The bee., 1884-03-08

and the 18th came at length. Law & Law
had arranged with me to 70 down with the
money, and looked upon it as business
of no special Importance.
1--WE know you are all right" remarked
the senior partner, as / was about to go;
"but want to give you 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 l 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, under my shirt and
next to my skin, where the deft hand Of q
pickpocket could not reach it.
Interested in q newspaper, time flew by
as the train few past, and at length the
hoarse voice of the brakeman warned me
that had reached Grafton. had leaped
down and was making for the livery stable
when heard familiar voice, and looked
up to see Raleigh. He was seated in a
buggy, and had seemingly waited for me to
come in.
"DOn't express your surprise" he began,
as 1 stopped at the wheel. Il did intend to
90 away; 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 discussing it Mr.. Raleigh discovered
that the farm he was going to see was just
beyond that of old Grips.
How a0uIh rida ONT with
him, see the farm, return in his company,
and he was greatly pleased.
was also greatly pleased. If any one
had told me as we got into the buggy that
George Raleigh meant to return with my
blood upon his hands should have believed
him lunatie, and yet George Raleigh had
planned to do that very thing.
1t was 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. He talked
as far away as he could.
"Oh excuse mew he exclaimed, after
we had passed mile beyond the village,
and were among the farm houses. II 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 1 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, and when looked around again he
was Just removing it from his mouth, as
if he had drank heartily.
In about five minutes l 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 long way off.
"How strange! Why,I believe am go
ing to be sickw 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."
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 frightened.
"YOu are badly off" he continued, look
ing into my face. Il will drive as fast as
possible and get doctor"
My tongue was so heavy that l could not
reply. / clutched the seat, shut my eyes,
and he put his horse at his best pace. We
met farmers team, and | 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 q
long stretch of forest, and this was soon
reached. The pain in my head was not so
violent, and / was not so badly affected
when nrlanin0 my I had aattlad into
sort of dumb stupor, with brain so be-
numbed that had to say to myself: This
is a tree, that is stump" ETC., before l
could make sure 1 was not wrong. Half a
mile down the road after we struck the
forest, and then Raleigh turned the horse
into blind road leading back into the
woods. 1 could not understand what he
intended. tried to grapple with the ques-
ton, but could not solve it.
"Well here we arew exclaimed Raleigh
when we had reached point about forty
rods from the main road.
He stopped the horse, got out and hitched
him, and then came around to the wheel.
"You don't feel just right, but 1 guess
you will be better sOon," he remarked.
Come let me help you down"
He reached up his arms, and let go the
seat and fell into them. 1t seemed to me
as if weighed q ton but he carried me
along without any effort, and laid me down
within about rod of fence which ran
along on one side of an old pasture. Just
now / began to get a little better. The
effects of the drug were wearing off, and /
got fair suspicion that something unus-
ual had happened, But was powerless to
move limb; the sensation was like that
when your foot goes to sleep.
Can you speak? inquired Raleigh,
bending over me; because if you can it
will save me some trouble. want to know
just where you stored that money"
Now / began to realize my situation.
His face looked natural again, and the load
was off my tongue. also felt that l could
move my fingers little.
George Raleigh! are you going to rob
me? asked, finding my voice at last.
"Well some folks might call it 'robbing,'
but we dress up the term little by calling
it the only correct financial way of equal
izing the floating currency, so that each one
is provided for and no one left out"
"You shan't have the money. l will die
6rst!n I yelled, rising little.
"Ah, see-didn't take quite enough"
he coolly remarked. "Well have provided
for this"
He went to the buggy, procured ropes
and gag, and kneeled down beside me.
1 had but little strength yet, and he con-
auered me in a moment. Lying on my
right side lacking toward tho fanca he t;ad
my hands behind me and then forced the