Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-26
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By TOM GALLON
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at the moment who he was or what he
said. However, precautions had to be
taken; Leathwood came slowly toward
the swaying figure, and stood before it,
with his hands thrust in his pockets,
and stared at him leisurely.
so you are Gilbert Rickerby, are
you?" he asked. quietly. welcome,
Mr.. Gilbert Rickerby-blck from the
grave! Do you understand me?-back
from the grave, I say!"
"What-what d'you mean?" STAN
merered Mr.. Reeks, par tly-sobered by
the manner Of the other and by the
words.
II mean that Gilbert Rickerby is dead
died nearly week ago. that he lies
in his grave and is almost forgotten by
this time. Where have you been wan
dering, you mailman, not to know
that?"
Mr. Reeks opened his mouth as If to
say something, shut it again hurriedly,
and turned and made for the door. But
before he reached it, however, the hand
of Nugent Leathwood fell upon his
shoulder and twisted him round, and
the eyes of Nugent Leathwood We're
looking into his qualing ones.
Don't run away" said the quiet
voice. There is some game on here
which do not understand. Come, now,
who rut you on to this game, and who
are you. really? You are not Gilbert
Rickerby; Of that am certain. But
you know something about him. Why,
don't you know that Gilbert Rickerby
was young man of twenty-six?"
Mr.. Reeks nodded feebly. about
that, ] should think" he said.
"Oh! so you know him, DO you? This
grows interesting. Come, sit down. my
friend, and let us hear what you have
to say for yourself" He pushed the
reluctant Mr.. Reeks into a chair, and
seated himself on, the edge of the table
close beside MIN. Now, let me hear
what YOU have to say about this Gil
bert Rickerby."
George Reeks saw, only too plainly,
that he was in a remarkably tight
place: even in his muddled state, at the
moment he was quite capablec of recog-
nizing that fact. Moreover, this calm
man, With the quiet voice and the dark
hair had abou. him certain sense of
power that was not to be denied. There
fore. with some attempt to treat the
matter as a mere joke, and with many
labored apologies for the mistake he
mad made. the little man made a full
nfession--pointing out how he had
been tempted by some faint hope of the
! reward Which was offered. Nugent
Leathwood listened with the closest at
! embarrassing a question now and
then, and occasionally breaking in with
J a short, dry laugh. At the end of the re-
| cital the little man sat covering in his
chair, fully sobered, and wondering,
| dimly, what was going to happen
"Hc left it in writing; I have found
papers in which he sets out clearly
what he is going to do-mentions a
| girl, among other things"
"a girl? Yes. I suppose he would
| mention the girl,' said sLeathwood,
tnoughtfully. Look here: must have
| what. he has written. Where are they
now"
cat my house, replied Reeks.
| HAS anyone seen them, other than
yourself?"
"Only Mrs. Reeks-my wife"
"Reeks!" He seemed to ponder over
the name for a moment, as though it
woke some train of thought in his
1Al4l1u. " Cll-lo yOuI VILE ShlC.
mean," he corrected himself, hurriedly,
sis she likely to talk about matters
! which do not concern herself? Does she
understand the necessity for being 81
! lent sometimes, if she is we'll paid for
being silent?"
| Mr.. Reeks nodded, solemnly. eft
would be difficult to find anyone who
/; could bottle herself up more completely
"a R1rc no
! said, proudly.
! Good. By the way, your name seems
| familiar to me somehow. What is it,
| again."
"Reeks-George Reeks.'' replied the
little man, glad to be able to proclaim
! himself under his true colors.
George Reeks!" Nugent Leathwood
| turned the name over and over in his
| mind for a moment, then, suddenly,
| started and clapped hand to his head.
by love. the man who went with me
| to the funeral the man who picked
| up He did not finish the sentence,
| but, after moments further thought,
| he sprang fiercely upon the astonished
| Mr.. Reeks and gripped him by the col
| lar.
"You fiend!" he breathed. What
trick are you playing upon me? You
come here, proclaiming that you are
Gilbert Rickerby; you tell me a yarn
about servant of the dead man whom
no one has seen since his masters
death; now you say that your name is
the same as that Of a stranger met at
| the hospital. and who followed-fol-
| lowed Gilbert Rickerby to the grave.
In Heavens name, who are you-and
| what do you know"
IL assure you," suffered Mr..
Recks, in an agony of fear, that / was
was - bap y tized George surname
Reeks-at-the P-p-parish &C.
| church,
There, that'll do cried Leathwood.
fiercely, shaking hinpinto silence. II
believe you're too great fool to know
| how to play such a trick. But there's
something I don't understand; and l
mean to get at the bottom of it. Now,
tell me: what sort of man was this ser,
want" At all costs. he must be found.
| What manner of man was he?"
"Well," began Mr.. Reeks, thought
fully studying the other; II should say
he was a man OF about your height
dark. quick manner with him, clean
l