Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-04-06

,
ed, in his pleasant way.
''It's on the 18th, as | expected" |
replied.
We had lunch together, and when we
shook hands and parted had no more
idea of seeing him again than | have
of knowing you. At parting he gave
me his card. 1t was a modest piece of
pasteboard, land bore the name of Geo.
Raleigh" in script.
Everything at the office went on as
| usual, and the 18th came at length.
Law & Law had arranged for me to go
down with the money, and l looked
upon it as business of no special inn
| portance.
"We know you are all right" re-
marked the senior partner, as / was
| about to start 'but | want to give
you a word of warning, nevertheless.
Do not 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 eau
ton me, and l could not but wonder at
it but in the hustle of getting on board
| the train | 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 deft hand OF a pickpocket could not
reach it.
Interested in newspaper time sped
by as the train flew west, and at length
the hoarse voice of the brakeman warn
ed me that / had reached Grafton. l
had leaped down and was making my
way to the livery stable when | heard
familiar voice, and looked up to see
Raleigh. He was seated in buggy,
and had, seemingly, waited for me to
come up.
Don't express your surprise" he
began, as | stopped at the wheel. 81
did intend to go away, but | changed
my mind, and / like this section so
well that am going out to-day to look
at farm, with a view of purchasing.
Come, ride up to the hotel"
We rode up, ordered q lunch, and
while we were discussing it Mr.. Raleigh
discovered that the farm he was going
to see was just beyond the Scripts.
How fortunate | could ride out
with him, sec the farm, and return in
his company. and he would be greatly
pleased.
| was also pleased. If any one 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, l 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.
Ny companion was very laxative,
but he didn't hint at my errand.
ooh, excuse me-" he exclaimed, after
he had passed mile or SO beyond the
village and were 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 tc
drinks. In fact. | detested the sight
and smell of anything intoxicating; bu,
/ 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 received back the flask, anC
when | looked around again he was
just removing it from his mouth, as i
he had drank heartily.
| T.. al r +r> foa
queer. The fences along the roac
seemed to grow higher, and the trso.
to grow larger; something got into my
ears, so that the rattle of the olggy
sounded long way off.
Glow strange why, l believe I am
going to be sick !" / exclaimed, hold
ing on to the seat with all my might.
''Yor do look strange" he replied, q
sickly smile stealing over his face. 81
shouldn't wonder if it was apoplexy.'
did not suspect the game he hac
played His words were like an echo
and his face seemed twice as large as
it usually was. My head began to SNAP
and crack and was greatly frightened
''You are badly off, he continued
looking into my face. II will drive as
fast rs possible and get doctor"
My tongue was so heavy could not
reply. | clutched the seat, shut my
eyes and he put his horse at his best
| pace. We met farm er's team, and !
can remember that one of the occu.
pants 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
long stretch Of forest, and this we
soon reached. The pain in my head
was not so violent, and l was not so
badly affected with opening my eyes.
/ had settled into a sort of dumb
stupor, with brain so benumbed that
had to say to myself "this is a tree,
this is a stump" ETC., before | could
make sure that | was not wrong. Half
mile down the road we struck the
forest, and then Raleigh turned the
horse into blind road leading back
into the woods. I could not under
stand what he intended. ! tried to
grapple with the question, but | could
not solve it.
AYR 1 800 81 p,