The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-12-21

t. find a policeman; then we might
stand some chance of the reward. One
hundred pounds, Mrs. Reeks. I neve,
had $40 in n moment in all my life
Lex alone ten times ten"
There was another long silence, while
Mr.. Rickerby looked at the scrap of pa
per-holdirg it alternately close to his
eyes and at arms length, as though to
get the full, dazzling effect of it. Final
lily he put it down with a sigh and shook
his head.
IT'S no good, my DEAR" he said.
1.-THE rran has gone; If he wanted 10
put in an appearance, he would have
dcne 1t before this-if only for the sake
OF that e100: I'd have put in fifty ap-
pearances for that amount"
Mrs. Reeks was thinking hard. She
sat, with her chin on her hand, staring,
with knitted brows, at her husband,
and now and then slowly nodding her
head. At last she spoke:
George Reeks-it seems to me that
there is something to be made Of this
Mr.. Reeks sat upright and looked at
his wife.
"Think hard, Mrs. r." he said; you
have a wonderful mind, If you care to
put yourself to it. Think hard"
II am thinking harder thar I ever
thought in my life before, George
Reeks," she added, nodding at him with
much gravity. II always said that I
ought to have been the man, because I
have got the headpiece."
True, my love-most true,' replied
Mr. Reeks, admiringly. "And what
says that neadpiece?"
at says, in the first place, George
Reeks, that this Mr.. Gilbert Rickerby
went away from here in a most desper-
ate hurry; and 1t says, further, that he
left belongings inc papers behind
him.
STEADY, Mrs. R.-go steady; I'm
getting excited!" broke in Mr.. Reeks.
More than that" went on Mrs.
Reeks, rising and pointing aloft, like q
prophetic spirit; lit says h a those pa
Iers are up stairs, in his room, now;
that he is disposed of, or keeping away,
for his own purposes; 1t says, also,
h a we want to know what is in these
papers, and what bearing they have on
this advertisement, and on a certain
reward of e10O. That's what it says,
George Reeks; what do YOU think. Of
it,"
Mr.. Reeks had risen, also, in his
growing excitement; but he quailed be-
fore the infinite possibilities which
seemed to be opened out in the larger
mind of his wife. "What-what ought
we to do?'' he asked, feebly.
Mrs. Reeks had but one reply. She
steIred forward quickly and grasped
him by the arm. "Come up stairs" she
said, in a tragic whisper.
They went up together; hesitated for
a moment at the door of the room; and
Their went in-Mrs. Reeks first. Mrs.
Reeks carried a candle; and the place
although it was but a comfortably
furnished, middle-class room-had
something of an eerie appearance, by
reason of what was in their. minds;
perhaps they had thought that the mys-
FERROUS Gilbert Rickerby might start, at
any moment, from the shadows, and
confront them.
On a table near the window, were
spread some papers, which had been
pulled, hurriedly, out of a leather writ
ing. case and left exposed to view. On
these Mrs. Reeks pounced at once, seat
ed herself In the chair by the table, and
began to read them.
ITO begin with-a diary" h whis-
pered. 9Th elast page unfinished, with
a line broken off in the middle"
Read tread it, Mrs. r." said
George Reeks, in a trembling voice.
Mrs. Reeks read:
Tonight I will put the theory of my
life to the test; tonight I will give the
lie to all those croakers who say that
there is no truth in man or faith in wo-
man. I did wrong to bind an innocent
girl to me, by a promise she was unable
to keep. Tonight I will play the fairy
godmother, and cry, God bless you, my
children!' Tonight some of the old
mistakes, born in me and bred in me by
q selfish father, shall be swept away
and atoned for. I go to meet the man
who loves my dear girl; I go to. give her
to him. God bless him If he be worthy
Of her; God help him if"
Here the entry b., X off abruptly, as
though the writer had not quite made
up his mind how to express what he
felt. Mrs. Reeks laid her hand on the
Iiary and loked Up at her husband.
Now, the thing is pretty clear, so far
as we can judge" she said. HE told
you, if you remember, that he had but
just returned from abroad; that he was
unknown in England. 1t is evident that
the entry refers to an appointment he
was to keep; the advertisement tells us
that he did not keep it. Now, he left
this house intent en- keeping that ap-
pcintment; he was in such a hurry
about it that he would not stop to finish
what he was writing or to put away his
papers. The fact remains that he did
not keep the appointment; the further
fact stands that the appointment was
so important that the other party is
willing to pay e1O0 to see him. Do you
follow me?"
IA little, my DEAR" replied Mr..
Reeks. "You go at such a fearful rate.
that it is difficult to follow you at ALL"
He leaned his head upon his hand In a.
state Of bewilde1ment. "What do you
expect me to do?"
Gin the first place, George Reeks."
said Mrs. Reeks, in a business-like tone,
two things are clear. This diary sug-
gests that Gilbert Rickerby knew very
little, If anything, about the mar he
was going to meet; the advertisement
suggests that the man he was to meet
knew very little abou him. Very well,
then; here is my proposal"
make 1t as easy as you can, my
dear" pleaded Mr.. Reeks.
. Its as easy as winking II you put
your mind to it," replied Mrs. Reeks.
sternly. "You shall answer this adver-
tisement; you shall find out how the
land lies; you shall, If possible, claim
to. know more of this Gilbert Rickerby
than you really do; and you shall. If
possible, get the reward" Mrs. Reeks
--k Ia--H- H. A. ~I-S. &~rI@S L@~ - rNoo