The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-07-31

- :
By Sydney, % Clare mont wasS now
told, ut the foot Of the cupboard which
had contained the chest from which
the hundred and twenty-five pounds
had been stolen.
The two broken pieces Of the seal
reunited perfectly, as Stanley saw
and lie was pale and silent; for a few
moments, not longer, most utterly
conf6unded.
And Abraham Mailer was wishing
that. instead of being behind those
window curtains, he was far away In
Australia, or anywhere, SO that he
might know himself in safety, which,
just now, was far from being tho
case.
For Stanley, the peddler had no
doubt, would make himself secure by
sacrificing at any cost, the man whose
ill-luck or carelessness had brought
about the present dilemma.
How often had the peddlar won.
dered when and where Ire could have
lost that portion OF the seal. which was
now, perhaps to be his utter ruin!
Now, he reflected that. most prob.
ably, when hurriedly opening the cup
board, the door had struck against the
breloques of the watch, and so had
broken that peculiar and unmlstaka-
BILE seal.
To think that he had been revealing
in such fancied security. and that fate
had held in reserve, to crush him, that
broken seal and Anthony Drummondl
And Abraham sat behind those win.
dow curtains in shivering and silent
dread, for he dared not even send
forth Il mean to relieve his oyerbur.
dened heart.
Stanley Clarer,ont felt himself driv.
In corner: GLADLY would he have Civ
en- his associate to the mercy OF the
laws, but then, the peddler would be-
tray his former employer, and how
fight his way free Of such accusations?
In short. Stanley was MS greatly
afraid of the peddler as the peddier
was of Stanley.
II shall rely on your assista nee. Mr..
Claren,ont," Tony said, for the capt.
ure and conviction of she rascally
thief for whose crime my poor brother
has been made SO terribly to suffer-"
And Stanley replied, very coolly:
Upon consideration, think l shall
refuse to have anything to do with the
matter"
Refused" exclaimed Tony, greatly
surprised. "Why rcfuse?"
THAT is my business" replied Stan.
ley, as coolly as before.
''Well. IL you do refuse" said Tony,
II shall believe"
"Bclteve whatever you think proper!"
interrupted the other.
Adding; as he beheld Tony's amazed
fnIs1 xS-3
make not too much noise about
this"
But just now" cried Tony, ''you
recognized the watch, So"
Exactly; but I now find that I
know nothing about it!''
"But this seal, which has so miracu.
lously placed me upon the robbers
track?"
Especially the SCALP replied Stan
ley.
And Abraham did not at all relish
the way in which the baronet's neph-
ew was proceeding; for denying that
the watch eve" belonged to him, was
to give the lie to all the peddler's as
sertinns to tile jcweler. In short,
Abraham saw himself about to be
made scapegoat, and he was likely
to be the only sufferer, where there
had been two scapegoats.
Looking Stanley full in the face,
Tony said: "You do not understand
what would be the consequences Of
such a denial?"
And, unflinchingly returning Tony.s
gaze, Stanley coolly replied: "Oh, yes
perfectly we]l!"
ITO seek by your silence to shelter
the thief is to make yourself his &c
ccmplice."
"My good fellow" began Claremont,
"yOu are now talking"
''Lile a man who is speaking the
truth" interrupted Tony, Ito one who
ia utterin6 cool and deliberate false
hOOd!
The color rushed to SANKEY'S face,
and he muttered some angry words,
which were meant as q threat; but
Tony was not alarmed.
''Take which road you please" cried
Tony; "yOu will find me ready to fol-
low just rs far as you shall choose to
lead me-"
Pooh! pooh" sneered Stanley; "fra-
.ternal love is causing you to mako
yourself ridiculous"
"And audacity is driving you mad,
Mr.. Claremont!" replied Tony.
."Tllat watch has never belonged to
me-" Stanley said, quietly and point
eddy; has never belonged to nue." ho
repeated. "You clearly understand, !
LoIr" he then said, sneeringly.
CTo BE- continued)