La Junta tribune., 1899-03-25
CHAPTER lL.-lcontinnedl

"a u sts. sN9s hAS" Su hANah W pN'
efme-if you can. But. look you, Myn-
heer Philip. it may be some time be-
fore you sell the cottage. You may
$not find customer. Now. l never wish
'sto be hard upon people who have no
4 money. and I'll tell you what I'll do.
4Tbere is something on your mothers
4 neck. 1t is of no value-none at all.
but to a good Catholic. To help you
in your strait | will take that thing.
and then We shall be quits. You will
have paid me, and there will be an
end OF 1t.
Il Phillip listened calmly: he knew to
what the little miser had referred
the relic on his mothers neck: that
very relic upon which his father swore
the fatal oath. He felt that millions
of guilders would not have induced
him to part with it.
Leave the house." answered he.
abruptly. Leave 1t Immediately. Your
money shall be paid
Now, Mynheer Poots, in the first place.
knew that the setting of the relic.
which was In square frame of pure
gold, was worth much more than the
sum due to him: he also knew that
lArge price had been paid for the relic
itself. and as at that time such relic
was considered very valuable. he had
no doubt but that II would again fetch
a considerable sum. Tempted by the
sight OF 1t when he entered the cham
Der OF death. he had taken 1t from the
neck OF the corpse. and 1t was then
actually concealed in his bosom: SO he
replied:
My offer Is a good one. Mynheer
Philip. ard you had better take it. or
what use is such trash?"
II tell you no.' cried Philip in u
rage.
"weh, then. you will let me have 1t
in my possession till am paid, Myn-
heer Vanderdecken--thati is but fair.
must not lose my money. When you
bring me my three guilders and half
and the vial will return 1t to you"
Philips Indignation was now without
bounds He seized Mynheer Poots by
the collar and threw him out of the
door Away. Immediately" cried he.
''or by"
There was no occasion for Philip TO
finish the imprecation. The doctor
u8Q u68t6Hca away Nttn b1Sa A1oA ~
that he fell down half the steps of the
staircase and was limping away across
the bridge. He almost wished that the
relic had not been in his possession:
but his sudden retreat had prevented
him, even II 80 inclined. from replacing
1t on the corpse.
srhe result of this conversation nat
urally turned Philips thoughts to the
relic, and he went into his mothers
room to take possession of 1t. He
opened the curtains-the corse was laid
out-he put forth his hand to unite the
black ribbon. 1t was not there. Gone"
exclaimed Philip. "They hardly wouli
have removed it-never would-It mus;
be that villain Poots-wretch. but
Will have 1t, even II he has swallowed
1t, though tear him limb from limb"
Philip darted down the stairs. rush
ed out. Of the house. cleared the moat
at one bound and, without coat or hat
few away in the direction of the doc
tors lonely residence. The neighbors
saw him as he passed them like the
wind; they wondered and they shook
their heads. Mynheer Poots was not
more than half way to his home. for
he had hurt his ankle. Apprehensive
of what might possibly take place,
sh6uld his theft be discovered. he oc-
casionally looked behind him; at
length, to his horror, he beheld Philip
Vanderdecken at distance. bounding
on in pursuit of him. Frightened al
most out Of his senses the wretched
piIferer hardly knew how to act; to
stop and surrender up the stolen prop
erty was his first thought. but fear Of
him; SO he decided on taking to his
heels, thus hoping to gain his house
and barricade himself in. by which
means he would be in condition to
kesp possession Of what he had stolen.
OF at least make some terms ere he
restored 1t.
Mynheer Poots had need to run fast.
and 80 he did, his thin legs bearing
his shriveled form rapidly over the
grDnnd: but Philip. who. when he wit
messed the doctors attempt to escape,
was fully convinced that he was the
culprit, redoubled his exertions and
rapidly came mp with the chase. When
within . hundred yards Of his own
door Mynheer Poots heard the bound
ing steps OF Philip gain upon him. and
he sprang and leaped in his agony.
Nearer and nearer still the step. until
at last he heard the very breathing of
his pursusr: and Poots shrieked in his
fear. like the hare In the jaws Of the
greyhound. Philip was mot yard
from him: his arm was outstretched.
when the miscreaut dropped down par
afJzed with terror; and the impetus Of
vanderdecken was 20 great that he
passed over his body. tripped. and after
trying in vain to recover his eQuilib-
rinm, he fell and rolled over and over.
This saved the little doctor: It was
ike the double Of . hare. In second
~ a.na aRnfn on hin legu and haSnne