The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-05-18


boards. but I'm told that what l need
Is little actual experience of the real
thing-a taste of the atmosphere, 30 to
speak-before | venture on a profess
sional engagement. fancy / have a
fair opening, but want to make sure
of the necessary confidence before
hand; and Tn prepared to pay. Now,
l know your part-I've taken it in anna
teur affairs over and over again, and
this idea has occurred to me. There's
a good fellow! Just for to-night's per-
formance-and here's a eco note to
show you I'm in earnest. Surely you
can't afford to sneer at that! Well!"
Heaven knows, l could not. The
mere crackle of the note set my heart
thumping-it would more than buy
something that Mollie, poor girl, had
sighed for in her dreams for long
enough. And yet--the bare audacity
of it!
"Why, how-how the dickens could
it be done?' / gasped. You don't sup
pose for a moment Usher would al
low it. even if I"
Certainly not!" He got up and
leaned over the table impressively.
TIN not fool. Usher won't know-no
one need know, unless you like to tell
them. Leave that to me. We're much
of size; / shall go, roughly made up
as yourself; and more-I'll forfeit an
other eco if anyone finds out There!
I've made it my business to find out just
where you dress, and where the prop
fooling. Here, turn round and count
just SOL"
He whipped up small bag. And
well, was that taken aback by his man
ner that / turned away, as he directed
till a voice made me spin round in
credulouSly.
awhile he sleeps! My lord, have
risked my mere life over and over again
at your bidding, but you ask me to risk
my precious soul. 1t must be done?
There is no one else? Then-then /
must obey. Give me the gold; now the
lamp; and now--unless my arm fails
me, by dawn madam shall be free to
marry whom she will. He shall sleep
the sleep that knows no waking!'"
The fawning voice, the gesture, the
hypocritical compunction, the whole
make-up-it was my own Cripps, the
valet, to the life. l stood fairly stag
gered- Clearly enough. he had the part
by heart; only my simple consent was
Irv~uNu. s~e--- -,:--~l -, lC
had taken that in way that | could
never afterwards properly understand
much less forgive myself fos.
"That good enough?" He pulled off
the gray wig. "Think you risk much?
] challenge anyone in that house to find
out Come! Let me play Cripps this
evening, and there, I'll make it thirty
The moneys down."
Thirty pounds dangled before man
earning just 40 shillings week! The
temptation was as strong as it was ex-
traordnary, and 1 suppose my fingers
closed over the notes. At any rate, my
substitute for the occasion was at the
door. ! recollect his final words as he
went out:
$50 | should think Then you'll have
night off, and I'll have a night 'ou'--
and no one viii be the wiser. Five
o'clock I've barely three hours. Oh, /
shall manage. I've thought it out.
Good night, Mr. Rodney. We shalt
crack our sides over this some day, you
and ~
lie was gone ] lit the lamp, and
there ] sat. trying hopeiessly 10 fathom
the man and his motive. Mere than
once was on the point Of rushing after
him, but ( 80! lingering those fas-
cinating notes, the time simply few by
uoheeded. It must have been near seven
O'Clock when the sight OF Aioliie in the
doorway made me start mp uncomfort-
ably.
''That you, Alec? Good gracious,
you'li be late! i gentleman been TO see
YOU on business? Why, you're as pale
as possible. Showing him in here, too!
The room hasn't been touched for q
fortnight---I was going TO turn it out
thoroughly tomorrow! How annoy
ing-it always happens 50! just look
at the dust here, thick as possible.
Nhatin the world must lie have thought
Of mel"
Should ] tell her? She had turned
up the light and seized a duster. A mo-
mcnt more and the table M least would
have shonc. buC something caught
Moilie's eve. and arrested the sweep Of
her arm,
"Wcil, 7 declare! Look at that"
She was pointing TO the distinctimpriut
of two hands on the mahogany. made by
my visitor when he leaned across to iue.
"Jusl reminds me Of that man Nopuru
--Ushe1's stage m&nager ont in Mel
bourne Horrid fellow! Went OF, with
all our months salaries--an9 then tried
to shoot Usher because he wouldn't
take him back. Deserved 10 starTc out
there. The Same finger, too, ] believe.
Thats funny!"
Yes, it was funny; at least, rs |
stopped. know my pulse had quicke1ed
before fairly gasped that the quercst,
most tateful coincidence had come
about that night. There were the marks
Nf ba r