Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-15
CHAPTER xxxvI.
A SPIDERS PARLoR.


A SPIDERS PARLoR.
With significant glance at his sister,
Boncourt quilted the cabinet
When he returned to her a few minutes
later his face was as nearly radiant az its
natural impenetrability would allow.
at is mine, Adele, it is mine at lastl"
he exclaimed, with deep, intense satis-
faction, as he closed the door behind
him and stepped quickly to her side
"The juggler was successful; I have the
paper; come what may of our schemes
in this accursed London, Gilbert Mar
lowe is henceforth in my power, and your
marriage with his son is assured beyond
peradventure.
The paper had become invested with
30 much mystery, and so much anxiety
and suspense had clustered around its
fate, that Adele looked up with an ex-
element equaling his own.
Can it be possible?" she exclaimed,
eagerly. "Quick-lst me see It'll"
Boncourt produced the paper he had
just obtained, and their heads were bend
ing together over it, when sligb4 cough
caused them to look up again with q
start.
Dip was standing in the center of the
room holding something in his hand, but
with his eyes fas ened on the paper with
| 0 comically inquisitive stare.
| His master sprang to his feet with an
oath, and seized him by the collar.
"Whatl are you spying, you fiend's
morsel?" he exclaimed shaking him
fercely. did 1 not send you off with
Maurice five minutes ago? And why are
| you slipping in here without knocking?"
Il say, governor, give me show, and
I'll answer you, cried the lad. And then,
upon being partly released, he added,
| with perfect composure: in the first
| place l did knock at the door before COM
| ing in, sir, but suppose you didn't hear
me. In the next place, just as was
| vamoosing the ranch in Maurice's COM
pany, there was sort Of Arab at the gate,
who had just parted from you, and who
| sent me back here to you"
What for?"
He said you had just given him some
gold pieces, one of which is q counter
| felt. Here it is"
Boncourt snatched the coin that was
held out to him.
1T is bad coin," he grumbled, briefly
| examining it; "but don't believe the fell
| low ever got it from me. Come with me,
Dip. If this story of yours turns out to
be fabrication you had better have
never been born"
He went out grasping the lad by the
| arm, after calling to his sister to keep
the paper, which he had left in her hands,
He presently returned.
4The boy spoke truly" said he, -and I
suppose must have given the fellow a
false coin inadvertently. Well, you must
| have read the paper by this time" he
added, eagerly resuming his place by her
side. what do you think of it?"
Il think that Noel's fathers handwrit-
ing must have altered very materially
during the past seventeen or eighteen
1 years, if he ever really wrote and signed
that paper" said Adele, handing it to
him. Il have become slightly familiar
with Mr.. Marlowe's handwriting of late,
through several things that Noel has
shown me; and it bears but little resem-
blance to that
4 "The deucel" exclaimed Boncourt. And
he took the paper from her and studied it
carefully.
The writing appeared greatly faded,
but was still quite distinct, and was to
the following import:
HIGHcoMBE, March =, 1864.
This is to certify that the bearer, Jasper Mar
lowe, is about to take himself to parts unknown,
by reason of certain domestic revelations made
by him to me, and not by reason of his being in
any way concerned In the recent forgery upon the
bank of Messrs. Soundman & Goldberg, by which
Thomas Alworth has been deprived OF his for
tune, amounting to eighteen thousand pounds.
/ In consideration for his thus agreeing to abb
sent himself, never to return, and thus take
upon himself the stigma, by implication, at
taching to said crime, l, Gilbert Marlowe, here
by declare myself guilty of the said forgery,
with none other than Gideon Croak, the lawyer
/ INV ,,r,1t.o sfoo md iuofOt,
In further consideration, hereby agree to
i send the said Jasper Marlowe five Thousand
pounds, one year after date, to any address in
any part Of the world that he shall hereafter
n The said Jasper Marlowe on his part, soIemnly
agrees, under oath, to never reveal the contents
of this paper, unless, as q self-preseryative in
case he shall be in imminent danger of prosecu.
tion for said crime.
Given this day, fully freely, without any in.
timidation whatever, under my hand and seal.
Il GILBERT MARLowE.
Boncourt read this over in low tone
and with gloating eyes.
i "Wby, of course it's the genuine paper
there can be Log other!" he exclaimed
Look at the age of the paper yellowed
and stained. and almost falling to pieces
at the creasingsl Look at the faded ink
of the writing itself! Moreover, it wai
evidently written in nervous, perhaps
tIomuAhSs hdbeoa Luhb, bOSobuoE Will
the natural change Effected by time ir
ones penmanship, will more than explain
the difference between this Of the bank
er's, eighteen years ago, and what he may
put to paper at the present time.
4Yes, this must be the explanation,
said Adele. 1T is as you say. There car
be but one such paper in existence, ant
this it is.
adele. we're In luck, we're in gigantic
luck, said Boncourt, putting away tn,
paper very carefully in an inside waist
coat pocket, and then tapping his breas
triumphantly, II would not take fit,
thousand pounds for this treasured docu
ment If offered to me in gold at this mo
ment. Gilbert Marlowe, the man whom
it puts in my power, is reported to b
worth three times that amount, and thu
paper is certainly good for all he is wortl
every shilling. Iwould defend its pos
session, now that have it, with the las
drop of blood in my veins.
No wonder that Jasper has SO bewailet
! its loss, said Adele.
i LTo BE coNTINUED.l
IL n f r.