The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-05-21

his ROOM asked Abraham.
Il will contrive all that for you"
was the reply.
1t was perfectly dark that night
when these two men quilted the plan
tation. Stanley proceeding toward the
mansion. followed at some little dis
lance by his accomplish.
Three evenings afterward. and again
when it was nearly dark. Stanley ana
the peddler were once more together,
and earnestly conversing in the planta-
ton.
And it's. then. for tonight" Abra-
ham he'd said.
"Of what are you talking?" cried
Stanley. You know well that tonight
it must be, or not at all"
And just the sum which you have
named?"
"preciscly that sum- Stanley re-
! piled; neither mere o less"
And that sum | am able To retain
rs al instalment Of the amount which
You have promised me-
That WAS already arranged" said
Stanley.
But will you be able Ia manage so
exactly. that" the peddler began.
And. interTupting-"That is not your
a. ~ hltc" All b'tat1lt
smilingiy said.
And at what hour tonight am l
to complete my share in this little
business the peddler demanded.
That Stanley was not yet prepared
to tell his associate. blS said that if
Abraham would come again to the
spot on which they then We're. he
would find in the hollow of Il tree to
which Stanley pointed Il scrap of pa.
per. on which the hour would be writ
ten.
And the peddler then ~reproached
Stanley for still clinging To tlnit mania
for writing. which had all along pos
SeSsed him. II cunningly suggested
that Claremont'S very valuable gold
watch might be made to serve 1T one
and the same time as an indication of
the hour which had been fixed on, and
as IL wcll-merited "ccOmpenSe to his
faithful servant.
When you have settled the hour"
pursued Abraham. ".iuSt bring TO il the
hands of YOU watch: then n good turn
with re key. and the handspring is
broken. and the watch goes no longer:
then place it in the hollow Of that tree.
/ shall find it. and no possibility of mis-
taking hour for another"
That Abraham considered more SIM
pie than writing, and that watch
could neither deceive nor betray.
But Stanley hesitated. The watch
was. as we have just said. Of consider
able value: Il work of art, with dia-
monds about it, and with some rare
and costly seals, and with scarce coins
attached to the b%reloque.
And seeing Claremont's hesitation.
the peddler said, You will be able to
buy another. you know. | could sell
YOU one: | have a dozen or SO in my
pack"
Stanley reelected. Very unpalatable
was to him the peddlcr's present pro-
pOSal: but then, to destroy Il rival-to
recover ut the same time his wife and
his fOrtunc-that was to say, his
uncle'S fortune-Surely such Il triumph
would be worth a whole warehouse of
watches,
And SO Abraham was told that it
should be as he desired: and as Stan
ley ClaremOnt returned towards the
mansion. he was saying To himself
that Sir LOghlen's entire fortune would
but poorly compensate his nephew for
the degradation. the base humiliation,
Of having for accCmplice that miser-
able peddler.
Three hours later. as he had been
directed. Abraham Mailer was again in
the plantation: and. thruSting his hand
into the hollow of the tree before al
ludcd to. drew from it Stanley's watch.
When he had come where he could
see its face. "One O'clock" he said to
himself. Il don't make Il practice OF
being out of bed so late; but it can't
be helped"
On the last night that the guests
then assembled there were TO remain
within he BarOnet's mansion. there
was Il grand and final carouSal of the
friends Of Stanley ClarcmOnt.
OF that party, sydney DrummOnd
tried every means. save that Of rude
refusal To avoid making one.
At was about half past eleven when
81; nlry. considering. az h. said. thai
his friends We're growing dull. pro-
posed cards.
The proposal was received with
boisterous approval by every one. ex-
ccpt only Sydney, who. when solicited,
declined to play.
Against all attempts to urge him
thereto was Sydney firm. until Stan
ley had said pleadinGly to his friends.
Pray, gentlemen fOrbedr further TO
press Mr.. DrummOnd, who has not,
like all Of you, been born To a fortune.
Ii is ~ungenerouS of you 10 compel Mr..
Drummond To manifest his poverty"
AS Stanley had known would be the
case, his rival was greatly stung by
these remarks; and, yielding to n weak
and foolish pride, took his seat with
the rest, and played.
Sydney was fairly dealt with i'm the
game, only because his want of skill