The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-05-31
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Continued ]

Continued
ssNo, no; you are quite mistaken, doc
tor. exclaimed the man, all his Wild
! ness of aspect returning and his eyes
cleaning with mad terror and sus-
Sicion. There's nothing in it-noth-
ding at all, except what little money !
have, and IA few curios I picked up IN
my travels. Let me have it at once,
please at once, without single mo-
ment's delayw
Don't be In a hurry said Richard
<sIt IS quite safe, assure you. Il It
4 be Of SO little value as you say, why es ex.s
cite yourself about it? How much
might there be in 1t, then? It seemed
20 me pretty heavy" 3
aOh, very little; but as 1t is all !
have in the world, you needn't wonder
that am anxious about It, must ask
You to give 1t to me at once; IT Will
make my nind easier. 4 .s5
Don't be uneasy; give you my
word it's quite safe. Look here. I'm
rather fancier of curios myself; l
don't mind giving you ten pounds on
spec for the belt just as it stands. II
you tell me it is worth more, will give
'<t to you.
II Wouldn t take ten pounds: not that
1T is really worth more, but there are
things in it that have a special value
for me- I shouldn't think Of selling It
on any terms, and ! must again ask you
to let me have it In my own posses
sion.
II will give you hundred, said
Richard mischievously, "and ! Will let
you retain anything in It that you wish
specially to keep.
81 tell you am not going to sell It on
any terms whatever" rejoined the
other testify, $50 we had better drop the
subject. And beg you will give IT TO
me now without any further delay.
.sYet should think hundred
pounds would be something OF con-
sideration to man who has parted
with the very last rag and stick he can
spare, said Richard. Come, my
friend, you may not meet such q
chance again; what do you say to five
y hundred pounds? 2" II
cdr Falconer," replied the man ex-
,citedly, either this is q very bad Joke
or you must have lost your senses. For
Che last time ask you to restore my
property. If you do not, will at once
walk out Of your house and put the
matter In the hands Of the police. Give
mo what belongs to me and let me go
Very well, Z, said Richard, you shall
I nave It at once. He left the room and
lreturned in minute with the belt and
pistol In his hands He found his pa
tfent already half dressed With fren-
xied haste he made q grasp for the belt.
but Richard caught him by the wrist
and held him as If In vice, while he
said sternly
Listen to ME, madman! You act as
kf you think I want to rob you. Why,
you IDIOT, II that had been my design 4
need not have SO much as lifted a
finger; had nothing to do but to sit
still, and you would have been dead by
this time, and nobody to ask single
question about you. Instead Of that, ]
have brought you to my house. have
restored you to life and you repay me
with insult and abuse. Even yet, IL I
wanted to possess myself Of this pre-
.cious belt, should only have to go TO
the nearest magistrate and certify you
insane, to have you shut up in lunatic
asylum for the rest Of your days.
Much attention there would be paid to
your rawlings about being robbed Of
gold and jewels! That Is what I could
ldo If were the villain you think me.
Take your belt and be ashamed OF
yourself, you ungrateful wretch" and
he flung 1t with crash upon the floor.
One Of the pouches burst open and
hhe guineas rolled out in a golden
stream. With shrek the owner flung
himself upon his knees to clutch them,
when his new-found strength failed
qiim all at once and he rolled upon his
face in dead faint.
Richard knelt down, turned him upon
mis- back, and sprinkied q few drops
from the Watering upon his face AS
he did so he was startled to hear a
knock at the door of the room. Going
hastily to open 1t, ne found Mary, in
= q
a dressing gown, d paper In her hand,
her eyes wide open with anxious sus-
pense. 5E5
ooh Richard. haven't been able to
sleep all night she cried. "and just
now heard loud voices and q scream.
What has happened? Is anything
wrong?"
'sDon't be frightened. darling, said
Richard. You have come just in time
to help me In restoring this man, who
has tainted Is there any brandy in the
.cellarette?"
yes, Just q little. Shall I go and
fetch it," ~
Please do so.' She turned to go
down stairs, and Richard closed the
door and made haste to pick up the
coins which were scattered over the
floor. 'sBest she should not see them, !"
he said to himself as he returned them
to the pouch and fastened the belt se-
curely round the patients waist.
Come in, Mary" in answer to another
knock. ttAhi you have the brandy.
Stop! not that way" as she was put
ting a wine-glass to his lips; she won't