The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-06-09

VIC i4.il iuhSu toSctiiCI, anu Niltll
we shook hands and parted | had nc
more idea of ever meeting him again
than / had of knowing you. In
fact, he told me that he should sail
for England within a week or ten
days, and should not return to
America At parting he gave me
his card. 1t was a modest piece OF
pasteboard, and bore the name OF
George Raleigh" in old English
script
Everything at the office went on
as usual, and the 18th came at length.
Law & Law had arranged with me
to go down with the money, and
looked upon it as a business of no
special importance.
"We know yon are all right" re-
marked the senior partner, as | was
about to go, ''but l want to give you
a word of warning, nevertheless.
Don't take any strangers into your
confidence until you have passed out
the money, and look out who sits
next to you"
/ 1t was something new for him to
caution me, and / could not but
wonder at it; but in the hustle of
getting aboard the train | forgot
what he had said. Ordinary pru-
dence had induced me to place the
money, which was all in bank bills
and divided into three packages, un-
der my shirt and next to my skin,
where the deft hand of pick-pocket
could not reach it.
/ Interested in newspaper, time
flew by as the train flew past, and at
length the hoarse voice of the brake
man warned me that l had reached
Grafton. l had leaped down and
was making for the livery stable
when l heard familiar voice, and
looked up to see Raleigh. He was
seated in a buggy, and had seeming
| ly waited for me to come in.
"Dont express your surprise" he
began, as l stopped at the wheel.
II did intend to go away; | changed
my mind, and like this section so
well that ! am going out to-day to
look at farm with view of pur-
chasing-come, ride up to the ho-
tel"
We rode up, ordered lunch, and
while we were discussing it Mr. Raj
eigh discovered that the farm he was
going to see was just beyond that of
old Grips.
How fortunatei | could ride out
with him, see the farm, return in his
company, and he was greatly pleas
ed.
/ was also pleased. If any one
had told me as we got into the bug
gy that George Raleigh meant to re-
turn with my money in his pocket
and my blood upon his hands, |
should have believed him lunatic
and yet George Raleigh had planned
to do that very thing. @
1t was a lovely day in June, and
the cool breeze and the sight OF
meadows and green groves made my
heart grow larger. Ny companion
was very talkative, but he didn't
even hint at my errand. He talked
as far away as he could.
"Ohl excuse mew he exclaimed,
after we had passed mile beyond
the village, and were among the
farm houses. Il should have offer
ed you this before"
He drew from his pocket a small
flask of wine and handed it to me.
Now, was temperate in regard to
drinks. In fact, detested the sight
and smell of anything intoxicating.
But | had not the moral courage to
tell him so, and hand back the flask
undisturbed. feared to offend him
and SO drank perhaps three good
swallows. He called my attention
to the woods on the left as he receiv-
ed back the flask, and when I look
ed around again he was Just remov-
ing it from his mouth, as if he had
drank heartily.
In about five minutes | began to
feel queer. The fence along the road
seemed to grow higher and the trees
grow larger; something came to my
ears that the rattle of the buggy
sounded a long way off.
"How strange! Why, | believe !
am going to be sick!" / exclaimed,
holding on to the seat with all my
might.
"You do look strange" he replied
with a snaky smile stealing over his
face; Il shouldn't wonder if it was
apoplexy."
l did not suspect the game he had
played, His words were like an
echo, and his face seemed twice as
large as it was. My head began to
spin and my brain began to snap
and crack, and | was greatly fright
ened.
"You are badly off," he continued
looking up into my face. Il will
drive as fast as possible and get a
doctor"
! My tongue was so heavy that
could not reply. l clutched the seat
shut my eyes, and he put his horse
at his best pace. We met a farmers
team, and can remember that one
of the occupants of the wagon called
out to know what allied that man
Raleigh did not reply, but urged his
horse forward.
/ About three miles from Grafton
was a large stretch of forest, and thi:
was soon reached. The pain in my
head was not so violent, and | wa:
not SO badly affected when opening
my eyes. / had settled into sor
of dumb stupor, with brain SO be
numbed that / had to say to myself
"This is tree; that is a stump" etc.
before / could make sure | was no
wrong. Half mile down the rOat
after we struck the forest, and ther
Raleigh turned the horse into blint
road leading back into the woods
l could not understand what he in
tended. / tried to gnpple with tn
question, bui could not solve it.
"Well, here we arew exclaimet
Raleigh, when We had reached
point about forty rods from the road
He stopped the horse, got out ant
hitched him, and then came roun,