The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-26

I'VE know you are ali rlSnt, remarked
the senior partner, as was about to go;
"but want to give you word OF warn
ing, nevertheless. Don't take any
strangers into your confidence until you
have passed out the money, and look out
who sits next to you"
It was something new for him to eau
ton me, and I could not but wonder at
it; but in the hustle of getting on board
the train l forgot what he said. Ordi-
nary prudence had induced me to place
the money, which was all in bank bills,
and divided into three packages, where
the def hand of a pick-pocket could not
reach it.
Interested in q newspaper, time flew
by as the train flew west, and, at length,
the hoarse voice of the brakeman warned
me that I had reached Grafton. had
leaped down and was making my way to
the livery stable when heard familiar
voice, and looking up, saw Raleigh. He
was seated in buggy, and had, seeming
ly, waited for me to come up.
Don't express your surprise" he be-
gan, as stopped at the wheel. 81 did
intend to go away, but l changed my
mind, and like this section so well that
am going out to-day to look at farm,
with . view of purchasing. Come, ride
up to the hotel"
We rode up, ordered lunch, and
while we were discussingit, Mr.. Raleigh
discovered that the farm he was going to
zee was just beyond the Scripts.
How fortunate could ride out with
him to see the farm, and return in his
company, and he would be greatly
pleased. =.
was also pleased. If anyone had
told me, as we got into the buggy, that
George Raleigh meant to return with my
money in his pocket and my blood upon
his hands, 1 should have believed him
lunatic. And yet George Raleigh had
planned to do that very same thing.
1t was lovely day in June, and the
cool breeze and the sight of meadows
and green groves made my heart grow
larger.
NV companion was very talkative, but
he didn't even hint at my errand.
20, excuse me-" he exclaimed, after
we had passed mile or 80 beyond the
village and and we're among the farm
houses, 81 should have offered you this
before"
He drew from his pocket 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. I feared to
offend him, and so l drank, perhaps,
three good swallows. He called my at
tention to the woods on the left, as he
received back the flask, and when L
looked around again he was just remov-
ing it from his month, as if he had drank
heartily.
In about Ave minutes began to feel
queer. The fences along the road seemed
to grow higher, and the trees to grow
larger; something got into my ears, so
that the rattle of the buggy sounded
long way off.
How strange! why, 1 believe l am
going to be sick!' exclaimed. holding
on to the seat with all my might.
"You do look strange" he replied, a
sickly smile stealing over his face, II
shouldn't wonder if it was apoplexy."
did not suspect the game he had
played. His words we're Ike an echo,
and his face seemed twice as large as it
usually was. My head began to snap
and crack, and l was greatly frightened.
"You are badly OFF" he continued,
looking into my face. II will drive as
fast as possible and get doctor"
NY tongue was so heavy that l could
not reply. l clutched the seat, shut my
eyes and he put his horse at his best
pace. We met farmers team, and l
can remember that one of the occupan tn
OF the wagon called out to know what
allied me. Raleigh did not reply, but
urged the horse forward.
About three miles from Grafton was a
long stretch of forest, and this we soon
reached. The pain in my head was not
so violent, and was not so badly AZ
fected with opening my eyes. had
settled into o sort of dumb stupor, with q
brain 30 benumbed that had to say to
myself, "this is tree, this is q stump,
ETC., before could make sure that was
not wrong. Half . mile down the road,
after we struck the forest, and then
Raleigh turned the horses into blind
road leading back into the woods. |
could not understand what he intended.
tried to grapple with the question, but
could not solve it.
"Well, here we are." exclaimed
Raleigh, when we had reached point
forty rods from the road.
He stopped the horse, got out and
fastened him, and then came around'to
the wheel.
"You don't feel just right, but guess
You will be better soon" no remarked;