Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-24
CHAPTER yIII-CContmucd.)


And. ~chuckling, 1.-The boy is getting
drunk" cried Nicksey.
But whence will come the fortune
you are expectirg?" asked Noel.
THAT Is Il secret" was the reply.
(Which YOU know interposcd EN-
incline.
And there are secrets worth mines
of gold" shouted Nickscy.
"Esprcially when they can make the
guilty trenblc," suggested Emmelinc.
And Nicksey, growing more tipSy
every moment, muttercd, The guilty,
yes: there were three Of them"
Noel and Emmcline again glanced to-
wards each other.
"Eut there Is a certain reason why
one Of tIem should not be countcd!'
mumb!cd Nicksey.
And that one was Nicholas Shear
man, whom the others had killed" was
the thought which occurred at the
same moment TO both Noel and Emme-
line.
And then Nicksny, for = moment
nrOusing himself. said suddenly, Never
mind-that's enoush-we1l talk no
more about it,"
What harm among friends?" urged
Noel.
And you know that we are ysur
friends? 2" insinuated Emmeline.
Yes, true" and Nicksey rolled his
eyes from one to the other Of them.
You are Of the right sort; fear moth
ing"
Nothing" answered Darlington.
And Emmeline said, earnestly, Let
but the occasion arrive and l hope to
give you proof of that"
Having again emptied his glass Nick
sey said:
We'll, look here; I propose a part
nersnlp between u.s."
(Which we accept" Emmeline hast
fly exclaimed.
Good! Twill be a rare heap Of
money; II we succeed, we share and
share alike"
You are, Of course, abiding to that
old debt?" Noel said quietly.
Yes, yes" cried Nicksey. "Tu tell
you all about 1t. 1t was on the seventh
Of February"
AT 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, Wen say no more about
1t tonight"
But Harrington caused n 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 they were
ClOaked and masked, as was indeed
the third in that nights dreadful piece
of work; told, in fact, piece by piece,
all he knew Of that a~trocity which was
committed, as we have seen, on the
night of the 9th of February, 1907.
And when he had fully spoken
You saw the crime committed?'
questioned Noel.
Yes, L saw IT." Nicksey replied
recklesSly.
And having drunk OF another glass
Of punch-'Isn't there q mans fortune
in such a secret?' he cried, with a
drunken chuckle.
For that" said Emmeline, 1T would
be necessary to know at least one Of
those who were concerned IN the
crime, and all three Of them were
masked"
well, I know that" Nicksey cried,
with great pOmposity Of manner; and
haven't 1 told you that, when recelv.
ing the child, the woman removed her
maSk?'
mo! no! you had not told us that!'
his two companions eagerly exclaimed.
II though l had; but it's u fact,
thought
Eugenia Reckless, while cautiously
Z N xrnr-+fnn hnp Pnan frnnN I'm n1inp'a
father. had permitted il to be well and
plainly seer by Nicksey, for a streak Of
moonlight. making its way through
the branches the tree, had fallen upon
and lighted up her every feature.
And" added Nicksey, IF / were TO
live for a hundred years, ] should
never forget that face!'
harrington yentured 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 cen that woman again?'
Emmeline very eXcitediy 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
% JUST 90 LIZ "NAS Iu1t-
ting IL, a man shouted out at the top
of his voice:
Mrs. Chesterton's carriage"
And as she walked towards 1t, Nick
sey had a full view Of Mrs. Chesterton
herself, and would take his solemn
oath that she was the masked woman
Of One Tree Square.
Asked by harrington II he did not
strive to follow the carriage, Nicksey
answered that 1t might have been
awkward for himself just then.
And, besides, he was for the mo-
mcnt so utterly ~astounded, and SC jos
lied about by the crowd, that 1t was
some time before he knew again
whether he was on his head or his
heels.
London Is a big place." Nicksey
said, in conclusion; but give me time,
and | shall hunt her outf'
"And we will assist you! We are not
the boys to leave a friend In a diff
culty!" Noel exclaim d, with great
seeming magnanimity. "A lady who
has q carriage, and all that, must be
rich. and rich people are always to be