The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-05-12

within his own a man who, in the eyes
Of the world, should be diShOnOred.
"But how am I to make my way to
his roOm?" asked Abraham.
II 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 accomplice.
Three evenings afterward, and again
when it was nearly dark, Stanley and
the peddler were once more together,
and earnestly conversing in the planta
ton.
''And 'tis then, for to-night?" 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 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
business?" the peddler demanded.
That Stanley was not yet prepared
to tell his associate BIZ said that if
Abraham would come again to the
spot on which they then were, he
would find in the hollow of a tree to
which Stanley pointed scrap of pa
per, on which the hour would be writ
ten
And the peddler then reproached
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 cecompense to his
faithful servant.
.:When you have settled the hour, :"
pursued Abraham, s'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; a 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. | could sell
YOU one; | have a 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 whole warehouse Of
watches!
And so Abraham was told that it
should be as he desired; and as Stan
lev 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 accomplice that mlSer-
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
luded to, drew from it Stanley'S watch.
When he had come where he could
see its face, Zone o'clock, he said to
himself. 81 don't make a 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 a grand and final carouSal of the
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
ST; nley, considering, as he said. that
his friends were growing dull, pro-
posed cards.
The proposal was received with
boisterous approval by every one, ex-
cept only Sydney, who, when solicited,
declined to play.
Against all attempts. to. urge. him
thereto was Sydney Arm. until Stan
ley had said pleadingly to his friends,
pray, gentlemen forbear further to
press Mr.. Drummond, who has not,
like all of you, been born to a fortune.
1t is ungenerous Of you to 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 a weak
and foolish pride, rook his seat with
the rest, and played.