durham.
tell you fairly that although / owe to
you all my opportunities of knowing
her, yet have bitterly cursed the day
when that miserable contract was made
For have found in May Durham
true. hearted, noble, generous girl,
Thomas Burns-well worthy the earnest
love Of more honest man than [, and
l have hated and despised myself for
the wretched part | am playing in this
matter. But | promise that you shall
be well paid for these advances. May
Durham will be worth million on her
fathers death, and her marriage settle.
ment will not be less than a quarter of
that sum. And if you hold to your
bargain as have SO far held to mine.
you must let me have another install
mcnt at once"
have better plan than that in
my head, )" returned the other. "Walk
down towards the town with me while
l explain it to you. This shrubbery is
dangerous place to discuss a secret
like ours"
parted the branches with my hand
aud looked through at them as they
moved away. The stranger was thick
set, red haired man with heavy, animal
jaws, aud carried in his hand stout
stick. The couple walked slowly down
the lane towards the road, the stranger
gesticu!ating in an explanatory manner,
while Hatieldevcr aud anon interrupted
him with graceful movement of his
arm, as though depreciatiug what his
companion was saying
Here was conspiracy In good earn.