La Junta tribune., 1898-12-03
(ContinL

NO, no, you are quite rhlstdneh' uos-
tor" exclaimed the man. all his Wild
meas Of aspect returning and hiS eyes
cleaning with a mad terror and sus-
ric!on. There's nothing In it-noth-
ing at all. except what little money
have. and few curios I picked up In
my travels Let me have II at once
pIease--at once, without single mo
ments delay"
Don't be in hurry" said Richard.
"ti Is quite safe, | assure you. IL II
be OF so little value as you say. why ea-
cite yourself about It? How much
might there be in It. then? II seemed
TO me pretty heavy"
oh. very little: hut as II Is all
have In the world, you needn't wonder
that am anxious about IL must ask
you to give It to me at once: II will
make my mind easier"
Don't be uneasy. / give you my
word It's quite safe. Look here. I'm
rather a fancier OF curios myself:
don't mind giving you ten pounds on
spec for the belt Just as It stands. IL
you tell me 1t is worth more. ! will give
1t to you
Il wouldn't take ten pounds: not that
1t is really worth more. but there are
things In 1t tina; have special value
for me. shouldn't ,hink OF selling IL
on any terms. and ! must again ask you
TO let me have It iD my own posses
sion"
Il will give you hundred, said
Richard mischieyousiy, and ! VIII let
you retain anything in 1t that you wish
specially TO keep"
II tell you ! am not going to sell 1t on
any terms whatever rcjoined the
other testify. $50 we had better drop the
subject. And ! beg you Will give It TO
me now without any further delay"
Yet ! should think hundred
pounds would be something OF con
sidcratlon to a man who has parted
with the very last rag and stick he can
spare" said Richard Come. my
friend, you may not meet such
chance again; what do you say to five
hundred pounds7'
DIR Falconer." replied the man ex-
citedly either this Is a very bad joke
or you must have lost your senses. For
the last time l ask you 10 restore my
property. II you do not. will at once
walk out OF your house and put the
matter In the hands OF the police. Give
me what belongs to me and let me go.
VERY we'll" said Richard, you shall
have 1t at once" He lef, the room and
returned In a minute with the belt and
pistol In his hands. He found his pa
tient already half dressed. With fren-
z!ed haste he made grasp for the belt.
but Richard caught him by the wrist
and held him as II in a vice, while he
said sternly-
Listen TO me, madman. You act as
II you think want TO rob you. Why,
you IDIOT. II that had been my design /
need not have so much as lifted a
finger: had nothing to do but to sit
still, and you would have been dead by
this time, and nobody to ask a single
question about you. Instead OF that. !
have brought you TO my house. / have
restored you to life and you repay me
with insult and abuse. Even yet, IL |
wanted to possess myself OF this pre-
cious belt, / should only have TO go TO
the nearest magistrate and certify you
insane. TO have you shut up in lunatic
asylum for the rest OF your days
Much attention there would be paid to
your rawlings about being robbed Of
gold and jewels, That is what could
do II | were the villain you think me.
Take your belt and be ashamed of
yourself. you ungrateful wretch" and
he flung 1t with crash upon the floor
One Of the pouches burst open and
the guineas rolled out IN golden
stream. With a shrek the owner flung
himself upon his knees to clutch them.
when his newfound strength failed
him all at once and he rolled upon his
face In a dead faint
Richard knelt down. turned him upon
his back. and sprinkled a few drops
from the Watering upon his face. AS
he did so he was startled to hear a
knock at the door OF the room. Going
hastily to open 1t, he found Mary, in
dressing-gown. paper in her hand,
her eyes wide open with anxious sus-
pense.
"Oh, Richard! l haven't been able to
sleep all night" she cried. "and Just
now I heard loud voices and a scream.
What has happened? Is anything
wrong?"
Don't be frightened. darling" said
Richard. You have come Just in time
to help me in restoring this mar, who
has tainted Is there any brandy in the
cellarette?"
"Yes, Just q little. Shall l 60 and
fetch it7'
"PleAse q 20" She turned to 20
down-staiA. s1d Richard closed the
door and Dods hAste to pick up the
coins whlEA vK0 scattered over the
floor. -BAse a. alould not see them"
he saif 10 htmasif as he returned them
to the pouch and fastened the belt Sc
curely round the patients waist.
Come ia. Mary" In answer to another
knock. 'Ahi you have the brandy.
.A~