The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-12-26

extreme end Of the store. and then faced
round painting and livid.
'Hah," said the ahrill voice Of the man
on the threshold. Private theatrlcals.
| see. did not know, Mr.. Tinmons. that
Won went in for such entertainments.
Don't you think. Mr.. Timlmons. hat you
ought 10 ring down the curtain. ana that
this gentleman. who no doubt represents
the villain of the piece confronted Win
his intended victim. had better get UP ana
look after his breakfast:' He pointed
10 the PROSTATE Stamer. who lay mo-
tionless upon the sandy floor.
Timmons did not move or speak. Inc
shock had, for the moment. completely
bcreft him of his senscJ
Il have lust come back from the coun-
,rv." said the dwarf. and | thought q
call on YOU at once. l should like TO nave
Il few moments conversation with Eon'
if your friend and very abb" supporter
would have the kindness - "pnsiher nun
self alive and fully %pardored by his m
tended victim.
The PROSTATE man did not move. Inn
mons shudacrcl. lie made Il proalsioas
effort and tried 20 move forward. ou' hau
10 put his hand a@iinst the wall TO steady
himself. Leigh approached Staiher anu
! touched him with his stick. Stalil'r oio
not stir.
as :hcrr ANYTHING the matter with the
man. think there must be. luminous.
What do you mean by running ava! 70
the other end OF the place: why. 'iis
man j. unconscious. | seem 10 n' lateu
! 10 meet f~ainting men.
Sramer did not speak, but struggled
SLOWLY to his feet. and. assisted ID! lin
mons. walked to the opening ana was
bclrcd a few yards down the street. mere
the two parted without Il word. bE 'ho
time Timmons got back he was compare
lively composed.
Are we alone asked Leigh inpatient
". on Timmons return.
I'VE are ,
.IIah! | am glad we are. If your lrlenn
we're connected with racing should cail
him a slayer. | came to tell You thaI l.
have inst got back from Milwaukee. l
thought it best to go there and see AGAIN
tho man | had been in treaty with. L not
only saw him. but heard a great oea,
about him. and | am sorry to say | heard
nothing good. He is, it appears, a very
noor man. and he deliberately misled me
as TO his position and his ability to pay.
ar, now unite certain that if l had opened
business with him | should have lost any
,b;,r 7 intrusted to him. or if not all, ;
good part.
..Then 7 am not to meet you at the SAINT
n,oce next Thursday night:' asked lin
mons. He had not at this moment any
interest in the mere business about whlcl
thev had been negotiating. he was c'irl
ous about other matters. Ills mlnu wa
| now tolerably clear, but tiabby ana III
. active still.
.sNo. There is no use in your glvln'
me the alloy until | see my way TO DOM
. something with it. and l feel bound {
= saw that after this great diSappolntlnen
! feel greatly discouraged altogether
a Then. Mr.. Leigh, l suppose we are "A
Il standstiN:
"Prccisely.' .
4 What You mean, l suppose. Mr.. Leigh
4 is that you do not see your way 10 so'h
any further:'
= "Well. yes. At present l do not see m
II way to going any further
7 you went to Milwaukee yesterda!
MAY l ask you by what train you wei
down.
.'Two-thirty in the afternoon"
"And YOU came back this morning.:
YES. just arrived. l drove straigl
II here. as I told you
And YOU were away from half-pa
two Yesterday until now. You were Of
u of Chicago yesterday from 2:3O until ear
7 this morning:'
Yes; until six this morning. Why a
,, Won SO curious: You do not, | hope. su
!" pect me of saying anything that is Il
~ ~struc,ly true?' said Leigh, throwing h
~ head back and striking the sandy ITO
ticrcply with is stick.
~ mean. sir" said Timmons. shaki1
his minatory finger at him and froWnl
=, heavily. mot that l suspect you Of lyin
-, but that l am sure you are lying. | w
~ mt the public house last night; you we
4 there, too"
Leigh started and drew back. He look
~ down ad said nothing. He could not T
-. how much this man knew. Timlno
went on:
w. Il was in the public bar when you cal
at in. You called for rum hot. and you c
~, away at close to twelve O'Clock to wi
IN your clock. | was out then and $:
YOU at the window winding up the clo'
was there when the light went out j
al at half-past twelve. Now, sir, are y
lying or I'M l."
Leigh burst into a loud, long. hal
~ roar of laughter that made Timm'
start. it was SO weird and unexpected.
'"> M, lo continual