Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-19

| Whole Of the upper part of the house al
an astonishing rental, to a man who, III
an apparent fit of madness, desired tt
lie there with his servant.
Now, the name of that man was Gill
bert Rickerby, and he had taken the
rooms, on coming first to London, or
the recommendation of his servant
James Holden, who knew the neighbor.
hood we'll. Mr.. Gilbert Rickerby, fol
his own part, merely desired to hids
from his fellows for a while, and was
glad enough to find a retreat in thi:
| quiet house in a little back street. He
was able to pay well, and he was &C.
cepted Is a tenant without question.
Three days after his appearance
however, he had gone out one night
I with his servant, and had never re.
turned. The rooms, being entered by
Mr.. 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 about
the reoms-evidence that he had in
tended to return. But the days went
on. and there was no sign of him; and
the dreams of DIR. Reeks of being able
to obtain steady and easy income fol
an indefinite period from his new lodg-
| ~, oS5ea1A " 4oCC. LII OSCO, dl llldl'lIlllS
Mr.. Reeks was in that condition when
he had absolutely nothing else to de.
pend upon.
Quite late one night, when Mr.. ReelSs
sat with Mrs. Reeks in their sitting
room, Mrs. Reeks made discovery. 1t
is usually the woman who makes the
discovery in these cases, and Mrs
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 I have told you so often
George Reeks; you ought never to have
| received the man here without refer
ence On the face of it, it is distinctly
| absurd to imagine that a man who can
not give 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 bis
part, and +"
Hesitation! I should think not, in
deed!" cried Mrs. Reeks, sitting up
more stifHy in her chair. Depend upon
it, George Reeks, that man had soma
dreadful design in his mind when ne
determined to get into this house.
Have you looked through his personal
belorgings?'
"My dear. wouldn't think of such a
| thing." exclaimed Mr.. Reeks, in horror.
After all, we may be merely worryin.,
ourselves about nothing; the gentleman
ay turn up tomorrow, having merely
bsen On little-a little Journey"
I'm the words CT the vulgar, George
Rocks, Pigs may fly Take my word
for it, you will never see your precious
ledger again, or his servant, either. The
best thing you can do, at the moment,
is to eat your supper, and be thankf III
that you have anything to eat at all.
1t won't be for long, at the rate things
are going"
The supper" referred to was some-
thing very hot, and very economical,
| which had been brought in from an I'D :
iacent cook-shop by the small servant
maid who presided-under the direction
of Mrs. Reeks-over the domestic part
of the establishment. For a few mo-
ments, at least, Mr.. Reeks forgot his
troubles, as he gazed upon the savory
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 G100. She stopped,
stared, gasped, and at last, forgetful of
everything else, swept the savory NOR
sells on to plate, caught up the paper
and read aloud the advertisement which
Mr.. Nugent Leathwood had inserted,
imploring Gilbert Rickerby to keep his
appointment, and let his loving cousin
know of his WHEREABOUTS
Now, Mr.. Reeks was not in the habit
of taking daily paper; first, because
1t was expensive; and, secondly, be-
cause it did not interest him from a
business point of view; whatever ar
engagements he made for the getting or
scrap1ng together of precarious liveli-
hood, were usually conducted at the bar
of an obscure public house, or, even on
occasion, at a street corner. Thus it
happened that he knew nothing con-
corning all the newspaper talk there
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 in SO strange a
fashion to him, was the first intimation
they had had that Gilbert Rickerby
was wanted.
Mrs. Reeks read ii aloud: Mr.. Reeks
| sat back in his chair and stared at her
in amazement; the supper grew cold,
but neither of them noticed it. After a
long silence, Mr. Reeks spoke in solemn
| tones:
"Rickerby was the name of our lodg-
! er!' he said, in an awed whisper.
Yes said Mrs. Reeks, slowly, land
he is missing. More than that, George,
there's 600 reward!"
| Mr.. Reeks started up wildly, almost
urTetting the table in his agitation.
"Where ia he2'' he criad. H1uhare Go tho