Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-08

up the stairs to MS rOoms ana OuI1S
gaily In. His glance travelled to the
mantel-piece. where his letters were
usually placed: today there were two.
and he hummed tune 40 he took them
In his hand. They were both from
known correspondents. and quite un-
Interesting: but third. lying near
them, was directed In handwriting
that he had never seen before.
Is He was surprised to find, on turning
1t over, that this last one had been al
ready opened, but he Immediately for
got this In his establishment at the con-
tents.
The. letter was not signed. but there
was no mistaking the source from
which 1t came; the words "my sister-in-
law and I" brought flush to his face.
He was amazed. bewildered. over
whelmed.
Before he could collect his scattered
senses the door opened. and "Mr. Wick
erby'' was announced. On the thres-
hold stood the lawyer he had been exc
pecting, gray-haired. sharp-eyed. pre-
cise-looking man Of IS or more. with
his hat in one hand and q bag In the
other.
GOOD day. sir" he said. And then.
with q quick glance from Dicks trout
bled face to the paper In his hand. he
added: Anything wrong? No bad
news, hope?"
Dick jumped to his feet. took the hat
bag from his visitor. and drew chair
up to the fire for him.
"You must excuse me, Mr.. Wicker
by" he said: I'm in a regular maze
over this extraordinary note"
.Let me see," said the lawyer.
Dick mechanically handed 1t over to
him, and tried to put his own ideas In
order while the other read in silence.
Dear mel" said Mr.. Wickerby, look
ing up at last, "this Is a cool fellow,
upon my word! He pretends to be
friend Of yours. Do you recognize the
writing?"
mo-" replied Dick. II never saw 1t in
my life: but"
':But you can guess the author, Ell?
Hmm, so much the worse! II you will
excuse my freedom. Captain Est
court
"stop!" cried Dick. II must warn
you that these are intimate friends Of
mine." and he blushed crimson.
Mr.. Wickerby looked at him curious
~. "They must be-" he said. very In
innate, I should say. to venture upon
such a proposal as this
Hang it!' cried Dick. "you don't
suppose he meant 1t seriously? It's
joke, Of course"
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
mot In very good taste as a joke he
said; "but after all 1t doesn't matter;
the letter contains its own answer, and
there's an end Of 1t.
what do you mean?" asked Dick.
'How does it contain its own answer"
"Silence. in this case. was to give re-
fusal; consent was only to be inferred
from a particular act"
Dick was thunderstruck at this, and
lost his head.
But went" he stammered.
f'Went where?" asked the other,
sharply. ~5
ITO Great Russell street."
"You went to Great Russell street?
And what, in the name Of goodness, did
you do that for? Do you know, Captain
Estcourt," he continued, severely,
what we lawyers call this kind Of
thing? 'Adhering to the sovereign's en-
emies'; Ievying war against our lord
the king'-that's what we call 1t, SIR
An overt act Of treason, and you and
your friends make joke of it,"
''But that was not why went" said
Dick, in confusion. II hadn't had the
note then. The man himself had al
ready asked me to go for quite differ
ent purpose"
Here the maid entered to lay the
cloth, and both were silent.
9"I'll explain 1t all to you after dinner"
said Dick I'm the meantime let us
settle the business you came about"
This was done, and occupied them
for somewhat less than half an hour.
at the end Of which time they set down
to table.
Dick was prcoccupied, and the con-
versation dragged His guest eyed him
doubtfully from time to time, and he
was uneasily conscious Of the fact.
Presently he got up and went to the
bell.
II quite forgot" he said. as he pulled
the cord. II never asked about that
note being open.''
II don't understand" said Mr.. Wick
erby.
''The seal was broken when I found
it,
The lawyer locker puzzled. "sure?"
he asked.
Certain" Dick replied. 1.-THE letter
had been opened, beyond doubt"
That's awkward. I'm afraid any one
who may have read 1t would think you
kept queer company"
The maid appeared in answer to the
bell.
Jane" said Dick, holding up the let
ter. who brought this?"
"The gentleman wrote it here, SIR"
Excuse me-" said Mr.. Wickerby, in
terrupting. but should like to ask
her question or two; I'm used to this
kind Of thing, you know"
"All right" said Dick; you'll do it
better than should"
The lawyer turned to cross-examine
Jane, who was beginning to be
alarmed
what gentleman" he asked.
II don't know his name, sir"
did you know him by sight?"
eyes, sir; he came here once, week
ago, with Captain Estcourt"
What time was 1t when he wrote the
letter."
"About 1880 in the morning, sir, as
near as I could say"
Ibid you see him fasten itAup?"
Eyes, sir; brought him the wax and
held the taper myself"