Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-12-26

the picture OF the surprised, pleading,
distorted face: Lut 1t had been so hor-
rible that, after the first moment, he
had averted his own from it.; and, in
removing the body, had been careful TO
cover that ugly thing. So that 1t is not
surprising that he should not have rec
ognized the careless description given
of the man by Reeke-a description
which might, moreover. apply equally
well to a hundred men meets or the
street every day. He shook his head in
perplexity.
mo. that's not the man at all. But I
think / see daylight on this matter. and
1t means black midnight to me, If I'm
not careful" he added, under his
breath. "All that / know is that a
nan giving 0 u name, picked up
well, picked up Gilbert Rickerby in the
street, and look him to the hospital;
followed him TO the grave with me. I
asked his name, and he said George
Reeks.' A tall, fair man, with a tanned
skin, as though he'd been abroad a lot
lair mustache-and a deep scar right
across his cheek bone: not a disfigur-
ing scar, but enough to be noticeable"
While he spoke Mr.. George Reeks had
been drawing himself more and more
upright; had the other man looked at
him, he would have observed that the
lite man was clutching each side of
the seat of his chair with his hands,
while his eyes seemed almost to be
starting out of his head. Fortunately
for him, however, Nugent Leathwood
did not look around: still keeping his
eyes on the floor, he asked, quickly:
d you know any such man as
THAR"
Properly, Mr.. George Reeks ought at
once to have said YES" But he saw
himself in serious difficulties if he did.
He had heard already that Gilbert
Rickerby was dead; that this man now
talking to him had seen him die, and
had followed him to the grave. Yet he
knew, with absolute certainty, that the
description given of the man who had
declared he was George Reeks was a
very accurate description of Gilbert
Rickerhy. And that man had followed
some other Gilbert Rickerby to the
gravel Poor George Reeks felt his
brain reeling; for the moment he was
roc at all certain who he was or where
h vas or what was happening; or how
many Gilbert Rickerby's there were,
III INV" AiA$AAAJ "a "a fSA~ ~ 1880
how many dead. He decided to get out
of the tangle as easily as possible.
"No-not-not exactly" he replied.
"But it's certainly not the s~ervant-not
a bit like him."
Wen, it's a puzzle, that's all 1t is"
said the other. After a few moments
thought, he turned abruptly TO Reeks,
and spoke with a frankness he could
assume easily enough when ne liked:
Forgive me-" he said-"I forgot N.Y.
self just now; but i shall hope to make
amends in the future. AS a matter of
fact, / am placed in a great difficulty
and I think that you are the man to
help me. Now, / would not ask anyone
to help me without ar adequate pay
ment; you shall not suffer on that &C
count"
"You are very good" began Mr..
Reeks, mildly.
"You have certain papers belonging
to the late Gilbert Rickerby. AS his
cousin, and the next-of-kin as regards
the estates, / could claim these papers;
but that would be a hard and ungentle-
manly thing to do-and I am dealing
with a gentleman" He bowed. with a
flourish OF the arm, towards Reeks.
Thank you; you are extremely
good" said Mr.. Reeks, again.
mot at all. In a word, I desire to
behave handsomely. / know that you
will not talk about matters which do
not, after all, concern you; and I am,
therefore. the more disposed to deal
generously with you. / will buy those
papers from you; more than that, I
will pay for them with a sum OF money
which was found at the hospital on the
person of the unfortunate Gilbert Rick
erby-a sum OF e500."
Now, this was, Of course, absolutely
untrue; the sum OF money in question
had been found in notes on the person
OF poo James Holden, whom he had
murdered.
Really, this is very generous"
gasped George Reeks.
Not ct all. I desire merely to do
what is right. / pay for certain papers
belonging to a dead man, with money
left behind in my hands by that dead
man: that is ALL" He might have add
ed that he had the superstitious fear of
the murderer, of handling money taken
from the dead; more than a supersti-
tious fear-a fear hat it might lead, in
some way, to his %undoing.
Five hundred poundsi You shall
have every paper he left-every mortal
thing that was his" calculated MIR.
Reeks. "And as for silence-never a
word, I swear to you. Five hundred
%pounds!"
We'll, that's settled" said Leath.
wood, in a cheerful tone. Now, bar
gain for bargain; when the papers are
placed in nay hands you shall have the
money. Will that do?'
Nothing could be more fair" cried
Mr.. Reeks. Indeed, his one desire, at
that time, was to get rid OF the whole
bewildering business, quite apart from
the fact of making anything out of 1t.
Very good. For the present. we will
say goodbye. Just let me have your
address; that is it-write Ii down
here" He motioned towards the writ
Ing materials. which stood on the table.
Then, as Mr.. Reeks was writing, he
bent down, to say, in a lower tone:
You spoke about a girl, who was men
toned by the late Gilbert Rickerby in
certain papers. Let me assure you that
the girl Is well-that she is here-and