Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-03-10
CHAPTER XVI.


Clovis ground his teeth with yexa-
ton when Ursula's piteous cries re-
sounded IN his ears. For the moment
he did not know what to do: and he
allowed Kisch to drag him up TO the
floor above that he might have time to
consider his position.
The capture ana Imprisonment of
Ursula had been his w idea. but he
had never anticipated that her con-
finement would last more than a few
days. by this time he bitterly regret
ted that he and his confederate had
had recourse to such violent measures,
and Ii he had been left TO himself he
would have allowed the girl to go free
long ago. More than that, lie had now
become convinced, that, incomprehens.
ible as It seemed, Ursula did rot in
truth know what had become OF the
diamonds. There was, in his view, no
object in keeping her prisoner any
longer: the difficulty had been TO per
ssuade kisch that TO confine her AIRY
longer was not only n crime, but a use
dess crime and Diunder.
After considering the matter for q
i minute or two Clovis came TO the con-
clus.on that II was by no means n bad
thing that Ursula had heard his voice
on the stairs. He would now be able
to force the obstinate old man to do as
he wished.
s.We shall have to let her go, now"
he said to Kisch, with an affectatioR of
discomfort in his manner.
II don't see that at ALL"
"She knows now that / am aware
that she Is shut up here, and 1t must
be my part TO release her-not a bad
part to play, by any means" he added
70 himself.
AYE, and who gave you the right TO
dispose OF her in that wayT' asked the
Jew, with rising temper.
you know very well that. from the
first. 1t was part of Il agreement that
she was to be kept in complete ignor-
ance that l had anything to do with
her being brought here"
And whose fault is it that she did
known D
THAT is no matter. She does know,
and that Is enough"
are anxious to retain her good
oplniont.%f suppose Z" sneered Kisch.
sTerhaps. It's no business OF yours"
4 ~'What do you mean to do?'
II mean to have her out of this"
Anu tHioN AWAY an VIC HdNt
doneg'
"Man don't you see that every day
YOU keep her here you are running Il
great risk and all for nothing? She
has no more idea than | have where
the diamonds are"
"Y.Qtl did not talk like that when you
pressed. me TO kidnap her"
mo: because | then thought she had
the stones. Now | am sure she knows
nothing about them. But | have made
up my mind. l must take her away ut
once"
"WhenY'
Tomorrow morning"
"And how am / to know that she viii
not inform the police"
1--WE will drive her off in the brouy
ham with the blinds down.
But she knows well enough that |
brought her here confound you! Whit
IL she does not know what house she
has been confined in? The police will
soon find that out
ut will be your own fault IL they
ind out anything at all. Leave 1t TO
me. l Will manage 1t so that she will
Fever appeal to the police"
And what il l say No?"
1T VIII make no difference"
won't it? | have the key of the
room and
"Don't be a fool man. cried Clovis,
with a snarl that frightened Kisch into
submission. Il am so sick of this
whole business that If you say another
word I'll go straight to the nearest POI
lice station, and you'll have the col
stables here In less thar an hour"
you will never DO that. You will
never play the traitor! BY Jove, IL
thought you were In earnest you would
never leave this room alive!'
Clovis laughed aloud, turned on his
heel and went slowly down stairs.
He stopped at the door of Ursula's
room and tapped softly on it.
The girl had by this time recovered
from her faint. She heard the tap and
few to the door.
"Wbo is thereT' she cried, eagerly.
1T Is I--Eugene Clovis. Are yo,.
really there, Ursula? What are you
doing here?"
''They decoyed me here and shut me
up, all alone, till 1 should tell them
what had become of the diamonds. and
! know nothing about them
A sob shook the poor girls voice, but
she had resolved that at this crisis She