The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-04-29

Thank YOU he said: Il dsresay you
are right. Captain Estcourt must have
forgotten. That will do. Jane. and YOU
needn't trouble yourself about it."
The girl fed with alacrity, and NJ.
Wickerby turned to Dick, who vas
Tuning with impatience.
Well" he asked, what do you say
to that?"
What COMPOUNDED nonsense all this
is" cried Dick; "as if l didn't know that
l never set eyes on the thing till this
afternoon, just two minutes before you
came in! 1 shall think no more Of it"
That is all very we'll" replied his
companion, but the question is. will
all these other people think nc more az
it, too?"
What other people,"
Well. there is first the gentleman
who sent the invitation. and no doubt
supposes you to have accepted it With
your eye open; secondly. these French
men he ~mentions-did you meet them.
too?"
"Oh. hang them, yes" groaned Dick.
Thirdly, the person or persons, I'M
known. who opened and read his let
ter: and fourthly-let me see-oh. yes
the lady spoken Of as my sister.:a-
law"
Dick turned crimson, and his compan-
ion fixed a penetrating glance upon him.
DO you know" he said. 81 think, my
dear Estcourt, it might be better for
o If you made a clean breast of it.
I'm an old confidential friend of yonr
people, and you know I will keep your
counsel"
II CiN"n ~ uynrI " nrtnI Ihtn1y
there's nothing more to tell thar this.
/ know Colonel de Montaut-the Ia
who wrote this letter, you know-pretty
we'll: and as for Madame de Montaut-"
"Yes"' inquired Mr.. Wickerby. "And
as for Madame"
"Oh. you understand" said Dick.
with desperate embarrassment. shes
the only woman in the world; but no
n could ever think me capable of dis
loyalty, n she least of all"
Hmm" said the lawyer, al
couldn't, perhaps; but women have a
high estimate of their own power, and
some of them love to exercise it, too"
Some of them" Dick burst out, in
dignantly: shes not some OF them
She wouldn't accept the help Of a 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.
The question now. u.s." he remarked,
what o are to do"
Dol" cried Dick. Il shall write to
Colonel de Montaut at once. and call to-
morrow morning to explain the mis-
take"
Stop a moment" said the lawyer.
I'm not quite sure that that's your
wisest plan, though, Of course, it is the
natural one to think of first. Let me
just put the case before you as it ook
to an. outsider-not to me, MIND you.
but TO an impartial stranger; to a Judge
or jury, for instance"
Dick locke nervous and sulky. but
said nothing, and Mr.. Wickerby went
on in a clear, precise tone. marking off
the points on the fingers Of his left hand
as he proceeded:
An English officer" he began,
makes friends with a Frenchman-a
strong Bonapartist-and falls in love
with a relative of this gentleman. much
attached to the same cause. He goes
often to their house, and is frequently
Seen in their society.
o Saturday. March "a. 1921, he
leaves home at 1890 in the morning. I'm
mediately afterward a letter from his
imperialist friend arrives, referring TO
previous conversations, and asking him
to join in a 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 IL o'clock at a certain place for the
purpose Of meeting two fellow-conspira-
tors.
by IL o'clock this letter has been
opened and read. No one has entered
the house since our friend left it, unles,
indeed, he returned himself. The maid
who received the note, with seal 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 a 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 nan ever writes a let
ter when he can avo 1T. Your disap-
pointed friends would have you in a
trap here. You'd much better run away
quietly, and take a holiday somewhere,
without leaving your address. When
they've come to grief n got hanged
for their pains
What the devil do you mean?'
shouted Dick. in evaporation.
The you can come back in safety