Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-01-03
CHAPTER vi. (continued)

eS~~~.~~~~~ee.es~r~rs
CHAPTER vi. (Continued)
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 Maguine,
and I shall never lose that letter Mns
less the ink fades or the letter Ndropsnto
pieces. He wrote:
my Dear Tremaynew;If ever you
want to prove that there >are three cons
stituent parts in airy givRH atoms Of
humanity, you might easily, 'dertion-
strate their existence by reference to
the particular atom who is writing to
you. Here I am, sWithaa p6EtiQn#of my
body driving the pen over Che paper to
write what my mind - bids me. But
something is lacking. What is it? I
do not know of what mother 1 was
born, though the knowledge was once
mine. 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, Brittle
trifling good may have done. Shall i
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 '1netaphysf-
cal discussion, and shall, therefore,
write to you as the Jim Mcguire you
have known for the last two months
or so. ~
II can quite see the force of youraade
vice, and understand perfectly that VI
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
should pass down the river of life and
out into the ocean of eternity with, 1t
may be, record so black that it has
been mercifully blotted out for me- I
shall go away with DR.. Denton as you
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 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 I must end this.
blessing go with you, is the prayer of
him who, for the want OF a better
Name must sign himself, -....r...s
'se'-aleur devoted and grateful friend
Jim Mcguire
The truth began to dawn upon me be-
i e opened the other letter. I took
j up with trembling fingers. Hugh
{ ne close to me as tore the envelope
ross, and drew out folded sheet of
1--ourning note paper. sfs-
In the folded sheets were five small
cards, and on 1t these words: James
<Murtagh Mcguire, 18th December,
u.s.
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
peied to speak. I could only think Of
the friend struck down by this gang,
almost at my very side. My move
-ments and my person must be perfectly
we'll known, and yet was spared.
I looked at Hugh His eyes were
ablaze with righteous indignation. y
Let me take these he said, putting
the cards together land. God helping
me, Tremayne, you and I will return
them to the sender. May Goa do Gus
as he has done tto our friends-aye, nd
more, also--if we do not break up this
fiendish ccnspiracy!'' -----~
Our hands met, and, as felt his
warm grasp, II heard A VOICE say,
amen 70 that ,v6wE" - + T (
Istprneu, and saws AZ the door alrsdan
dressed in the garb Of a clergyman of
the Church Of England. '----4-~---'--~---4--
Who are se,.y o 49,: asked, "and what
right have yoYFhers # r..
pfsapI hs said'r'si'I an4 your
uncle,s-xfle REV, Ed Va I'd. pEe ma he.
When this business is over shall be
plain John Ahggufs again: ''t-a'-.--~z-'="---.