The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-06
AHUSBAND'SCROWN


couldn't do that better in Pandemoni.
mn."
When the secretary had yawned anc
stretched his wearie,i limbs several times
while he rmphatICally cursed old Dav.
export for Tagging him ont like this
ne rose and went to a bureau. from
drawer Of which he took a small packe'
ol papers and a large key. The paper
nc arranged upon the table singly, side
oy s.Ie w!Ih the key.
Here is IN extremely dangerous hand
Of cards" he murmured. "But in short
While they will cease 10 exist. Then 1
shall feel secure"
Presently the door was opened noise
!eSSly and Van Blarcom entered, closing
1t after him with great care.
Are the blinds quite down ?" inquired
ne, cautiously.
cot course they are" replied Check
etts.
Then draw the chandelier lower AMI
turn up the gas. We shall want fire If
We don't want light. What's that ?"
what ~
''That noise"
Il did not hear anything. Come, Van
Elarcom, you are getting nervous with
out cause. We are safe enough here
surely
Il suppose so. But ever since that in
formal apparitiun in the haunted bower
have been on the tremble. ! wonder
what IL was We ought 10 have ex-
umincd the place thoroughly"
Nhy didn't YOU 10 So, then -
"BccaU~e YOU ran away
And You followed
"WcN, We viii no; wrangle. We were
q pair OF idiots. Effect ofthc sudden shock
perhaps uuncrved us. / have not re-
covered from II; that's 4 fact
Inv. y-,rr l-r,Dyy ,y-hn+ I flirl-
that ghost was:'
NO"
"An owl; nothing more"
"Of course - no doubt - must have
been, said Van Blarcom, with a sigh OF
immense relief. "By Jingo. how strange
VIC never thoupht OF 1t ut the time?
Certainly; you have It. An owl. All,
M ="
Van BIarcpm felt IS though he could
have presented his associate with a pUrss
oi .uld iur that brilliant suggestion No
ouc suffers more from superstItiyus terror
thau the wicked.
Let Us come To- business remarked
Ch-ekctt-. Have You brought my
humble imitation OF other peoples SO
natures that vow have held 50 long -
.-l-,~. here 1t IS
"Tnank~. Would you mind placing it
upon the table to Join the other links.
There they lie; forming a chain strong
enough TO drag us to Sing sing iOr ten
years
His companion WINGED.
"NOw,' resumed Checkctts, taking u?
the key and regarding it with an eye Of
aIcCtiOuat,. criticism, "hcre l. the elegant
bit of steel that gave me access To- the
chcck-book. | had it made expressly, as
YOU are aware by an artisan friend OF
NINA cunning worker in mctals-who
viii mluufJCture any interesting blt OF
mechanism from wax model or other
wise, and ask no questions, provided that
his remuneration Ice prompt and salts
factory From a sentimental point of
view oi gratitude for the service il has
rendered / would faiu keep 1t; but that,
like most sentiments, would bc unWlSe.
Take it, ami pitch 1t into the river to-
morrow morning without fail have
no fear OF YOU retaining II. Key, iare-
well !"
Chcckctts paused for moment with a
ludIcrUus assumption OF sadness Per
haps Le really did regret the fate OF the
doomed key, in the same way as burg
lar might feel when compelled by circum-
stances TO sacrifice favorite Jenny.
These" he continued, placing his fat
thumb upon the different documents
spread ON the table, as he referred tC
them scv.rally-''these viii give =
trouble. Here are certain memoranda
anl correspondence through the instru-
mentality OF which certain check was
ca-hcd at Montreal Here l. an acknowl-
c,I-lncnt OF I heavy sum due condition
ailv from YOU to me. And here II a later
contribution, lust brought by yourself,
seriously compromising my unspotted
fame. Which shall we begin with first
| 1 have no choice"
-Nor | either Put them all together,
/ and burn them over the gas NJ the same
moment
"An excellent idea. Suppose We do"
suppose We don't" SAID a deep voice
/ from the bookcase, as the doors Of that
massive piece of furniture were flung
open, ami burly figure, followed by
three other figures more or less iormIda-
Die, leaped upon the scene suppose we
r.s.rve these papers Tor another pur-
posse" the burly one went on, coOlly
sweeping them from the table into hrs
pocket. suppose we take a little legal
and judicialy advice upon the subject be-
lore We commit ourselves To any rash
action. What 10 yOu say y? Agreeable ,"
1t would require the pencil of \ Leech
To- give an adequate idea OF the supplied
amazcmcut with which the two sCuun-
,IrrlS REGARDED this uudreamt-of invasion
upon the privacy oi their conference.
They stood literally paralyzed with
fear AMI asiouishncut. The dilated ewes,
the fallen Jaws, the ashy huc OF Nan
B.JrCuuI, were only 20 be eqUIllel hy
similar phenomena in the person OF
Chcckct's. The trcnulous motion Of
the ones knees kept time To the chatter
ing al the secretary teeth.
The hTIr OF the former stood on end
ike the fibre on the head OF pith doll
VIII n il i subjected To IN electric cur
rrut. The forced curls which tlIc latt r
cultivated with untold pains. AMI the
frequent application Of patent fluids. -
ir~t their spiral bri~lSncsS, ami hung dank
gu straight over his ciammy brow. lou
never saw such = picture Of miserable
terror ~ the criminals presented when
their blOOi~hpt .lIurcS f'll upon Richard
Davenport, Reginald Gwvunc, the detect.
i've. and hiS assistant officer.
The game IL over said Eing, so YOU
may ~ well throw up the sponge grace
fully. DJrlvy Grove, alias John Check,
ctt~, and Gerald Van Blarcom ! arrest
both Of you on the charge OF forgery and
consp:raCy.'
Che kciis WAS the first to recover his
faculties o: speech AMI motion, which hr
immediately employed To throw himself
AT ,h, :r,.t OF his master.
ats not me-" lac gur.lel; Il was only
tool Van B!arcom incitcd me to act
with him. lie haichcd the plot He !.
the real swindleT, not me. I'll turn evi
drucc against him. II, tell all about it
y. DO anything. Search him scarcl
him. lac screamed. You'll find the
key uf your sIie in his pocket now
That : proof that ] didn't Jorge the check
Prosecute him Tor II, and let me app, al
as witness. DO let mo appear rs witness
goo,l, kind Mr.. Davenport "
"Oct mp. you beast. said the merchant
spurning his PROSTATE secretary with hi.
loot. We forgive the Old man that ebul
.!tIon OF scorn, seeing that we should very
.kNlH MANe done the same ihin- nnhcl