The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-05-21
IN AEM1N NEjxHaLZ;


capped from prison more than once. and
at the worst can face death. But the
thought Of Camilla's fate 10 more than
can bear
He paused, and then went on in low,
agitated voice:
my friend he said. ''have you ever
seen a French convict-ship? I have.
1t Is many years ago, but the recollec-
ton OF those sitting cages and the mass
or scarcely human misery huddled be-
hind the bars Is q nightmare with me
to this day." Dicks breath Kissed in
ward through his teeth.
"Silence" he said. sternly. 'Not an
other word, or strike! The colonel
did not finch.
Strike, and welcome" he replied, eff
you think that will save her"
NO." said Dick, nothing that can
90 will save, her; it would take the
sacrifice OF my honor, and that I can
not offer nor she accept"
Your honor?" said the colonel.
Surely 1t is too late to speak of that
now"
why so? Why late?''
Because 1t has long been COM
promised beyond retrieving"
WAal 90 you mean?"
My dear Estcourt, "ssaid the colonel,
In his most serious and reasonable tone.
i see that you don't understand the
gravity Of your position. Let me put it
briefly before you. You will remember
that one day in March last wrote q
letter asking you to join in this expedi-
| ton OF ours, and naming place Of rem
! devious In case Of your asserting to
my proposal. You kept that appoint
ment, and were then and there intro
duced to your fellow-conspirators."
NONSENSE! interrupted Dick "You
know wrote the same evening to ex-
plain that mistake"
"Indeed?" replied the colonel, coldly.
1t Is odd that my servant never
brought the note to me-"
NO" cried Dick. remembering the
shadow on the blind in Bedford Square.
NO. but saw you take it from the let
ter-box yourself"
Unfortunately" said the colonel, ST
have no recollection whatever Of doing
so. It ever did 1t, feel sure that
nothing will recall it to my mind, and
as no one else seems to have known
OF the existence Of the letter, I fear that
this part Of your argument breaks down
i AOA wait VI COEIOOOFaClOns
mo matter" retortea Dick, triumph
antly; Il can prove, tor all that, that
never thought Of accepting, for didn't
get your letter until after came back
from Russell Street."
Excuse me-" said the colonel, "but
your own servant has sworn that you
opened 1t before II o'clock that morn
ing"
sswotn: My own "a s.eatvante To
whom?p A
ITO me. She mentioned the matter
when called for you one day before
leaving town. and told me that YOU
had scolded her and quarreled with your
lawyer. Mr.. Wickerby, about the seal
OF the letter. which she is certain you
broke yourself"
Dick was silent, and turned in his
chair with an angry and impatient
movement. He remembered too well
the overwhelming manner in which
Mr.. Wickerby had marshaled the evil
dence against him that afternoon, and
was staggered to find how fatal had
been his contemptuous disregard of that
worthy gentleman's advice Clearly the
battle was going against him here, and
he fell back upon his third line of de-
Tense.
What is the use." he cried, "of argu-
ing about that? If the truth were
known, believe you broke the seal
yourself. But what does it matter now
The best proof that scorned your
reasonable offers is that came away
directly afterward on business of an
other kind"
II see no evidence Of that" replied
the colonel; you sailed without us, 1t
is true, but you rejoined US at Cape
Verd, and have come with US to st.
Helena"
"Not Of my own knowledge or free
will. sailed for the Cape, as every
clerk in the Admiralty knows, and as
this letter will show beyond dispute. %
And he took from his pocket the paper
containing the instructions for his voy-
age and held 1t up.
The colonel did not offer to read It.
II am very much afraid" he said,
that that letter never saw the inside of
the Admiralty; and az for his majes-
TVS ship Niobe. know that she is in
the Madras roads. sound from stem to
stern, with her full complement OF Of
ficers and men,
Look here" said Dick, with ominoua
calmness. 'let me tell you this. came
here innocent, and I am going back
innocent. You have, by shameful de-
ceits and devilish cunning, brought me
with you 30 far. but nothing you say OF
do or threaten can move me hair.
breadth farther. Without my help your
plot will fail, as you yourself know
well. And when you are in Malcolm.
hands WE'LL see whether he'll believe you
or me first"
The colonel did not betray It by sc
much as the trembling Of an eyelid; blu,
this last stroke Of Dicks was q down.
right blow. and might, IL not PARKED
mean the ruin Of his whole fabric Of in.
genious policy. His manner, accord.
ingly. became lighter and more indif.
ferent.
Come. come. my dear Estcourt." HI
said. ''you are taking the matter too
\ seriously. don't think you realize wha,
It IL am asking Of you. don't. Of
course. expect you to take any respon
sibility for our plan, or to do anything
which could be censured as a breach Of
duty. or the rules Of your service.
only ask you, in the absence Of Cap
tain WOrBley to take command az thu