Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-29

lawyer, ME. W4CheEDy, 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 ar9u-
ing about that? If the truth were
known. believe you broke the seal
yourself. But what does 1t 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, it
Is true, but you rejoined us at Cape
Verd, and have come with US to st.
Helena"
mot 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 it up.
The colonel did not offer to read 1t.
Il am very much afraid" he said,
that that letter never saw the inside Of
the Admiralty; and as for his majes-
tvs ship Niobe. I 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 ominous
calmness. "let me tell you this. I came
here innocent. and I am going back
innocent. You have. by shameful de-
ceits and devilish cunning. brought me
with you so far, but nothing you say or
do or threaten can move me a hair
breadth farther. Without my help your
plot will fail. as you yourself know
well. And when you are in Malcolm's
hands Well see whether he'll believe you
or me first
The colonel did not betray it by so
much as the trembling Of an eyelid; but
this last stroke of Dicks was a down.
right blow, and might, if not parted,
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," he
said, you are taking the matter too
seriously. don't think you realize what
1t Is am asking of you. I don't, of
course, expect you to take any respon-
sibility Tor our plan, or to do anything
which could be censured as breach of
duty or the rules Of your service.
only ask you. in the absence Of Cap
tain Worsley. to take command of the
Speedwell for twenty-four hours, and
bring her to anchor off the island here
until tomorrow night. On Sunday
morning We shall be ready to sail again.
What we do in the meantime can not
be laid to your caarge-if, indeed. it
were ever discovercd-for you know
nothing OF our designs. as we would all
bear witness in case Of need"
Dick rose. Colonel de Montaut," he
said. in stern. incisive tone, II have
borne with you SO far. and Am
ashamed of my own patience Every
word you utter is fresh insult" he ex-
claimed, with sudden fury in his eyes;
and II you do not leave me instantly,
before God will avenge myselfw
~N'S SSASAASA AAAOShCO lAS uOOE WITHOUT
word. With great alacrity he slipped
out and locked it again on the other side.
AS he did so he heard light footstep
hastily retreating. He followed imme-
diately, and was in time to see the door
of Camilla's cabin softly closed. He
approached noiselessly, and listened out
side In his turn. She was sobbing, and
II the colonel had not been somewhat
fiustered by his late unceremonious dis
missal. so keen an observer would have
noted that her soba were the quick.
haE-laughing utterance Of intense re-
lief. But he was not now concerned
with Camilla's feelings. He had Est
court yet to conquer, and he went off
IN search Of tombstone to help him in
the struggle.
The colonel explained the position to
him from beginning to end. ''Nov." he
said. in conclusion, you see the one
thing absolutely necessary. So long as
he hopes to clear himself with NAL
colin he will defy us. Once let him COM
NIT himself too far for that, and he is
ours body and SOUL"
What do you want him to dog" asked
tombstone. You give it a name, and
I warrant I'll make him do IT,"
Yes" replied the colonel. II think
1t Is time that you tried your hand now.
The game Of skill is up, and we must
see what force can do for us. want
him to write letter to Admiral NAL
colin asking for permission to anchor
the brig of jamestown for twenty-four
hours. He needn't write the whole let
ter even. can do 1t for him, provided
he signs 1t. He can't draw back after
that"
"That'll do" said tombstone. "1'll see
to 1t. never fear"
iii have the letter ready after sup
per. then" said the colonel, as he went
below; land remember that II he re-
fuses to sign when ask him, shall
leave him to you at once; but Of course
you will avoid taking any irretrievable
step until the last possible moment"
II understand" answered tombstone.
with grin; obstinate as ever he likes.
ne shan't meet with fatal accident, not
till the guardboat men set foot on
board; after that can't answer for
what may happen. It's long fall into
the hold. and some folks are so care
less Of themselves"