The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-18
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Copyright, 1894, by Tillotson & Son.I
CHAPTER XII
A SLEEPING DRAFT

as the pair sat in DR.. Percival's study
the same evening about 8. O'Clock.
II own it readily" assented Leclerc,
lifting his head. Worse than foolish, I
am ashamed to say"
lyon were doing very well in M
humble opinion with me, and by and by
a partnership might have come within
the limits of the possible. 1 warned You
not to set up for yourself on borrowed
money, but you poohpoohed my we'll
meant advice
II did not poohpooh it, sir" said
Leclerc humbly. But ] thought Icould
see a fair prospect Of success, and I was
eager to marry
"On less than nothing"
"Clayfields is growing. A practice
would, I Thought, come quickly. I am
too hot headed, I admit"
Il don't want to make you more dis
tressed than you are, but you really
must try and put a curb on your impetu-
osity. Why on earth didn't you come to
me when you got into this money trou-
BILE? Which, by the way, I heard of only
today"
tllOtlSllt tnc WilOlS utlSIlDOElODu
lnew of it."
"Of course You did. You are, if you
will pardon me, Leclerc, sensitive to the
verge of selfishness. But I ask why you
avoided me?'
Il did not dare to approach you. l
felt l had treated you with scant cour-
tesy."
But you know l am not revengefuL
What is the exact story of the mess you
had got your affairs into?"
Briefly, l borrowed $500 from n
money lender Oh various kinds Of securi-
ties"
"How much of the 300 did you get?"
"A little short of 300"
"Ah! Well?"
"It was in six bills of 90 running
over IS months, the whole 800 to be-
come due on the failure to meet any of
the bills. I paid the first so easily
enough
''Out of the loan. Well?'
1.-The second was a tough job. The
third l managed to pay a portion Of and
got a little time for the remainder. The
fourth I couldn't find a penny toward,
so l pleaded for time, and the answer l
got was a bailiff, whom I promptly
kicked into the roadway"
"A remarkably wise proceeding"
1.-The fellow is now blackmailing me.
An assault ON an officer Of the law is, I
am aware, a serious offense. l am tired
Of stavin9 off p prosecution. In any case
shall be sold up Immediately, and q
a1O note would be an excessive valua-
ton of my purse. I paid my passage ana
the passage of my intended wife to New
York u of the last money I could
raise.
"Iknow you, Leclerc, or I'd be obliged
to say you We're a very wicked young
man. Did You think at all Of your in
tended wife,"
Think of her? God knows I did. I
wasn't going TO the States on a wild
goose chase. Ny eldest brother there has
good practice and promised to try and
pull me through"
"A very slender staff for d newly
married man to lean upon. | must say
l consider our treatment Of Miss Rod
ney most selfish and inconsiderate. Your
wild antics this morning have complete
ly upset her. 1t is a mercy | Went round
to - Felspar road this evening, and
that | induced her to come here with
me, or heaven knows what might have
happened.
"Dou't be too hard Oh me, doctor. l
felt there was new life for me in the
States"
That's a terribly rough and tumble
way Of treating ones career, Lecerc. l
pity you. But pity Miss Rodney more"
II cannot bear to think Of how reck-
less l have been. l feel on the verge Of
lunacy when Think Of everything. And
now to have this horrible suspicion Of
murder fixed upon me"
lis it so:'
Unfortunately, yes. I am watched
all day by a plain clothes man. He is
outside the house now waiting for me.
I don't know why l haven't been ar
rested. / suppose they are waiting for
the %coroner's inquiry N Saturday"
(Which, Of course, you will attend?"
"Of course. Ican't help myself. l am
s~ubppnaed for my evidence"
"You must try and keep yourself cool
in the meantime, Leclerc. Don't be SO
coniding with police officers and every
n you meet. Your own wild talk and
manner would fasten suspicion on you
II nothing else would"
II will do my best. You have been
awfully kind to me. Infinitely more
kind and generous than any man could
expect under the circumstances"
Don't let Us drift into compliments,
II you please, Leclerc. I always took &
serious interest in you-a much more Sc
rious interest perhaps than you suspect
ed l know you are a clever fellow, an(
believe you are good at bottom"
"f you say things Of this kind to m,
you will have me weeping like a hys
terical woman"
Every well, then. Let us get to NOR
important matters. Iwant to know you
story from your own lips. When did 20
60 to Ii Felspar road-I mean the nigh
when Mrs. Davorn died?''