Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-05

TeIOrteu SOTuelluS, IOluluS HIS ASeu
slowly and pointing at him. Don't do
it; it amt wise. What says / mean;
amt goin' to take nothin' on my
shoulders as don't belong to me- So,
drop that little word U.S. 1t amt ap-
propriate. More than that'-he spoke
with sudden fierceness-"say it again,
an I've done with yer!'
Come, Cornelius, you don't mean
that, L INSURE" said the other, in a
changed voice. You wouldn't go back
on one who is prepared to do as much
for you as 1 an-would you? Come.
you shall be rich-as rich as am you
shall never want for anything. Don't
be fool Cornelius; you and have too
much at stake to quarrel New let us
l beg your pardon. I'm sure-let me dis
cLss the match clearly"
Cornelius, somewhat Modified, sat
down and prepared to listen; Leath-
wood, With an evil glance at him. pro-
cee6ed to state what he wanted and
what he intended.
In the first place, Cornelius, you
know that this girl comes here to-
night: in order to allay any possible
suspicion she may have, you will meet
her at the station-an old family ser
want, and all that kind Of thing. 1 have
managed the matter very carefully; I
have told her in writing, that she is to
meet Gilbert Rickerby at this house to-
night: that have arranged that they
shall both be here at the same time.
Well, they will both be here at the
same time"-he laughed and glanced
at his companion-"but I'm afraid they
won't meet-eh?"
Il don't think they WILL" replied Cor
nelius, with a chuckle.
after that, when the girl arrives, 1
shall, of course. explain the death of
her lover: his burial; can show her his
grave, if she likes. Remember, Cor
nelius. she hasn't friend in the world
except myself: bear that we'll in mind.
She comes here alone; being of age,
she can do as she likes. Do you follow
me, Cornelius ?"-he sprang up from his
chair and brought his hand down heav-
lily on the old mans shoulier-''the
thing is done! Gilbert Rickerby is
gone: everything that should have
been his-everything he was coming
home to claim-is mine; fortune-girl
The gel-as a gel-don't appeal to
me-" said Cornelius. somewhat scorn-
fully. I've always found as 'ow gels
is apt to get in the way. I on'y made
one mistake in that way myself-and
it's lasted me a lifetime"
Nugent Lethwood turned upon him
quickly. 'By the way-that reminds
Jemima-what about her?"
la
Cornelius, res entfully. "Aint it enough
for a man to ave the thoughts of such
wife, without bein' reminded of it?
What about 'er?''
81 mean-is she safe? Remember,
we can take no risks; that old woman
is about the house all day long-an
night long, for all that 1 know. What
if she should"
Cornelius waved his hand inpatient
ly. There amt no fear" he said.
THAT there woman is of such a stony
nature that it's my belief that, il she
saw you a-cuttin' up a person into
inches. she'd git a basket and collect
the bits. Nothin' moves 'er-leastways,
was never able to. She 'asn't no SOUL
'asr't Jemima.''
Lucky for her!" muttered Nugent.
'By the way it was strange you should
come together again, after so many
years. Quite accidental"
Yes, quite accidental" replied Cor
nelius, thoughtfully. 'I married Jemi-
ma when was quite a young man
some said 'andsome; she was reported
to ave bit laid by. She must ave
laid it by pretty carefully, for I never
saw it. Anyways, she 'ad son, an
soon after that I left err
"And came back again."
Eyes. She'd been in service ere with
Mrs. Rickerby. left 'er ere; came
back twenty years after-an ERE she
was still. She told me the boy was
gone; what she meant by that never
asked. 1 thought she might ave an
other bit put by-but 1 'aven't found it
yet"
well, never mind about that said
Nugent, quickly. "You won't need it;
I'll swear you won't need it. Only
want to be sure that the old woman is
safe"
Make your mind easy" replied the
other. what few wits she ever 'ad
took good care to worry out of 'er long
ago. Now, I'll so an look after this
gel. What's she like to look at?"
Very pretty, very slight, and very
dark; you'll know her easily enough
there's not likely to be more than one
girl waiting about Paddington, looking
for someone to meet her. I'd go my
self. but that I want to allay any sus-'
picicns she might have. Besides, you
look so Internally respectable, Corne-
Illus, when you haven't got that grin on
your face, that she's sure to believe in
you. Tell her, when you meet her, that
I'm here, entertaining her lover. Don't
forget that, Cornelius; entertaining
ha! ha!-her lover!'
Cornelius, muttering choice opinions
about "gels" in general, and this one in
particular, set off upon his errand; and
Nugent LeathWood was once more left
alone. But to be alone in that place
seemed unbearable. He went out into
the garden and walked there restlessly
under the stars.
ut has been cleverly done," he NUT
tered, as he walked among the dead
leaves and stirred them into heaps with
his feet; 'cleverly done, indeed. I
made it all so public-advertised so
freely, was so ready to give the fullest
information to every pressman who
came upon the scene-that I'm the last