Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-08
''what time was that y

what time was that ~ s:8
\ That would be about n, SIR
II You're certain no one else came in9''
( They couldn't have done. sir. without
alatchkey, but others must ring
Mr.. Wickerby saw that she was not
likely to be shaken from this theory.
Whether It was true or not. II was her
only possible method Of clearing hers
SELF from the charge Of having opened
the letter. 81 N,
THANK you," he said: II daresay, you
are right. Captain Estcourt must have
forgotten. That will do, Jane. and you
needn't trouble yourself about It.
The girl Ned With alacrity, and Mr..
wickerhy turned to Dick. who was
Tuning with impatience.
= ''Well." he asked. what do you say
to that?'' NJ
what COMPOUNDED nonsense all this
Isl" cried Dick; ''as II didn't know that
I never set eyes on the thing till this
afternoon. just two minutes before you
came In! I shall think no more Of It,"
''That IL all very WELL" replied his
companion. "but the question IL, will
all these other people think no more Of
1t. too?"
What other people?"
"Well. there Is first the gentleman
who sent the invitation, and no doubt
supposes you to have accepted 1t with
your eyes open: secondly, these French
men he mentions-did you meet them.
too?"
ssnI, hone, %ha~o ,,a. ~ .-,,oo raS 7Neolr
Thirdly, the person or persons. UNI
ter; and fourthly-let me see-oh, yes
law
ion fixed penetrating glance upon him.
DO you know" he said, II think. my
dear Estcourt. 1t might be better for
you II you made a clean breast Of 1t.
I'm an old confidential friend Of your
people. and you know I viii keep your
counsel"
II give you my word" cried Dick,
there's nothing more to tell than this:
know Colonel de Montaut-the man
who wrote this letter, you know-pretty
we'll; and as for Madame de Montaut--"
"Yes?" inquired Mr.. Wickerby. "And
as for Madame-T'
"Oh, you understand said Dick.
with desperate embarrassment. "she's
the only woman in the world: but no
one could ever think me capable Of dis
loyalty, and she least Of ALL"
Hmm" said the lawyer, II
couldn't. perhaps; but women have q
high estimate Of their own power, and
some Of them love to exercise 1t. too"
Some of them!' Dick burst out. in
dignantly; "she's, not some of Them
She wouldn't accept the help Of q trait
or, much less ask for It,"
He was becoming irritated beyond his
self-control. and Mr.. Wickerby hast
ened to leave this part of the subject.
1.-THE question now u.s." he remarked.
what you are to do.''
do" cried Dick. II shall write to
Colonel de Montaut at once, and call to-
morrow morning to explain the mis-
take"
stop moment" said the lawyer.
''I'm not quite sure that that's your
wisest plan. though, Of course, 1t is the
natural one to think Of first. Let me
just put the case before you as 1t looks
to an outsider-not to me, mind you,
but to an impartial stranger; to Judge
or Jury, for instance"
Dick looked nervous and sulky, but
said nothing. and Mr.. Wickerby went
on in a clear, precise tone, marking off
the points on Re fingers Of his left hand
as he proceeded:
IAN English officer" he began.
makes friends with Frenchman-a
strong Bonapartist-and falls in love
with relative Of this gentleman. much
attached to the same cause. He goes
often to their house. and Is frequently
seen in their society.
ION Saturday, March "a. 1921. he
leaves home at 1880 in the morning. I'M
mediately afterward letter from his
Imperialist friend arrives, referring to
previous conversations. and asking him
to join in q reasonable plot. A refusal
is to be easily implied by mere silence,
but the consent, which is plainly ex-
pected. is to be evidenced by attendance
at II o'clock at a certain place for the
purpose Of meeting two fellow-conspira-
tors.
by II o'clock this letter has been
opened and read. No one has entered
the house since our friend left 1t, ,4nles,
indeed. he returned himself. Tb. maid
who received the note, with sea! intact,
is positive on this point; and to save
herself would probably, under pres
sure. swear that she heard him come in
again.
''At IL o'clock he Is at the place named
for quite different purpose, he says,
but admittedly at the invitation Of these
same Bonapartists. The other conspi-
rators are there too, and a cordial in
PRODUCTION takes place. His conduct
does not appear to have aroused any
doubt in their minds as to his accept
ance Of their overtures.
Confronted with this array of facts,
our friend proposes to put himself right
by explaining matters to the Bonapart-
lists and even to commit the imprudence
Of expressing his regrets on paper.
'Litera scripta manet.' My dear Est
court. no prudent man ever writes let
ter when he can avoid it. Your disap-
pointed friends would have you in a
trap here. You'd much better run away
quietly, and take holiday somewhere,
without leaving your address. When
they've come to grief and got hanged
for their pains
What the devil do you mean?"
shouted nicH In