The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-12-28

pest, a. weak llLtle creature, HdALsStu-
PEELED with drink and scarcely knowing
at the moment who he was or what hi
said. However, precautions had to be
taken; Leathwood came slowly toward
the swaying figure, and stood before 1t
with his hands thrust in his pockets
and stared at him leisurely.
$50 you are Gilbert Rickerby, are
you?" he asked, quietly. Welcome
Mr.. Gilbert Riclserby-bIck from the
grave! Do o understand me?-back
from the grave, I say!" Or
"What-what d'you mean?" STAN
merered Mr.. Reeks, pattly-sobered by
the manner OF the other and by the
words.
II mean that Gilbert Rickerby is dead
died nearly a 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 IL 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 were
looking into his qualing ones.
Don't run away" said the quiet
voice. There is some game on here
which I do not understand. Come, now,
who rut you OF to this game, and who
are you, really? You are not Gilbert
Rickerby; Of that I am certain. But
you know something about him. Why,
don't you know that Gilbert Rickerby
was a young man of twenty-six?"
Mr.. Reeks nodded feebly. About
that, I 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; wen in his muddled state, at the
moment he was quite capablec Of recog-
nizing hat fact. Moreover, this calm
man, With the quiet voice and the dark
hair, had about him a certain sense of
power that vas 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
had made, the little man made a full
Notwithstanding 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
a short, cry laugh. At the end Of the re-
citai 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" q
ga girl? Yes. I suppose he. would
mention the GIRL" said Leathwood,
troughtfully. Look here; I must have
those papers; I must know exactly
what he has written. Where are they
now?"
"At my house." replied Reeks.
HAS anyone seen them, other. than
%yourself?" ~
"Only Mrs. Reeks-my wife" y
"Reeks!" He seemed to ponder I've
the name for a moment, as though It
~ WONCf7 oAAA SAoAAA Va lAAVNS11k ~ rAAo
mind. "Well-is your wife safe? /
mean" he corrected himself, hurriedly,
.'is she likely to talk about matters
which do not concern herself? Does she
understand the necessity for being ST.
lent sometimes, If she is well paid for
being silent?'
Mr.. Reeks nodded, solemnly. ut
would be difficult to find anyone who
could bottle herself up more completely
than Mrs. Reeks, when necessary, :, he
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. u
George Reeks!" Nugent Leathwood
turned the name over and owe In his
mind for a moment, then suddenly,
started and clapped a hand to his head.
"By Jove! the nan who went withime
to the funeral; the man who picked
up. He did not finish the sentence,
but. after q moments further thought,
he sprang aercely upon the astonished
Mr.. Reeks and gripped him by the col
lar.
you iend!"s he breathed. what
trick are you playing upon me? You
come here, proclaiming that you are
Gilbert Rickerby;; You tell me asyarn
about q servant Of the dead man whom
no one has seen since his masters
death; now you say that your name ID
the samesas that Of q Stranger met a.
the hospital, and who folIowed-fol-
lowed Gilbert Rickerby to the grave.
In Heavens lame, who are you---and