Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-21

tit W lAi- httg " WIN Dhf 1tNfNIhAN
that you would unfold your plans to me
on the evening of Desrolles' visit. AS
it is. you have told me the bare facts
of the case. that is ALL"
II have no plans as yet" said Fergus,
testify, though he WINGED under the
calculating gaze of his friend. Il must
see the fellow first alone. OF course.
you are at liberty t. hear all that pass
rs. but you must not appear on the
scene until later. / must see him first
and find out what his game is. If his
demands are too exorbltant, which I
shrewdly expect they will be, then"
Again he paused, and looked furtively
NJ Mordant. We'll, you know we have
both risked and suffered too much to
have our substance suuandered by Il
%yagabond like Desrolies. We must pro.
tect our interests
"Certainly-by all means observed
Mordant, drily. II begin to follow
you. Then. IL you want my services, 1
shall be within call. Hush, | hear a
step on the walk outside He started
up and listened. Eyes; here he comes,
il | mistake not. Now, mind. l shall be
within earshot all the time, and if you
want me you can rap upon the table.
thus"
As he spoke he disappeared behind
the curtains of the oriel window. and
Fergus Thunder stood awaiting his Wis
| itor alone.
In another moment the glass doors
leading into the garden were pushed
| oren, and a short, thick-set man, with
keen. dark eyes, and a heavy black
moustache waxed into sharp points,
entered the room.
"Ah, my friend. Punctual 10 my APP
pointment.r' he exclaimed, throwing
aside his travelling coat and approach
ing the fireplace where a handful Of
| cmbers still ~smouldered. 'You ex-
pecfed me? Yes! Then why didn't
you keep in the fire? The wind is
enough to cut ones eyes out. Well,
how has the world wagged with you
all these years? You don't look the in
valid you led ny to believe you We're"
he said, scanning Fergus Thunder's
hard. evil face mistrustfully. 80 you
and that very ill-favored devil, Nor
dant Cain. parted company years ago,
or so / understood from your commune
c~ations?"
Fer u motioned his ~interlocutor TO
a seat, but ignored his last remark.
How am L? As well as | can ex-
pect TO be. suffering as | am, under the
weight OF a crime OF which | am inno-
cent, but for which | have had to pay
so dearly
Innocent laughed Desrolles, Gym
Ically. Innocent, my friend, when |
discovered you and Caliban IN fancy
name for your accomplice) actually en-
gagged in dispatching your victim?
Ahf ltyf eDranixyg tho nfFpnufn.xv ~
your Wanted ~innocence.,'
Well continued Thunder, suIlenly.
innocent or guilty, | can submit TO
your matchmaking no longer. l grant
ed you an interview on purpose THAI
We might come 10 a definite under
standing
You granted, my friendg' interrupt,
ed Desrolles, Struggling his shoulders.
Surely, 1t is for me to dictate and you
to comply. Now | want a bulk sum
down-a good. substantial sum. GER
tainly. But II you agree to the amount
| will write for you an acknowledge
ment of the same, and absolve you
from any further trouble in this mat
ter"
He paused. but as his vis-a-vis made
no sign, he proceeded, with a quiet
smile of confidence:
By the terms of the wills OF your de-
ceased wife and her brother, 1 gather
that you have the command Of their
united money, until your daughter,
Elsie, is of age, after which time she Is
10 nave sole and absolute use Of her
fortune. This much, my friend, 1 have
ascertained by applying at Doctors
Commons TO see the original docu-
ments."
"WeLly' questioned Fergus, 'and
since you know so much, what use are
you going TO make of your informa.
tom"
-This much" continued Desrolies.
smiling; you are in the receipt, until
the young lady is OF age, of a very
handsome income, the greater part on
which you are doubtless putting by
against a rainy day-eh, is it not SO?
Now you II raise for me somehow,
during the next month, fifteen thou
sand pounds. Nay"-hoIding up his
hand TO arrest the words on the others
lips-with fifteen thousand pounds |
a embark upon a most hignly-lucra-
tive enterprise, which, il successfully
worked. viii bring me both wealth and
position. That sum you mus find
within the next month.
And IL | refuse, emphatically, what
them" said Fergus, keeping a watch
full eye upon the oriel window, the eur
tains OF which swayed "A little.
Then | can furnish particulars TO
Scotland Yard, which viii be damna
tory enough 10 hang both you and your
friend Caliban," said Desrolles, sar-
donically. Mind, | do not wish 10 do
this. Tor a live dog is better than Il
dead lion, but | am determined you
shall not play fast and loose with me.
Fifteen thousand pounds, or'-tapping
a pocketbook he carried In his breast
pocket-'two little harmless looking
articles l have carried about with me
we since the night Of that upfortun-
ate little occurrence, shall be lodged at
Scotland Yard, together with all the
information my excellent memory can
furnish
He looked up smilingly at Fergus,
but with a certain confidence that his
terms would be complied with, that
exasperated Fergus. DesroIies had
seated himself with his back 10 the
oriel window. He repeated his ques-
ton.
II refuse. absolutely and uncondi-
tionally,' said Fergus, a fierce light