The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-16
CHAPTER XIX.
AMATEUR DETECTIVE woRl

AMATEUR WORK.
This was a queer ending to my crude
bit of amateur detective work. | had
hoped to track my man to his W den.
and all that | succeeded in doing was
to follow him into an ice hole. and very
nearly into the next world.
chafed the fellows limbs and tenn
pies as we'll as I could. The exercise
warmed me. and the treatment appar-
entity suited my patient well enough.
for he soon revived and sat up. looking
round him in a puzzled way. and shiv-
ering.
"Do you feel we'll enough to stand
up and walk?' I asked. 9TH give You
an arm"
"What has happened7 Where are
WEI" he said, "And who are you?'
"Well," I said. laughing. 1--WE just
had the pleasure Of pulling you out Of
the water, into which you did me the
honor to drag me. As for what hap.
pened. / followed you down the quay
for reasons of my own, and you, having
a guilty conscience, suppose-for
know no other reason-refused to be
overtaken and ran souse into an ice
hole.
II remember, " he said. II thought
was gone more than once. How did
you pull me out? Idon't recall it some
how"
"Does it matter since out you are
and safe on dry land. or rather iceF
Come, get up and III take you home
and you shall change your clothes. Your
teeth are chattering like c%astanets."
II have no clothes but these and no
fire in my ROOM" said the fellow.
~ don't think ! shall ever be warm
again. But I'll get into bed If I can
travel 80 far, Don't think me migrate
full. I am very much obliged to you for
pulling me out. I'd rather die Of cold
ct home. or hunger either, than drown
like a rat under the ice. BAIL The idea
IL sickeningi"
"Look here" I said. an idea striking
mi. If your place Is so cold and un.
comfortable and you've no change Of
clothes. you shall lie up for a few days
at my house. You shall be fed well and
have a good rest. When you feel all
right again, you shall be free to 60. Do
you consentf"
"But stopl Why all this7 Who are
you9 You pulled me- OFT Of the water
Ut some risk, and ! am grateful for it,
but when you come to offer me these
other kindnesses ] don't know what to
think. am suspicious Of your good
faith. for, after all, why should you
treat me In this way-a total stran-
gerf
''There 10 a certain service which I
think you can render me II you like,
] said. II will tell you that much. I
would gladly keep you in luxury for ten
years II l could obtain certain informa.
ton from you which you may or may
not be able to give me! There, ! am
open with You, You see."
"Goodl ! will be as open with you.
See herel ! would sell my soul for ten
years Of luxurious life, If there ia any
information that 1t is in my power to
give you and You are prepared to pay
we'll for It. you shall have all I have to
tell you and ! shall make the terms all
the easier because you logged me out
Of yonder death trap, But why should
particularly I-be able to give you
the information you desire2 Are you
sure that / possess itP"
mo, ! am not. Still you are sure to
be able to afford me some satisfaction,
II you cannot tell me all l wish to
know, Step out quicker. The faster we
60 the sooner you shall have a warm
voom and some dry clothes and a full
meal
"A hot meal-hot meat. and so onY
said the student, looking wolfishly at
me, "and perhaps a glass Of wine or
good beerP'
"Most certainly" | laughed. III
you fancy it, why not2 Are a good meal
and a glass Of beet so unwonted a lux.
ury to your
II have not eaten a really full meal
for two years, at least, That which /
eat scarcely serves to keep body and
soul together.
"Are you SO terribly poor then 2"
asked. ! had never seen such poverty
] had always had plenty of the best Of
everything and had never consequently
realized what the want Of good food
meant,
"God knows how | live. " shivered
the student, ~ don't"
We were now on the Palace quay and
rapidly approaching our big house-the
very place he had last left before we
had both started upon our wild and i'll
omened race,
"Where are You taking me tor" he
said.
ITO my home. Of course. +" I replied.
with a laugh
(Which house Ia it2" he said, hang.
Ing back a little "Not this huge one
the Landrinof mansion"
"Yes, certainly. Why not' ! am
Count Boris Landrinof, and You shall
b my guest, as ] promised. :"
he stopped On the doorstep, shivering