The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-05-31
(Continued.)


ness Of aspect returning and his eyes
cleaning with a mad terror ard sus-
picion. There's nothing in it-nCth-
ing at ALL except what little money l
have, and few curios / picked Up in
my travels. Let me have Ii at cnce,
please-at once. without singh rao-
ment's delay"
Don't be in hurry" said Richard.
cit is quite safe, | assure you. II 1t
be OF so little value as you say, why ex-
cite yourself about it? How much
might there be in it. then? 1t seemed
to me pretty heavy"
ooh, very little; but as 1t is all
have in the world, you needn't wonder
that am anxious about it. i must ask
you to give it to me at once; it will
make my mind easier"
Don't be uneasy; l 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 1t stands. If
you tell me it is worth more, will give
1t to you"
81 wouldn't take ten pounds; not that
1t is really worth more, but there are
things in 1t that have special value
for me. / 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, land l will let
you retain anything in it that you wish
specially to keep"
IL 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"
"Yet ! should think hundred
pounds would be something of con-
sideration to a man who has parted
with the very last rag and stick he can
spare" said Richard. Come, my
friend, you may not meet such
chance again; what do you say to five
hundred pounds?'
"Dr. Falconer," replied the man ex-
citedly, "either this is very bad joke
or you must have lost yonr senses. For
the 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
me what belongs to me and let me &c"
very WE'LL" said Richard, you shall
have it at once" He left the room and
returned in minute with the belt and
pistol in his hands. He found his pa
tient already half dressed. With fren-
zied haste he made a grasp for the belt,
but Richard caught him by the wrist
and held him as If in a vice, while he
said sternly-
Listen to me- mailman! You act as
II you think l want to rob you. Why,
you IDIOT, If that had been my design
need not have so much ais 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, l have
restored you to life and you repay me
with insult and abuse. Even yet, IL
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 l could
do IL / were the villain you think me-
Take your belt and be ashamed of
yourself you ungrateful wretch" and
he flung it with crash upon the floor.
One of the pouches burst open and
the 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
him all at once and he rolled upon his
face in dead faint.
Richard knelt down, turned him upon
his back, and sprinkled a 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 ii, he found Mary, in
q dressing gown, paper in her hand,
her eyes wide open with anxious sus-
pense.
"Oh Richard! I haven't been able to
sleep all night" she cried, land just
now / heard loud voices and a scream.
What has happened? Is anything
wrong?"
Don'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?"
Eyes, just a little. Shall l go and
Fetch it,"