The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-03-29

and the Is b came at length. Law s. Law
had arranged for me to go down with the
money, and I looked upon at it as a business
Of no special importance.
'We know you are all right" remarked
the senior partner, as l vas about to go; ''but
l want to give you q word of warning, new
ertheless. Don't take any strangers into
your confidence until you have passed out
the money; and lookout who sits next to
you"
1t was something new for him to caution
me, and l could not but wonder at it; in the
hustle Of getting on board the train I forgot
what he said. Ordinary prudence had in
duced me to place the money, which was all
in bank bills, and divided into three packages
where the deft hand of a pick-pocket could
not reach it.
Interested in q newspaper, time few by as
the train few west, at length, the hoarse voice
Of the brakeman warned me that I had
reached Grafton. I had leaped down and
was making my way to the livery stable
when l heard a familiar voice, and looked
up to see Raleigh. He was seated in q buggy
and had, seemingly, waited for me to come
up.
Don't express your SURPRISE" he began
IS l stopped 1t the wheel. Il did intend TO
go away, but l changed my mind, and like
this section 80 well that l am going out to-
day to look at q farm, with a view of pur-
chasing. Come, ride up to the hotel"
We rode up ordered a lunch. and while we
were discussing it Mr.. Raleigh discovered
that the fsrms.he was going to see was just
beyond the Scripts.
How fortunate! I could ride out with
him, see the farm and return in his COM
pany, and he would be greatly pleased.
l was also pleased. If any one had told
me, rs we got into the buggy, that George
Raleigh meant to return with my money IN
his pocket and my blood upon his hands, l
should have believed him a lunatic. And
yet George Raleigh had planned to do that
very same 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.
My companion was very talkative, but he
didn't even hint at my errand.
20, excuse me-" he exclaimed, after we
has passed q mile or 80 beyond the village
and were among the farm houses, Il should
have offered you this before"
LII dra,x, erc~, RIO >orl,,e /, c~oc1l q ,eIr of
vine and handed i, to me. Now, l was tenn
perate in regard to drink. In fact | detes,ed
the sight and smell Of anything Intoxicating;
bat | had not the moral courage to tell him
SO and hand back the flask. and when I look
ed around again be was jus! removing il
from his mouth as if he had drank heal tily.
Ia about five minutes | began to feel queer.
The fences along the road seem to grow
higher, and the trees to grow larger some
thing got into my ears, SO that the rattle Of
the buggy sounded u long way off.
"How strange why I believe l am going
to be sick !" ! exclaimed, holding on to the
seat with all my might.
You do look strange" he replied, a sick
ly 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, ind his face
seemed twice as large AS it usually was. My
head began to snap and crack, and | was
greatly frightened.
'You are badly eff" he continued, looking
into my face. Il will drive as fast Us posi-
BILE aud get y DOCTOR"
My tongue was SO heavy I could not re-
ply. | clutched my seat, shut my eyes, and
be put his horse at his best pace. W. meet
u farmers team and l can remember that
one of the occupant, 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 =
Dug stretch of forest, and this was soon
React ed. The pain in my head was not SO
vi lent, and l was not SO badly affected by
opening my eyes. / had setted into u sort
OF dumb stupor, with y brain SO benumbed
that | had 10 myself, ''this is y tree, this
is \ stump" ETC., before | could make sure
that | was not wrong. Half y mile down
the road, after VT struck the forest, and then
Raleigh turned the morse Into the blind road
leading back into the woods. I could not
understand what he intended. / tried to
Crap. IL with the question, but I could not
sulve it.
swell, here we are" exclaimed R. leigh.
when he had reached a point about forty
rOds from the road.
He stopped the horse, got out and tied him
and then Came around 10 the wheel.