The Yale expositor., 1899-01-20
CHAPTER H.-Continued.l

Eyes, yes; know you mean to pay
me-if you can. But, look you, Myn-
heer Philip, it may be some time be-
:ore you sell the cottage. You may
not find customer. Now, never wish
to 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,
but to a good Catholic To help you
* your strait, 1 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
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 a relic
was considered very valuable, he had
no doubt but that it would again fetch
a considerable sum. Tempted by the
sight of it when he entered the cham
Der Of death, he had taken it from the
neck Of the corpse. and it was then
actually concealed IN his BOSOM so he
replied:
My offer is a good one, Mynheer
Philip, and you had better take it. or
what use is such trash?"
II tell you no." cried Philip in
rage.
We'll, then, you will let me have it
in my possession till l am paid. Myn-
heer Vanderdecken-that is but fair.
must not lose my money. When you
bring me my three guilders and half
and the vial l will return it 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.
Ger by"
There was no occasion for Philip TO
finish the imprecation. The doctor
had FASTENED away with such alarm
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 if so inclined, from replacing
it 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 it. He
opened the curtains-the corse was laid
out-he put forth his hand to unite the
back ribbon. 1t was not there. "Gone!"
exclaimed Philip. "They hardly would
nave removed it-never would-It must
be that villain Poots-wretch! but |
will have it, even il he has swallowed |
X, though tear him limb from limb"
Philip darted down the stairs, rush
cd out of the house, cleared the moat |
at one bound and, without coat or hat |
flew 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, |
should his theft be discovered, he oc-
casionally looked behind him; at |
length, to his horror, he beheld Philip |
Vanderdecken 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 |
keep possession of what he had stolen, |
or at least make some terms ere he |
restored 1t.
Mynheer Poots had need to run fast, |
ard so he did, his thin legs bearing |
his shriveled form rapidly over the
RTOuuu, Dul imp, WIZ, wien he VIII |
messed the doctors attempt to escape.
was fully convinced that he was the
culprit, redoubled his exertions and |
rapidly came up with the chase. When
within a 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 pursuer; and Poots shrieked in his
fear, like the hare in the jaws of the
greyhound. Philip was not 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
passed over his body, tripped. and after
trying in vain to recover his equilib-
rum. he fell and rolled over and over
This saved the little doctor: IL was
like the double OF hare. In a second
no was again on his legs, and before
Philip could rise and again exert his
speed, Poots had entered his door and
A A. ma. 4 |