Hutchinson gazette., 1898-10-13
(Contlnued,)

tor" exclaimed the man, all his Wild
ness Of aspect returning and his eyes
cleaning with a mad terror and sus-
piclon. "There's nothing In it-noth-
Ing at all, except what little money |
have, and few curios picked up In
my travels, Let me have II at once,
please--at once, without q single mo-
ment's delayW
Don't be In a hurry" said Richard,
ut is quite safe, assure you, II II
be Of so little value as you say, why ex-
cite yourself about IL? How much
might there be in 1t, then? II seemed
to me pretty heavy"
"oh very little; but as It Is all /
have in the world, you needn't wonder
that am anxious about It, / must ask
you to give II to me at once; It will
make my mind easler."
Don't be uneasy; give you my
word It's quite safe, Look here, I'm
rather fancier Of curios myself; /
don't mind giving you ten pounds on
spec for the belt Just as It stands. II
you tell me II is worth more, will give
1t to you"
II wouldn't take ten pounds; not that
II 10 really worth more, but there are
things In II that have a special value
for me, / shouldn't think OF selling II
on any terms, and / must again ask you
to let me have 1t in my own posses
sion."
II will give you hundred" said
Richard mlschievously, "and / will let
you retain anything in 1t that you wish
specially TO keep"
II tell you am not going to sell II on
any terms whatever" rejoined the
other testify, $50 we had better drop the
subject. And l beg you will give 1t to
me now without any further delay"
"Yet / should think hundred
pounds would be something Of a con-
sideration to q man who has parted
with the very last rag and stick he can
spare,'" said Richard. Come, my
friend, you may not meet such a
chance again; what do you say to Ave
hundred pounds?"
"Dr, Falconer," replied the man eX-
citedly, "either this is a very bad joke
or you must have lost your senses, For
the last time / ask you to restore my
property. II you do not, l 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 60"
"Very we'll" said Richard, you shall
have 1t at once" He left the room and
returned in minute with the belt and
pistol in his hands. He found his pa
tient already half dressed. With fren-
Eied haste he made a grasp for the belt,
but Richard caught him by the wrist
and held him as II in a vice, whllc he
said sternly-'
"Listen to me, mailman! You act as
II you think want to rob you. Why,
you IDIOT, II that had been my design /
need not have 80 much as lifted
finger; ] had nothing to do but to sit
still, and you would have been dead by
this time, and nobody to ask 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, II
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 lunatlc
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 gulneas rolled out in q golden
stream. With shrek the owner flung
himself upon his knees to clutch them,
when his new-found 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 sprlnkled few drops
from the water-jug 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
o dressing-gown, paper in her hand,
her eyes wide open with anxious sus-
pense.
"Oh, Richard! I haven't been able to
sleep all night" she cried, "and just
now I heard loud voices and 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 man. who
has tainted. Is there any brandy in the
Cellarette?"
eyes, Just little. Shall l 80 and
fetch it,"
"Please do So" She turned to 60
downstairs, and Richard closed the
door and made haste to pick up the
coins which were scattered over the
floor. BEST she should not see them"
he said to himself as he returned them
to the pouch and fastened the belt Sc
curely round the patients waist
Come in, Mary" in answer to another
knock. "Ah! you have tho brandy