The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-01-05
+ i + j. i j i + T. + j. + + + + $;
CHAPTER vi. Continually

CHAPTER vi. (C%Ontlnued.)
I told him that we should ring when
we were ready for dinner. and, turning
to the mantel-piece, found the letters,
and first opened the one from Mcguire,
and I shall never lose that letter un-
less the ink fades or the letter drops to
pieces. He wrote:
my Dear Tremayne-If eve you
want to prove that there are three con-
stituent parts in any given atom of
humanity, you might easily demon
strate their existence by reference to
the particular atom who is writing to
you. Here I am, with a portion of my
body driving the pen over the paper to
write what my mind bids me. But
something is lacking. What Is It? I
do not know Of what mother I was
born, though the knowledge was once
mine. I do not know what responsible
tiles rested upon me up to the time
when I saw you, when you christened
me Jim Mcguire. 1t has pleased God
to take away from me all remembrance
of the sins I have committed, or the
trifing good I may have DONE. Shall l
suffer for evil deeds of which I have
no chance Of being repentant? Is the
account closed against my soul? I have
not the time to enter upon metaphysi-
cal discussion, and shall, therefore,
write to you as the Jim Mcguire you
have known for the last two months
or so.
IT can quite see the force of your adj
vice, and understand perfectly that I
should never be again nearer finding
out my people If I stayed under your
hospitable roof. I should drift daily
farther and farther from the truth, and
I should pass down the river of life and
out into the ocean of eternity with, 1t
may be, a record so black hat it has
been mercifully blotted out for me. I
shall go away with DIR. Denton, as o
advise, and obey him implicitly,
though I would have given all I'm ever
likely to be worth to have gripped
your hand and looked into your kind
face once more. before I leave what
has, indeed, been a happy home. But
tits best as it is. You have done we'll to
order our parting as you have, and I
shall never forget the kind messages
you have sent me. DR.. Denton is wait
ing for me, so that 1 must end this.
wherever you may be, may Gods
blessing go with you, is the prayer of
It'll VIII, lOI LIN walt VI d UCSICA
name, must sign himself,
Your devoted and grateful friend,
Jim Mcguire"
The truth began to dawn upon me be-
fore I opened the other letter. / took
it up with trembling fingers. Hugh
came close to me as I tore the envelope
across, and drew out a folded sheet of
mourning note paper.
In the folded sheets were five small
cards, n on it these words: James
Murtagh Mcguire, 10Th December.
1SS-"
The cards were the six, seven, eight
and two aces. They were the fatal
sign of the Ragged Thirteen!
For a few moments we were too stu
pefied to speak. I could only think of
h friend struck down by this gang,
almost at my very side. My move
ments and my person must be perfectly
we'll known, n yet I was spared.
I looked at Hugh. His eyes were |
ablaze with righteous indignation.
Let me take these" he said, putting
the cards together. land, God helping
me, Tremayne, o n I will return
them to the sender. May God do to us
as he has done to our friends-aye, n
baore, also-if we do not break up this
E.endish conspiracy"
Our hands met, and, as I felt his
warm grasp, I heard a voice say,
".Amen to that VOW"
I turned, and saw at the door a man
dressed in the garb of a clergyman of
the Church of England.
"Who are you?' I asked, land what
right have you here?"
Eat present." he said. IT am your
uncle, the Rev. Edward Tremayne.
When this business is over I shall be
plain John Angus again."