The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-03-15
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whats the matter. youns 'unT'
about those lettorsf =
Eyes, I read them. They could b q
no use to anybody, and might have
done harm to aome6ody. and that's
/ why"
"You have torn themr'
J "No."-Ntcksey VAS again more than
half asleep. II know where to and
the pieces"
Burnt them. ,perhapsf'
"Yes-thats it!' mumbled Nicksey.
] Emmeline's heart collapsed, and she
I with dificulty saved herself from fall
you've hit It, young 'un!' exclaimed
Nicksey, suddenly wide awake again.
and starting to his feet: that's the
best plan-I'll burr them!"
Those words restored animation to
Emmeline.
ut is not, then. yet done9" she asked,
striving arnestly for calmness.
"Rut 1t won't be long first" said
Nicksey. Here's prime bit Of fire,
which will be 20 obllging as to do "
that little service"
"And where are those papers"
I'm place where Old Scratch him
self would have some trouble to flnd
them, unless were good enough to
show him where they were hidden"
"But you might tell me-" insinuated
Emmeline.
"You wait here, young 'un-In 60
and fetch them, and we'll make an
end Of them at once"
What was Emmellne now to do?
She could not attempt to struggle with
that man for the possession Of those
| letters, nor might she venture to snatch
them from the flames.
Mickey rose from his chair, and
would have proceeded towards the
door. but found himself unable to
reach 1t. His head was swimming. lds
legs were sinking under him, and he
would have fallen, but that Emmeline
sustained, and assisted him to regain
his chair.
The fire, which he had expected to
brighten him up. had completely mud
died him; 80 aaid the inebriated fellow,
and remarked upon 1t as D very singu-
lar circumstance.
Emmeline volunteered, IL he would
tell her where those letters were, to
procure them for him.
But again Nicksey's head had sank
upon his breast again, and his eyes
were closed.
"Presently-by and byr' he mutter-
ed. II nm eleepy aGain!"
Emmeline pressed him with ques-
lions, but received no answer.
Presently Emmeline raised her voice
Il have forgotten what you Just now
told me concerning the place where you
had cocea1ed those letters"
The ruse succeeded.
you've got thick head. young
'un!" muttered Nicksey. II told you
the back yard"
"Yes; 1 remember that. But 1t 10
the precise spot have forgotten"
"Under the shed-jn q hole beneath
the third log Of wood"
1.-THE third-beneath the third piece
of wood! You are certnin you are not
Mistaken" Emmeline eagerly asked.
"And the bank-notes are there, tool"
mumbled Nicksey, y more than half
asleep. "Half Of them I shall take;
the other half between you and your
friend what's-his-name? That's fair,
because did the work, you know"
Emmeline hastily lighted n second
candle, and with 1t she quilted the
| room, and commenced to descend the
stairs.
The letters which Nicksey had stolen
from Mrs. Cheaterton were relied on
10y her. purauers t. furnish evidence
which would enable them to accuse
her before the world; and those let
tiers would, too. perhaps, reveal who
had been the two male assassins Of
One Tree Square. 1-'. s:
In 2 word those letters were Emme-
lines only hope Of Justice for her poor
fathers memory.
glad anticipation, and not with fear.
In her excitement now even Barring
ton was forgotten; his most strange
and unaccountedfor absence, had ceas-
ed to be terror to her.
Having descended, Emmeline with
some difficulty forced back the rusty
bolts Of the door which opened into
the back yard.
This yard. which had eveidently been
intended for, and had no doubt. ut
some time or other. been formed into
q garden, was enclosed by low walls,
which were now half In ruins, and
with here and there gaps in them Of
which Mr.. Nicksey had more than
once availed himself when his house
had been beset, and necessity had
arisen for his escape, IL he had no
wish to run the risk Of being hanged.
This back yard was the width only
of the house, but its length was some
what considerable, as Emmeline dis
covered since she had to proceed to its
very end before reaching the shed
from which she now confidently ex-
pected to obtain a treasure which she
would hug to her heart more doatingly
than ever miser embraced his money
chest
A portion only of the framework
Of what had once been sort Of garden
shed remained, and small patches only
Of Its thatched roof were left here
and there; the most extensive piece Of
covering being above the corner in
which lay. almost in a row, about q
dozen small logs Of wood.
Emmeline set down her candle In the
most sheltered spot, and, full of hope
hurriedly commenced her search.
CHAPTER KIN.