Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-03-21

Good! Twill be rare heap of
money; If We succeed, we share and
share alike"
"You are, Of course, abiding to that
old debt?" Noel said quietly.
Yes, yes" cried Nicksey. "I'n tell
you all about it. 1t was on the seventh
Of February"
cat One Tree Square," interrupted
Emmeline.
Exactly! Two of those accomplices
knew each other. and So"
But here the fellows drunken mood
again changed, and he exclaimed,
Never mind, Well say no more about
it tonight"
But harrington caused fresh bowl
of punch to be brought and skilfully
led Nicksey again to speak Of those
two accomplices whom he before had
mentioned.
And then Nicksey told how tiey were
cloaked and masked. Is was indeed
che third in that nights dresdful piece
of work; told. in fact. piece by piece,
all he knew of that atrocity which was
committed. rs we have seen. on the
night of the 18th of February, 1907.
And when he had fully spoken
''You saw the crime committcd?"
questioned Noel.
eyes, 1 saw it, Nicksey replied
recklessly.
And having drunk off another glass
of punch-"Isn't there a mans fortune
drunken chuckle.
be necessary to know at least one of
vUv1,o ,0f1 in +l,.N
crime, and all three of them were
masked"
"Well, I know that" Nicksey cried,
with great pomposity of manner; land
haven't I told you that, when receiv-
ing the child, the woman removed her
mask"
$40! no! you had not told us that!"
his two companions eagerly exclaimed.
81 though 1 had; but it's fact,
thought
E1,scnia Reckless, while cautiously
ayeriing her face from Emmeline's
father, had permitted it to be well and
plainly seen by Nicksey, for streak of
moonlight, making it's way through
the branches the tree, had fallen upon
anS lighted up her every feature.
And" added Nicksey, IF were to
live for a hundred years, 1 should
never forget that face"
Darlington centured to doubt that;
and Nicksey asserted that he had had
a proof Of it, for he was quite certain
that he had seen her again.
"You have seen that woman again?"
Emmeline very excitedly demanded.
And Nicksey answered that, when
leaving London. about six weeks be-
fore-from which city he had thought
it best for awhile to absent himself
he was passing one of the west-end
theatres just as the audience were quit
ting it, Il man shouted out ut the top
Of his voice:
''Mrs. Chesterton's carriage"'
And as she walked towards it, Nick
sey had full view of Mrs. Chesterton
herself, and would take his solemn
oath that she was the masked woman
of One Tree Square
Asked by Darlington if he did not
strive to follow the carriage, Nicksey
answered that it might have been
awkward for himself just then.
And, besides, he was for the mo-
ment SO utterly astounded, and so JOS
tied about by the crowd, that it was
some time before he knew again
whether he was on his head or his
heels
London is big place." Nicksey
said, in conclusion; but give me time,
and I shall hunt her out"'
"And we will assist you! We are not
the boys to leave friend in diff
culty! Noel exclaimed, with great
seeming magnanimity. "a lady who
has a carriage, and all that, must be
rich, and rich people are always to be
dscoveredv .....
Nicksey gave his address, that his new
friends might, on the following day,
visit him at his lodgings, and then
they, all three, quilted the "Sprat and
Gridiron"
When outside the house, Nicksey pro-
posed that they should take walk to-
gether.
harrington said that the lad must
be allowed to 80 home at once, for he
had made rather too free with the
punch; and NickSey, who was still tol-
erably steady on his legs, laughed,
and shouted to Emmelne, "Yes; so
home to your mother, youngster; you
Will be better seasoned after you have
kept my company a few weeks longer"
And Darlington found opportunity
to whisper to Emmeline. THAT must
have been the Eugenia who wrote that
letter which I SO strangely found!'
ooh, I am full of hope! My mother
has prayed for us. and heaven protects
u.s. Emmeline fervently exclaimed
Nicksey linked his arm within that Of
Burlington, and the two men, so
strangely assorted, walked forward
together.
That Noel was anything but delighted
to find himself pacing the streets
with such companion by his side, will
be very readily believed.
But he bore it as well as he might,
since his entire submission to every
wish and command of Mr.. Nicksey
was. for the present, at least. abso.
lutely necessary for the purpose he had
in view
They had reached Oxford street, when
Nicksey suddenly pulled his friend w
and stopped short before u jewelers.
shop, into the window of when he pro-
ceeded to stare with all his might.
There it is-there it ISL presently
shouted Nickscy.
Two or three Of the passcrs-by
stopped and looked towards him.
Hush! said Darlington, trying to