Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-11-21

turned "a little winter than before and
| glanced. behind him. ~
Now mark this. A man has but ono
chance of life. so far as reckon 1t. on
|. this earth: that chance is mine now.
This girl is nothing else than mere
schoolgirls; this property is more than
either of you suspect. Between that
girl and that property and myself
stands an unknown, And that
unknown .man enters this room in five
minutes"
The younger man OF the TWO listen
ecs. seeing his face at that moment,
half cried out and started to his feet
Nugent Leathwood stepped forward
and caush, him by the shoulders and
forced him down again.
sit down: what have you to be
frightened of? This man is nothing to
anyone: if the old man hadn't acted
like fool the son would have been
wande-er now. and a penniless wan
cerer at that have never seen him,
but know his fondress for mystery
and for hiding and skulking about the
world. This visit of his tonight will
be mere flying one; he chooses his
hour and he comes alone. No one
I A1ioSS l!- IL LII EaSidl1d 44S lS.lS ItiS liz
this letter that he has no wish to see
anyone but myself; that the associa-
tions CT the old place are too painful:
that he desires soma private talk with
NE. and then TO go away again"
/ 1t was curious that not one of the
trio spoke definitely as to the business
in hard; it was merely tactily under
stood among them. There was long
and awkward pause; and then Nugent
Iearhwood said his final word.
!. -Undersrand-thiS business is mine:
I've set my hand to it. and I don't turn
back now. I am obliged to have you
here. tha pair Of You: there must be no
noise. and may not be able to do what
l want alone. There is nothing TO fear
nothing u worry. about. Bah. why
dc man make such q fuss about mat
tiers OF this kind? The only mistake is
in being found out. If Gilbert Rickerby
nau come. back openly. and in the light
of DAY ali would have been we'll: he
CHOOSES. TO, sneak back at night like a
thief; and. he must take the conse-
quences. Now, Cornelius. be ready for
the gate-ehs hour has struck. Remem-
Der. Cornelius. you bring him up stairs
and lead the way into the room. There's
the bell
Without word Cornelius got up
slowly from his chair and shuf1ed
across the floor, opened the door, and
disappeared into the darkness of the
staircase. They heard his SLOW feet 60
ing down even while the bell was shak-
ing its last notes on the silence. MI
gent Leathwood had slipped across to
thu window and was peering out into
the darkness.
There they come he whispered. II
can see his lantern lodging about
among the trees His voice shook a
little. despite his endeavor to keep it
steady.
But you-you say you don't-don't
know the man, master?" whispered
Probyn. where he stood, near the table,
gripping it.
What the dickens does that matter"
exclaimed the other. impatiently. do
you imagine that two men would come
to Rickerby's Folly at midnight, calling
themselves Gilbert Rickerby? Now,
then-here they Gomez
The two men waiting above heard the
lower door closed with hang; heard
the grumbling voice Of old Cornelius
cursing the wind. Then, as the men
stood up. trembling. near the table, the
other got over against the wall. and lit
orally behind the door which gave on to
the staircase. In the horrible, deathly
silence that reigned in the room they
could distinctly hear the shutting feet
of the old man coming up: but no other
sound Then, in a moment, the old
man came into the room, holding be-
tween finger and thumb a little white
piece Of pasteboard. Nugent Leath-
wood darted forward at him.
Where is he? What have you
done?'
Comm up answered the old man.
ST said I'd go up an see if you was at
'onne. 'Ere's is card-all right an
square. you see
Nugent Leathwood merely glanced at
it, and set his teeth. Good. Call him
up"
Cornelius went to the door and thrust
out his head into the darkness: called
out. in the blandest. sheeriest fashion
Come up. sir-come up. Mind the
stairs, SIR
So the three waited while brisk steps
were heard on the stairs, steps that
kept time TO the heart-baats Of two of
them, at least. Then the man crossed
the threshold quietly, looking straight
in front Of him. The first face he saw
was that of Miles Probyn-looking not
at him. but at something Or some one
over his shoulder; and the face was SO
ghasrly and SO terror-stricken. that the
man swung round instinctively to look
behind him. And then, in a moment,
he was battling frantical!y for his life.
The shock Of it had taken him abso-
lutely by surprise. To be caught in a
grip like that-a grip that was slowly
but surely choking the life out of him;
and to see as he swayed about, with ev-
erything distorted and red-streaked in
his agonized vision, only two faces be-
sides that of his murderer. looking
calmly on, and making no attempt
either to assist him or his assailant,
broke down whatever of energy he
might have had in sheer wonder. But,
as the grip frightened the fierce instinct
to battle for his life came more fully
upon him: he strove to loosen the cruel
hands from his throat-strove 10 speak
o., to cry out. Slowly and reIentlessly.