Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-07-28
CHAPTER =. continued,

source or 0lnEcr 10 MN, WONlu NefV
soon be beyond the reach alike of Ash
croft and of the police. Nay. V e were
the ruffian to be so strongly suspected
as to be traced and brought back. he
would serve as an admirable 'scaDe-
goat" So that, upon the whole, the in
teryiew had been quite satisfactory.
and the twenty-five pounds must be re-
garded as money well invested. When
within sight OF Deanshurst the boy
was dismissed. the richer BY five shil-
lings for services rendered.
HALFWAY mp the avenue he encoun-
tered Ashcroft. who touched his can
and wished him good-afternoon, with
marked ~cheerfulness Of manner.
IF | might take the liberty Of saying
so. Mr.. Stephen" he remarked, with
the air OF one qualified TO give advice.
IL would not allow the inquest verdict
to trouble me, If | were you
1T doesn't answered stephen, calm
ly. why should it,
"Oh. of course. | meant on your
brothers account, sir" explained the
game-keeper. IF the police are salts
fled with it. | amt. As sure as I'm n
standin' here, Ii wasn't the Major AS
fired the shot-accident or no acct
dent
Stephen started. He could rot help
IL. There was such a ring OF absolute
conviction in the mans voice. But he
quickly recovered himself. and In
quired whether he had succeeded in
identifying the footprints.
Ashcroft INDUCED in a low chuckle.
"Come. Mister Stephen. give me n
chance he rejoined, with a knowing
wink. Il amt got quite that far yet.
But what would you say IL | have the
owner of the hobnail shoes safe under
lock and key within a week.
II should say you are a remarkably
clever fellow answered s tephen,
scarce able to repress a sheer.
1T don't do To move until you're quite
sure remarked Ashcroft. ssgely.
But I'll drop upon Hobnails, or my
name amt what I've always thought
Ii was. He's a bad lot. all r~ound-that
is. liz | I'm on the right track"
Something there was IN the game
keepers manner that. to Stephens sus-
picions nature, suggested a deeper pnr-
pose than his words conveyed. and.
whatever this purpose might be, he
was resolved TO know 1t.
II scarcely follow you. Ashcroft" he
said. CHANGING carelessly at his watch.
You strongly suspect someone, whom
you describe as a bad lot OF "A terrible
crime, yet you postpone ~denouncing
him for a week. Why Is IL that you
need time TO convert your suspicious
into absolute proofsy"
Ashcroft surveyed the lawyer with a
look or almost insolent admiration.
".Not quite that, sir" he made answer:
81 have proofs enough. Guess again.
~ -. wx.a.. .x~. 1tA.A,
knew now that Ashcroft suspected
him. as well as the poacher. and wished
him to understand this without putting
IL I'm pain words.
Il am a very poor hand at riddles"
he said. pale to the very Inns. '"Tell
me. straight, what you mean"
The ~gamekeeper coughed a little I'M
easily; n holder man than he might
have hesitated TO tell the owner of
those dark, menacing eyes. and of the
stern. hard-set face, the plain, unmiti-
gated truth.
There's some things best, not spoke
too loud, Mr.. Stephen" he rejoined,
CHANGING around with affected caution.
land least said soonest mended. AfoTe
the inquest you asked me TO say moth
In bout those foot-marks. so as not TO
make no further scandal: an / done
'2actly as you told me. didn't I. sir?'
YES" assented Stephen, "'you did.
What them
1--WE. sir, ten pounds be ten pounds.
of course. But il seems to me that If l
could fix the crime of which Major
Deane is wrongly accused, | ought TO
make a sight more nor ten pounds out
o. the job. Amt that In reason?'
"WellT' The monosyllable was
snapped out with almost savage alb
ruptness.
"Weli, sir. 1t struck me as how you
might feel sartin the Major III be ac-
quilted right enough, without no help
from me, and that to avoid further
scandal. tas you calls tn. you might
wish me to go on holding my tongue.
/ felt pretty sure you wouldn't let me
lose nothin' by obeyin' you, an your
moneys as good as the Majors any
day. So / just made up my mind I'd
ask you to let me know within a week,
what vow want me TO do. own | beat
round the bush a bit at first. but I
guessed you'd bring me up to the
scratch.
'.why delay a week for my decis-
ionY'
Zoos gentlemen don't generally ear
ry much money about with them IL
their portmantles. an thought You
might want a few days to get 1t in."
every considerable on your part was
Stephens comment upon this candid
explanation. "And at what figure do
you estimate your serviccs-or your ST.
lenceg''
1.-Two hundred pounds said Ash.
croft, promptly. II was a greedy
man, sir"
stephen paused. just long enough TO
make his decision appear a deliberate
one. ''You are right in supposing thar
/ have not such a sum with me-" he
said. at length. .Yon shall have it
within three or four days
sNo hurry. SIR" rejoined Ashcroft.
$50 long as It's understood atween us.
Take the week, ii more convenient.
Meanwhile, I'm ranm, an don't know
nofhin'.r
"'Be Ii so, them" said Stephen. with
a curt nod of farewell.
"Good-day to you. sir. an thank'ee,''
sAid the ~gainekecper.
And SO they parted the Wolf and the
Ele~uth-hound.