The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-01-07

brown / did that white faced sneak.
II was two days after Christmas, anl
I was crossing the hall when the library
door opened and Violet came out. tt
look at her frightened me. Her face
wa as white as death, her eyes looked
horrible with the pain and terror in them,
and she had her hand squeezed againsl
her heart.
"Violet!" / cried.
She leaned her arm on my shoulder
and said with a kind of sob,-
sOh, Toni
Before she could say any more the
library door opened again and Crockett
came out. She gave one look and then
ran up stairs. He came up to me rub
bling his hands together and grinning
like a Cheshire cat.
'Oh, my young friend! Good-morn-
ing" he exclaimed.
l didn't give him any answer, l was
too angry, but turned and walked away.
What was up l. of course, didn't know,
but I was sure he had been at some mis-
chief.
It was a very unfortunate thing for
him next day, though, that 1 should
have gone into the library and fallen
asleep behind a screen-very unlucky
indeed for MI. Jasper Crockett.
I had been snoozing for perhaps an
hour when was awakened by the sound
of voices, and, peeping through the
SCREEN, 1 saw Crockett standing by the
fire, and opposite him, holding on by
the back of a chair, and looking as if
she was going to faint, was Violet.
wa just about to bolt out when it
struck me that 1 might as well keep still
and see what his little game was. Of
course, you know, Bert, it wasn't a very
honorable thing to do, but then he was
| such a sneak, and-and-well, l am glad
now that 1 did listen.
When l first looked out he was stand
ing on the rug with that beastly grin Oh
his phiz, and she was looking at him
with a deadly white face and wild eyes.
mo, Miss Allerdyce, you must see
that it will be better for all concerned if
you consent"
"And if 1 do not?"
SIN that case, 1 will certainly make
use of the papers l have 20 fortunately
discovered; and you can imagine the
consequences to your brother" he an
swered.
81 do not believe it. Charles has been
foolish, wicked even, but he would never
stoop to that" she burst out.
"My dear Miss Allerdyce-Violet, 1
may call you, it is unfortunately no sub
ject for belief; it is a matter of fact.
Here" and he took a packet of letters
from his pocket, ''here are proofs amply
sufficient to convict Charles Allerdice
before a judge and jury of-shall L say
whatP''
She gave a low cry and sat down on
the chair, shaking like a leaf. He came
close to her and said in a threatening
tone
Consent, and I destroy these; refuse,
and l will place him in the dock. l will
give you till tomorrow to decide. Do
you hear?"
Eyes, leave me-leave me-" she
gasped.
He went out smiling harder than
ever. Violet lay down on a couch sob
blng,-
"Oh, Harry! Oh, my love, my lover'
While she was lying there crying 1 had
time to think a bit. 1 knew she had a
brother named Charles-a good-for-noth-
ing loot he was too, Bob had told me-
but l was at a loss to know who Harry
was. At last | remembered that Capt.
Graham's lame was Harry, and then 1
understood it.
She stayed there on the couch for
nearly an hour, and then she got up and
went out, looking like a ghost.
[ came from behind the screen, and
reached the hall just in time to see
Crockett 60 down the front steps. Ifol-
him to the door and noticed that
he had changed his coat. Instantly the
thought struck me to have a try for those
| watched him 90 down the
avenue and then rushed up to his room.
The door was locked.
Then | thought of the window and the
IVY, and went out to have a look. 1t
an ugly climb, ana the risk was
great, both as to falling and the danger
If being caught, but | determined to try
t. I'd have run n risk to get the
whip hand of that cad. His room was
n the left wing, and the window fronted
he wood, SO that | was not so likely to
seen as if it had faced the front.
Well, l threw off my jacket and went
1t it, 1 was a good bit excited, and as |
up among the leaves | couldn't
,elp thinking what a jolly 90 it would
De if l was had up for burglary. ,
Near the top 1 had almost come a
through the trails giving way,
'ut held on like glue, and at last reach
ID the window. The hasp was not
hot, and in two twos [ was inside.
The first thing l saw was the coat t
ying on Il chair. l dived into the peck s
It, and found the letters right enough. I
The stupid ass had never thought of :
them up. t
You'd better believe l didn't stay
ong after l got my claws on them. [ t
anne down that ivy like a cat, and .
lanced a JIG in the at the bottom. (
Then | went to look for Violet. G
l went up to her room and knocked at G
he door. 1t was opened by a maid, who
sked what l wanted. 6
xT - 80 -