The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-03-08
CHATTER x1-tcoatca.sea)
CHATTER XII.
Mr.. Nicksey ut Moae

herself and 0ltghted, expecting to hnd
Darlington near her. =.
Not seeing him: Where is Mr.. Bar.
rington?" she asked, in low voice. OF
the coachman.
Jarvis was us greatly surprised as
was the young girl that Noel had not
arrived with them.
Neither of them had witnessed any
thing Of the attack which had been
made on the commercial traveller; that
of course. or Jonas had not. US we
know he did. set forward on his way.
Emmeline was greatly distressed,
even alarmed; something serious, she
thought. had occurred to Noel that he
should have failed to accompany her at
time, and to place when and where
his presence was SO all-impOrtant to
the purpose for which he had SO long
and diligently labored.
Jarvis was Of opinion that Noel was
not far behind and would soon be with
them, and suggested that mfr. Nicksey
had better be got into the house, or
they might have the watch upon them,
and be all locked up together-cOach,
and horses and all.
Night had come; so Jarvis, taking one
of his coach lanterns, proceeded to a
neighbOring tavern, and there lighted
1t.
Then, returning. he knocked at the
door Of Nicksey's house, but no one
answered; within all was dark and
silent.
Clambering again to his box, Jonas
INDUCED his still sleeping fare with
another and more violent shaking than
the one which had preceded It.
Nicksey grunted audibly, but gave no
further sign of consciousness. Jonas
then tapped Mt the fellows pockets.
and In one Of them felt key Of which
he instantly possessed himself.
With that key, as he had expected
would be the case, Emmeline and Jar
Wis gained an entrance to Nicksey's
house.
But neither Of the rooms on the
ground floor We're they able to enter,
for both We're fastened
They assembled to the floor above, and
entered the front room, the door of
which they found widely open.
AS Jarvis threw around the light of
his lantern. Emmeline exclaimed, shud.
derlngly:
"Oh, what a frightful place."
The house which Mr.. Nicksey was
pleased to term his home was the most
wretchedly dilapidated of a small
street, miserably inhabited and where
every dwelling had reached almost the
very last stage of decay.
Above the room in which Emmeline
and Jarvis now were there were large
holes In the roof, through which they
were able to see the stars twinkling In
the blue armament.
This must be the gentleman's sum-
mer residence!" staggered Jarvis.
In the only corner Of the room above
which there was no hole in the roof
was rickety old truckle bed, closely
pressed against the wall, that it NIGH
derive a support from the frail latll
and plaster. which, though greatly
needing aid itself, had yet power ia
save from tumbling entirely to pieces
the forlorn object which was made to
cling to It,
There was one table, rickety also
and worm-eaten; something which
Jonas believed had in some bygone age
been chest Of drawers. and three OF
four straw-bottomed chairs, with
scarcely any Of the straw remaining.
On the table, Jonas presently saw
piece Of candle, which was fixed IL
the spout Of an old coffee-pot.
1--WE are all right now," cried Jonas
''here's the druwing-room chandelier
here goes for a general illumination.
And he lighted the end of candle, ant
the next moment saw for the frs
time Elnmeline's face, on which ths
light Of his lantern had now fully fail
len; and he started and knitted his
brows, and angrily exclaimed, what
is 1t you?"
"You know me?" said Emmeline
looking surprised.
"Know you? But too well do I know
you" Jonas answered, with an expires
sion of loathing and contempt.
While this had been passing, Nicksey
had awakened, and opening his eyes
and looking about him, had wondered
where he was.
Presently he discovered that he wa.
still on the roof Of the coach, and tina
the vehicle was no longer in motion.
And then he roarcd out, WHAT
the matter-are we upset? Drive on
coachey-Ill pay!'
and was in time to break Mr.. Nickseyi
l
roof of the coach.
And Emmeline again was wonder
ing how 1t was that Noel Darlington
had not accompanied her to Nicksey'
den. and was growing full Of terro
that he had not yet arrived.
The whole Of the house to which W,
have but now been introduced, wa
rented by Nicksey-f we may ventur
to use such q term concerning a gentle
man who had never paid any rent q
all.
/ Yet small as was this miserable apo,
ogy for dwelling-place, we have a
ready shown that 1t was rather made
quately furnished.
In fact, the only room of the hous
which was not entirely empty Of furn
ture was that in which we have LEI
Emmeline.
1t had happened more than once thu
an officer Of justice had been anxiou
for an interview with Nicksey, whic
that gentleman had been still MOI
anxious to avoid, SO no one but himse
might be allowed to open the door {
the house In which lie resided.
On one occasion, the street door ha
been forced open In the c0deavOr
capture Nicksey, but even then he ha
escaped.
Not on the ground floor would til
wary rogue reside, but on the uppt
story; and with every door below 8
curely locked, he knew that while
his castle" lie was perfectly safe frOl
arrest.
And the officers new that to fore
open tile door of Nicksey's house wOtll
serve only as a warning to him, an
that even before they had fairly ente
ed. the bird would have flown.
BY the back Of Nicksey's house e
cape was always easy to him; for thel
was IN intricate network Of small yart
and courts and passages. and the pc
pie of that neighborhool were not {
a sort to arrest the flight Of fug
tive. but considered It rather mob
action to Obstruct aud battle his pu
suers.
That quarter was indeed sort {
sanctuary, which having reached. ever