The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-05-22

And tits, then, for to-nightw Abra-
ham had said.
"Of what are you talking?' cried
Stanley. You know we'll that tonight
it must be, or not at all"
"And just the sum which you have
named:"
Precisely that sum-" Stanley re-
piled; neither more nor less"
''And that sum l am able to retain
as an instalment of the amount which
you have promised me?"
THAT was already arranged" said
Stanley.
But will you be able to manage SO
exactly, that" the peddler began.
And interrupting-"That is not your
affair. you know Abraham" Stanley
smilingly said.
And at what hour Tonight am l
to complete my share in this little
busincss:" the peddler demanded.
That Stanley was not yet prepared
to tell his associate. bA said that If
Abraham would come again to the
spot on which they then were. he
would find in the hollow of tree to
which Stanley pointed q scrap of pa
per. on which the hour would be writ
ten.
And the peddler then Reproduced
Stanley for still clinging to that mania
for writing, which had all along pos
sessed him, and cunningly suggested
that Claremont's very valuable gold
watch might be made to serve at one
and the same time as an indication of
the hour which had been fixed on. and
as a well-merited recompense to his
faithful servant.
"When you have settled the hour"
pursued Abraham. "just bring to it the
hands of your watch; then good turn
with tie 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 one 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; work Of art, with dia-
monds about it, and with some rare
and costly seals, and with scarce coins
attached to the breloque.
And seeing Claremont's hesitation,
the peddler said, "You will be able to
buy another, you know. I could sell
Won one: l have q dozen or SO in my
pack"
Stanley reflected. Very unpalatable
was to him the peddler's present pro-
posal; but then, to destroy rival-to
recover at the same time his wife and
his fortune-that was to say, his
uncle's fOrtune-surely such triumph
would be worth q whole warehouse Of
watches!
And so Abraham was told that It
should be as he desired; and rs Stan
ley Clarcmont 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 accomplice that miser-
I able peddler.
Three hours later. us he had been
directed, Abraham Mailer was again In
the plantations; and, thrusting his hand
into the hollow of the tree before al
luded to, drew from it Stanley's watch.
When he had come where he could
see it's face, zone O'clock" he said to
. himself. Il don't make 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 the Baronet's mansion, there
! was q grand and final carousaI of the
i friends Of Stanley Claremont.
OF that party, Sydney Drummond
| tried every means, save that Of rude
refusal to avoid making one.
1t was about half-past eleven when
81; nley, considering, as he said. that
his friends were growing dull, pro
posed cards.
| The proposal was received Will
boisterous approval by every one, ex
cept only Sydney, who, when solicited
declined to play.
Against all attempts to urge hin
thereto was Sydney firm, until Stan
ley had said pleadingly to his friends
"Pray, gentlemen forbear further Il
press Mr.. Drummond, who has not
like all Of you, been born to fortune
1t is ungenerOus of you to compel MI
Drummond to manifest his poverty.
AS Stanley had known would be tn
case, his rival was greatly stung b,
these remarks; and, yielding to a weal
and foolish pride, took his seat Will
the rest, and played.
Sydney was fairly dealt with in tn
game, only because his want OF ski
and his ill-luck rendered it unnece,
sary that Claremont should resort t
any trickery to attain the object b
had in view.
:, A about a quarter past twelve o'clcc
Sydney's losses amounted to upward
Of forty pounds; and he wished the
to withdraw from the game. but wa
persuaded by Stanley and his friend
. that fortune must soon change. an
SO continued and played OH.
, Stanley, having frequently cast 81
. eyes toward the ormulu clock upon tt
, chimney-piece at last suddenly star
, ed to his feet. and, sweeping the cart
together, hurled them towards the FIR
, place, saying that there should be
more play that night: that he WI
? very sorry that it had been ut ill pr
e posed, and that his uncle. when
= should come to know what had BET
the very serious result to one OF Il
o party, would be excessively angry.
And then he exclaimed, at the vel
:, ton of his voice: Perhaps you a
not aware gentlemen. that Sydnl