The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-09-01
CHAPTER xXI.LContin=cd1


IF he had not had the !mprudcnt All
dacity to concsa. the leaf within eha {
ap2rtlGa0t. SJ4neys brother would
arrive at the houy lie had named, and
which presently would strike.
All SANKEY'S enemies would be there:
he wo2iG be disgraced before them and
before his uncle's amazed guests.
Oh, to be at the mercy of the
wretches whom he despiscd!
Twas SO he raved; and then he
vainly strove to be calm and to reflect,
and passed his handkerchief across his
brow, to wipe away the cold perspira-
ton with which it was beloved. and
which Immediately again, and in large
beads, started out and covered it.
In all probability Tony Drummond
had arrived Stanley reelected; and as
again his eyes travelled around the
apartment, where can he have hid
den it?' Stanley asked himself.
Hurriedly and wildly he commenced
his search. In every corner of the room
he hunted, in and beneath the Orna
ments Oh the chimney-piece. in drawers
of tables; no object escaped his scruti-
ny.
Presently he had reached his book
case.
1t must be here, he told himself and
threw open the door.
Then he paused and dashed his hands
to his head.
nc search the books, one by one! He
could not do tho, impossible! He
would die before he had accomplished
that task; and besides, there was not
timc--it wanted a few minutes only to
II O'Clock.
Il Il 41,N o.olv
case, he hurried across the room to
his bureau, to look on it one moment,
and then turn away again.
NO, no; not there he exclaimed,
now almost frenZied But where, then?
oh, heaven, Where?'
His eyes again wandered around the
room from, object to object. rested
presently on the ebony Golfer. which
stood upon Il table i'll the very center of
the apartment.
The leaf was there. perhaps! He
darted towards the Golfer, and then,
and as quickly as he had approached,
again turned from it.
No, no; not there would Abraham
have concealed that leaf.
And then again he looked towards
the Golfer, and started with a wild
hope. There was no key within the
lock
And the key had been there-WaS al
ways there: not he had removed it: and
yet it was gone.
A precious piece Of evidence for him
the leaf. was there; yes, he was GER
tain of it; the leaf had been hidden by
Abraham in that Golfer, and Stanley
was saved, would triumph over and
laugh to scorn Sydney Drummond and
the valiant Tony!
As Stanley grasped the Golfer there
was soft but hurried tapping at the
door which opened on the garden.
The casket fell from ClaremOnt'S
hand back on to the table, and he stood
transfixed, trembling and listening.
The mysterious tapping was repeat
ed, and then Stanley knew who was
there.
He hurried to the door and admitted
Abraham Mailer, who staggered III,
livid almost as a cOrse. and with
widely eyes. and his ill-fav0red
features still more distorted by the
scared expression which was on them.
Stanley again secured the door. and
Abraham, painting and gasping, leaned
against it, seemingly 10 save himself
from falling.
80, it is you, at last?' said Stanley.
"Yesr' hoarsely whispered the
peddler
Now observing Abraham's plight:
"What is the matter with you" i'll
quired Stanley.
'Nothing!'' answered the peddler, his
breath returning and his boldness too,
now that he believed himself in safety.
Come" said Stanley, ''let us hasten
bO11p ic ahOnt IN SfriL<Of''
Don't be afraid said Abraham.
significantly-"he will not Gomez
Stanley recoiled Il step.
You have not
The peddler nodded.
"A second" Stanley shuddered,
and could not complete the sentence.
PAY me!' demanded Abraham
THAT Ieaf?" questioned Stanley.
"'Tis therer' and Abraham pointed
to the Golfer
Stanley had been prepared to hear
that.
PAY mer' again said Abraham.
Stanley unlocked his bureau. and
took from it parcel of bank notes.
Those notes Stanley had been long i'll
gathering together: rightfully they
were his uncles for by anything but
honest means had the Baronct's
nephew obtained possession III them.
''There is your money said Stanley,
giving the bank notse TO the pcddlcr
.Now. quickly, the key Of that Golfer
Abraham was silent till he had
slowed the bank notes safely away in
a pocket beneath the lining Of his vest
and then said carelessly: THE key is
no longer in my possession.
Cheating scound:el"' cried Stanley
"Nonsense.f said Abraham. Break
the caSkCt open.