The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-12-28
By Q
CHATTER vII.-tcontinued.)I

~ - Ct1AE"IEkH sHT1
"a pretty plot. upon my word" was
1eathwood's comment, as ne nodded to
MI. sReeks over his folded arms. $50
you see, knowing only part OF h story.
you thought you would trade on your
knowledge of the man: perhaps you
thought you'd frignten something ont
OF mech: Now-do I look like a man
to be frightened casily?"
mo; I should say not" said Mr..
Reeks. meekly.
and I should say not" retorted the
other. Now, I don't mind telling you
that, in spite of this lamentable break
Gown OF your part, and in spite of my
being able to see wiat a poor creature
vol are. I think there is money in this
for you after all-perhaps more than
there would have been II you had mere
dy succeeded in securing the reward.
Only, l warn you: If you are of use to
me. I'll serve you well. But I must have
h whole truth out Of you"
M. Rocks began to protest. almost
with violence, how very sincere he was
by nature, and how greatly he regretted
that he should eve have lapsed, even
Tor IL moment. from the strict path OF
rectitrde; but Nugent Leathwood cut
d:n. Snort.
''Tf.erc-enough of that. In the first
place 1 want to know under exactly
what circumstances this ledger of
your came to you; who saw NV
knew him-whom he met. Now, then.
begin at the beginning"
He came to me first .or the recom-
Nendation Of mis- eryant. who knew nie
ssliently-What's the matter?"
Nugent Leatnwood had turned alb
ruptly. and was staring at the little
man with wide eyes. Ills what?"
Ellis servant repeated Mr.. Reelts.
''1,hey came together, II took the
rooms together; on the night that you
tell me he was killed in the street, Mr..
Rickerby went out with his servant
and neither of them ever came back
again" .
Good heavens!'' The man who had
been sitting on the table got down and
stood perfectly still in the middle of the
o for a few moments. staring before
hin and muttering to himself. II new
er thought of that: I w dreamed
that Gilbert Rickerby, coming here III
secret, landing in England almost un-
Known to anyone, should have anyone
with him! What the dickens does 1T
mean? Gilbert Rickerby dead; Gilbert
Rickerby advertised for, far n wide;
get this confidential servant. who actu-
ally went out with him, on the night he
came here, says nothing, does nothing,
makes no stir in any way. What have
T done? This man, whose existence /
never suspected-this SER. ant, may be
watching and waiting; laying traps for
me" He turned swiftly to Reeks, who
.~.as staring in a bewildered fashion at
him. "Youw say you have seen moth
eng Of the servant since? Be careful
wnat you say!" B
From the moment they left the
house together, or that night when
they were coming to you"
"How do you know they were coming
90 me?"' asked the other, quickly.
Mr.. Reeks discovered that it wanted
more courage than he was at that mo-
meht possessed of. But, after a sleep
less night, and the discovery that the
morning brought nothing better than
two irate tradesmen, who told him pref
~ roundly what they thought of him,
he determined, in desperation, to see
what could be done; in h event OF
failure to personate Gilbert Rickerby
he felt that there might be some pros
pect of trading uEon his knowledge OF
h diary and the papers,. and screwins
some money out of someone. Waiting
until nighfall, he made himself as re-
spectacle as a limited wardrobe would
permit and set off for st. Johns Wood.
Now, there are many ways Of getting
Camden Town to st. Johns Wood.
II one has leisure, and the weather be
aine, 1t is possible to walk. and to note.
AS one walks, of the change Of each
,nefghborhood as it merges itself into
che next; OF. there ore omnibuses which
strike a path into the heart of the mys-
lerious region, and seem to lose them
selves and their passengers in 1t. Or,
there are cabs, which may be had for
.fhe heiling, at street corners, and which
will deliver ne, as 1t were, within an
.1n.:i1 OF the spot one desires to reach.
Mr.. Reeks. knowing well the depth of
hia pocket, and having private reasons
Of his own, decided to walk.
But, as has been said, Mr.. Reeks was
not a courageous being; and. moreover.
he had before him a difficult task.
Therefore, with q laudable desire to
keep up the small measure of courage
1c possessed, he stepped into. the first
public house he saw and partook OF GER
tain strong liquors. Indeed, after that
he may be said to have punctuated his
4erratic path with such pauses; SO thai,
by the time he had arrived at the gate
OF Rickerby's Folly. he was prepared
TO swear positively, not only that he
was the real Gilbert Rickerby, but that
he wasAnyone else who might be rug
Eested to him at the moment. 81
Cornelius admitted him; Cornelius
saw him 90 swaying unsteadily up The
garden towards the house, Cornelius
aishered him into the room wherein Nu-
-xnv STnafhuy cot 1,;ifh tho safunn1a