Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-11-23

then said, You Will receive the fellow
in this room?"
Mr.. Roscoe answered by Il grim nod.
II must leave it to your judgment
how to deal with him, Mrs. Roscoe"
continued, though I suggest that you
put on an alarmed air, as if there
might be some foundation for his ras-
cally assertions. Let him fancy you are
afraid of him, and he will endeavor to
take advantage of YOU, by which means
he will founder more cffectually into
the trap"
Il see your idea. 1t is good one.
and l will do my best" said Mrs. Ros-
cOe.
We, then settled upon our hiding
places. Mr.. Roscoe got behind the
stout cretonne window curtains, and
crouched at the back of the screen in Il
corner Of the room. We had not long
20 wait. There came Il heavy banging
upon the front door. and l shortly after
heard the voice Of a servant announc-
ing, "A gentleman to see you, num-
Then Il man with 4 pOnderOuS tread,
accentuatetl greatly by crclky boots,
entered the room.
Good day, madam" he exclaimed,
and the crealy boots We're silent. Mrs.
Roscoe did not answer for Il moment
or two She then said:
What do YOU mean. sir. by speaking
of certain letters belonging to me which
you have i'll your possession? l begged
you to come here that you might eX-
plain personally, as 1 dreaded to get
into correspondence upon the subject
How, MADAME exclaimed the fell
low, do YOU pretend that You do not
understand me? Come. come! the let
terS are genuine enough, and l can
prove it,
by what means did you get possess
sion of them? asked Mrs. Roscoe.
THAT Is matter we need not enter
into" replied the man. II have the
whole bundle of them here With me.
Make me Il reasonable offer. and the
letters are yours. 1t will be cheaper for
you to pay this hush money than to let
your husband know"
My husband must never Know" en-
claimed the lady. ''She plays her part
WE'LL thought I.
"Oh. he mustn't, chg" said the man,
adopting Il staggering, bullying tone.
so you confess to the whole business!
Now. see here, my dear madam. I am
a man of the world, and sufficiently
acquainted with the ways of society
at large to know quite well that it
is no uncommon thing for IL woman
to deceive her husband
There was an exclamation and a
crash, followed instantly by the voice
OF Mr.. Roscoe, shouting in tones that
rose almost to a shrek, You confound-
ed, rascally. lying villain! I'll teach
you to come into my house with such
sentiments on your filthy tongue"
l guessed what had happened. The
nervous, agitated gentleman. unable to
restrain his passion ON hearing his
wife addressed in this manner. had
sprung forth from behind the curtain
to attack the cowardly fellow. I hastily
scrambled on to my feet, capsizing the
frail screen as did so. An impressive
tableau met my gaze. Standing erect,
with his fist clcnched, his noStrilS di-
lated, and his tall, thin figure trembling
with rage. was Mr.. Roscoe. Stretched
ut his feet and apparently without
any inclination to stir, was a man with
red hair. dressed in a dust-colored over
coat. while a white tall hat lay upon
the carpet not very far from him. Mrs.
Roscoe still sat in her armchair. looking
calmly on. l stepped up to the pros
trate man to see whether he was hurt.
He gave me savage stare, and salts
fed that he was uninjured took him
by the wrist, saying, Get up, we
have something to talk to you about"
The fellow rose, backed away Il few
PAGES, and stood glowering at u.s.
"a nice trap this you've brought me
into he exclaimed. savagely, to Mrs
Roscoe. rs this what you mean by
asking me for a secret interview? But
I'll be even with you,' he snarled,
fishing bundle Of letters out of his
coat pocket, and holding them I'D for
us to see
There! Get away from these if you
can. You once discharged a servant
named Nellie Berners because YOU sus-
pected her Of dishonesty Well, she
was a thief. and amongst the things
she stole was this bundle of letters.
which she reckoned might prove use
full to her one day"
GIVE me those letters" said T, adj
vancing towards the man.
''WhO the deuce are you:" cried he.
whipping the little parcel behind his
back.
"a detective officer here to see JUS
tice done. l must have those letters.
Do not compel me to use force to take
them from you"
He was little man, and after look
ing at me for moment, he flung the
letters on to the carpet. then folded
his arms and backed away to the win
dow. I picked up the bundle. and, un-
tying the tape, handed the first letter
of the pack to Mrs. Roscoe. exclaiming.
1--WE have yet to prove whether these
are forgerics. Tell me, madam. do you
recognize that handwriting?"
She took the envelope with a rather
shaky hand and glanced at the inscrip-
ton upon it. Then, bursting into
slightly hysterical laugh, she turned to-
wards her husband and exclaimed. "Of
course. dear, they are from Cousin
Arthur"
Mr.. Roscoe gave vent to low whis-
tie.
II see it all now" said he, addressing
me. "A dishonest servant. in prying
about, came across these letters and,
for some particular motive Of her own,
stole them. BY some means they have
found their way into the hands of that
gentleman there, who. mistaking the
freedom with which relations will nat