Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-14
CHAPTER Iv-scontInucd.,

And your viii IL TO possess yourself
of her fortune-ehT said Fergus,
watching his friend from Under his
penthouse brows. But how about
me cannot allow you 10 forget my
claims, Merchant. for, in the ven o.
your marrying the girl, | shall have 10
further interest in the property. The
five hundred a year ! have for her
maintenance is some consideration, you
know. Ii means two thousand pounds
Out OF my pocket If you marry her be-
fore she Is Of age. And | must have a
good lump SUM II | nm 10 assist you.
II have not forgotten. You need give
yourself no trouble on that head. II il
10 my interest to work on the square
with YOU he observed, quietly.
YES, you are right. Ii would never
do for friends to fall out-especially
when they have worked SO long togeth-
er-eh, MariantE"
The other affected not 10 bear the
cynlcism in his friends voice. He
walked ON with his hands behind his
back. and his bright. dark eyes fixed
on the ground. at length he spoke:
ut will be TO your interest. Fergus.
TO aid me in this. The old debt still re-
mains, you KNOW
49, CfAAsb VI $50 49, -
turned Fergus Thunder. with sudden
resentment flashing from his eyes.
I'VE have neither OF US a clean record.
Don't let us cross swords, Mordant.
We have both our own secrets to cor
ceal.r
-Eh. truly: but yours Is a veritable
banshee." sneered Mordant. cycling his
friend askance. AN uncomfortable
Jack-in-the-bo sort OF difficulty-ai-
ways ready 10 pop up ut an inconyen-
lent time, and confront you"
plague take you, Merchant. you're In
an evil mood to-day. Can't you let
sleeping dogs lieTT
mot when it's to my interest 70
wake them mp for defensive purposes
said Mordant, recovering his temper, rs
the other waxed wroth. when Des
ROLES IL under ground q great many
dangers and complications will be at
an end; but, until then. Fergus. until
that much-desired event occurs. we
shall have TO pull together for veal or
NOE. ua, baH' ne laughed. enigmat-
ically, I'VE are both in the same boat,
Fergus, both In the same boat. and a
precious ieaky concern ID is getting.
How much has our expensive friend
trawn from the general purse this year,
ell, Fergus?'
'sUp to the middle of this month?
Well, l am not sure that IL Is not eight
hundred pounds. Eight hundred pounds
In less than three months, Ii is abso
lutely ruinousr' exclaimed Fergus,
fretfully. And we, like toads under a
harrow, and have to grin and bear it"
do toads grin when under the har-
row. questioned Mordant. drily.
s'Really. now, 1t Is interesting TO learn
that they take 1t SO philosophically.
YeS. as | was saying, a great rnnny
complications might be averted IL Des-
ROLES were under ground. A pity we
ever let him get away with so portable
and valuable a commodity as the
knowledge OF a crime, ell. Fergus!,.
Yes, an infinite pity" ~acquiesced the
other, sardonIcally. 1T would have
been-could we have foreseen how
things turned out-so Easy. so safe TO
have removed him from our path, and
thrown the onus Of the guilt upon him.
Dead men tell no tales, and IL he didn't
deserve hanging. he will some day. A
dog. to keep us paying ~hush-money for
upwards Of twelve years
Yes observed Mordant, a peculiar
smile curving his thin lips as he looked
Mt his friend. "Since your wife's death.
You would have been n wealthy man
but for this drain upon your purse"
Fergus had turned absolutely livid.
Don't talk to me like that. Haven't
lived n living death for years. and all
to keep our secret: How should we
have kept that fellows tongue quiet
all these years IL ] hadn't found some
means Of satisfying his ruinous
nIofntg9 Won ora aS narnh nr moro In
terested in his continued silence than |
am. Why do you always taunt mey'
II am not taunting you. only it's no
good trying to deceive oneself. To re.
turn TO the primary object under dis
cussion: 1t will not do to let this girl.
Pansy yereker, out OF sight. She u
not be allowed to form any friendships
or make any acquaintance, or we shall
lose all control over her and her non
ey."
1.-The girl Is safe enough here"
growled Fergus. But IL you think I'm
going to aid and abet you IN persuads
geinis 70 aid and abet you In persuad-
Ing her TO MARTY you. you are very
much mistaken. When she Is of age,
you can do as you please: but. bear la
mind that, until she Is 0ne-and-twenty.
shall be In the receipt OF five hun
bred a year for her maintenance; and
1 think you will admit that, all things
considered, I'm not In a position to
throw away a handsome income"
you faith does not seem to have
been strengthened by our long friend
ship" remarked Mordant, cynically;
but still l think you might trust me to
give you your fair share Of the proper
ty thus secured TO me. However, IL
you have no such confidence, l can but
repeat that 1t Is unalterably my inten-
ton to make Pansy vereker my wife,
and thus place her whole worldly
goods Mt my disposal"
"And IL /, as her guardian, refuse my
consent, you'll have no option but 10
wait until she Is of age said Fergus,
testify. ~ am master Of the situation,
80 far, and l intend to remain so. Nor
dant.''
"Pshaww exclaimed Mordant, con-
~tcmptuousiy. You are not such a fool,
Fergus, as 10 stand In my way; unless,
indeed. you have Interior motives your.
self. But that game would be a bit too
risky-eh. old frienaf''
81 have no Interior motives" re-