The Red Cloud chief., 1899-02-03
CHAPTER II.-CContinued.)

khU Utos
Eyes, yes; I know you mean to pay
me-if YOU can. But, look you, Myn-
beer Philip, It may be some time be-
sore you sell the cottage. You may
not find n customer. Now, / never wish
20 be hard upon people who have no
money, and I'll tell you what I'll do.
There is something on your mothers
neck. 1t is Of no value-none at all,
hut to q good Catholic. To help you
In your strait, l will take that thing,
and then We shall be quits You will
have paid me, and there will be an
end OF It."
Philip 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 It Immediately. Your
money shall be paid"
Now. Mynheer Poots, in the first place,
knew that the setting of the relic.
which was in a square frame Of pure
sOid, was worth much more than the
sum due to him; he also knew that a
large price had been paid for the relic
1tsels, and as at that time such a relic
was considered very valuable, he had
no doubt but that 1t would again fetch
. considerable sum. Tempted by the
sight of Il when he entered the cham
Der Of death. he had taken 1t from the
neck OF the corpse. and IL WAS then
actually concealed in his bosom; so he
yeplied:
MY offer Is a good one, Mynheer
Philip. and you had better take it. or
what use is such trash?"
81 tell you no." cried Philip in n
rage.
well, then, you will let me have It
in my possession till l am paid. Myn-
heer NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Is but fair, I
must not lose my money. When you
hiring me my three guilders and a half
and the vial / will return It to YOU"
Philips indignation was now without
bounds. He seized Mynheer Poots by
abe collar and threw him out OF the
door. away, Immediately" cried he,
cor by"
There was no occasion for Philip 20
Anish the i%mprecation. The doctor
had fastened away with SUCH alarm
ahat 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, ven IL so inclined, from replacing
1t on the corpse.
The result of this conversation nat
urally turned Philips thoughts to the
relic, and he went into his mothers
room to take possession OF II. He
opened the cu%rtains--tbe corse was laid
out-he put forth his hand to unite the
black ribbon. II was not there. Gone"
exclaimed Philip. They hardly woull
have removed it-never would-lt must
be that villain POots-wretch! but
will have II, ever II he has swallowed
II. 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
dew away In the direction OF the doc
tors lonely residence. The neighbors
sav him as he passed them like the
wind: they wondered and they shook
their heads. Mynheer Poets wal not
more than half way to his home. for
he had hurt his ankle. Apprehensive
Of what might possibly take place,
should his theft be discovered, he oc-
casionally looked behind him; at
aength, to his horror, he beheld Philip
yanderdecken at a distance, bounding
on in pursuit of him. Frightened al
most out Of his senses the wretched
pilferer hardly knew how to act; to
stop and surrender up the stolen prop
erty was his first thought. but fear Of
Vanderdecken's violence prevented
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 a condition to
keen possession OF what he had stolen,
or II least make some terms ere he
restored Il.
Mynheer Poots had need to run fast,
and SO he did. his thin legs bearing
his shriveled form rapidly over the
ground; but Philip, who, when he wit
messed the doctors attempt to escape,
VA fully convinced that he was the
culprit, r~edoubled his exertions and
rapidiy came up with the chase. When
within a hundred yards Of his own
door Mynheer Poots heard the bound
sng 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 pursuer; and Poots shrieked In his
~~Year. like the hare in the Jaws Of the
greyhound. Philip was not a yard
from him; his arm was outstretched.
when the miscreant dropped down par
alyzed with terror; and the impetus OF
vanderdecken was so great that he
yassAd owe his body. tripped, and after
-L-- L. xatv 40 uonnvar HE anntlth-