Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-12-19
BY TOM GALLON
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down upon MIN Mr.. Reeks had felt that
he world was smiling; he had let the
Whole of the upper part of the house at
am astonishing rental, to a man who, In
IN apparent At of madness, desired to
lie there with his ervant.
Now. the name of that man was Gil
bert Rickerby. and he had taken the
rooms. on coming first to London, on
the recommendation of his servant,
James Holden, who knee the neighbor-
hood well. Mr.. Gilbert Rickerby, for
his own part, merely desired to hide
from his fellows for a while, and was
glad enough to find q retreat In this
quiet house in a little back street. He
was able to pay well, and he was ac-
cepted as a tenant without question.
Three days after his appearance,
however. he had rome out one night
with his servant, and had never re-
turned. The rooms, being entered by
MFR. Reeks. had disclosed the astound-
ing fact that his own and his servants
luggage was open, in the most careless
fashion. and the contents spread o
the rcoms-evidence that he had In
tended to return. But the days went
on, and there was no sign of him, and
the dreams OF MIR. Reeks of being able
70 obtain a steady and easy income for
IN indefinite period from his new lodg-
er. began to fade. In deed. at that time
Mr.. Reeks was In that condition when
he had absolutely nothing else to de-
pend upon.
Quite late one night, when Mr.. Reeks
sat with Mrs. Reeks in their sitting
room. Mrs. Reeks made a discovery. 1t
IL usually the woman who makes the
l GfcnnxVnnxr a.. fIArn nnn nn1 AYG
Reeks was not behind her sex in such
matters. They had been talking of the
mystery Of the absent lodger and his
servant, and Mr.. Reeks had disconso-
lately shaken his head and expressed
the opinion. more than once, that luck
was against him.
Its what / have told you so often,
George Reeks; you ought never to have
received the man here without a refer
ence On the face of Ii, IL Is distinctly
absurd to imagine hat a man who can
not give a respectable reference, should
be supposed to act as decent people DO.
/ People with references are not in the
habit of going out for walks and never
coming back any more"
but. my dear, you forget, that this
man paid down a weeks money in adj
vance, and at the best terms we could
offer. There was no hesitation on his
part. and f."
"Hesitation! / should think not, in
deedi" cried Mrs. Reeks. sitting up
more stiffiy in her chair. Depend upon
1t, George Reeks. that man had soma
dreadful design In his mind when he
determined to get into this house.
Have you looked through his personal
~be,ongings?"
my dear. / wouldn't think of uch a
thing" exclaimed Mr.. Reeks. in horror.
After all, we may be merely worrying
ourselves about nothing: the gentleman
nay turn up tomorrow, having merely
been on a little-a little journey"
'In the words OF the vulgar, George
Rocks. Pigs may fly Take my word
for II, you will never see your precious
lodger again, or his servant, either. The
best thing you can do, at the moment,
is to eat your supper. and be thankful
that you have anything to eat at all.
1t won't be for long. at the rate things
are going"
h supper referred to was some
thing very hot, and very economical,
which had been brought in from an ad-
iacent cook-shop by the small servant
maid who pr~esided-under the direction
of Mrs. Reeks-over the domestic part
of the establishment. For a few mo-
ments, al least, Mr.. Reeks forgot his
troubles, as he gazed upon the SAVIOR
things before him; even Mrs. Reeks
consented to smile, and heaved a sigh
of satisfaction. But not for long; the
demon of unrest was to enter even into
that humble meal.
For the greater convenience of those
who purchase, and with an eye to econ
omy on the part of those who sell, such
frugal suppers, they are usually
wrapped In paper, and Mr.. Reeks, in
dividing out the contents OF the paper
into equal portions, commenced to read.
and came across the advertisement Of
fering a reward of a1O0. She stopped,
stared, gasped. and at last, forgetful OF
everything else, swept the savory NOR
/ sells on TO a plate, caught up the paper
! and e aloud the advertisement which
Mr.. Nugent Leathwood had inserted,
implorinc Gilbert Rickerby to keep his
) appointment, and let his loving cousin
know of his whereabouts.
I Now, Mr.. Reeks was not in the habit
of taking a daily paper: first, because
\ It was expensive; and, secondly. be-
cause 1t did not interest him from a
: business point OF view: whatever ar
rangements he made for the getting OF
: scraping together Of a precarious liveti.
hood, were usually conducted at the bar
OF an obscure public house, or, even or
occasion, at a street corner. Thus II
. happened that he knew nothing con
, corning all h newspaper talk there
r had been about the death OF Gilbert
Rickerby, or about the forgotten ro-
: nance which had been thrown around
. the house where he was born. This
scrap of paper. coming I'm so strange o
fashion to him, was the first intimation
they had had that Gilbert Rickerby
I was wanted.
> Mrs. Reeks read 1t aloud: Mr.. Reeks
sat back In his chair and stared at he,
: in amazement: the supper grew cold
r but neither of them noticed II. After
I long silence, Mr.. Reeks spoke in solemn
I tones;
: "Rickerby was the name OF our lodg-
r erl' he said. in an awed whisper.
y "Yes." said Mrs. Reeks. slowly, "and
. he Is missing. More than that, George
I there's Goo rewardi"