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

lying from tradesmen! I'll open m
gsofnce-a respectable ONCE. ina respect
able neighborhood; TNSlaunch out on
new schemes; I'll do commission work
%that&I've never attemptedabefore. Gil.
bert Rickerby: whether you're. olive or
dead, I'm glad you came to lodge at No.
IL, Little Pond street. If I'dSgot the
money In my pocket ia have ascab
5home!' d W
But. whatever he intended to- do. ne
was In no hurry about 1t. Still medt-
tating over that extraordinary fortune
which had come to him sosunaxpected-
", he resolved tostake q turn around
the house; and he noticed inssdoing 20
that, while one side had lighted win
dows dotted all over 1t, the other, which
seemed to be q separate house, was
dark and apparently uninhabtted. Wan
dering ON q little farther still gazing up
at those darkened windows, Mr.. Reeks
lost his way completely, missed the;
gate. and made the complete circle Of
the two houses without finding It.
Standing stiil.-he demonstrated with
himself for his careIessness.
you were drunk whenSyou came3in.s
George Reeks-you know you were but
you've gone through axgreat deal too
much since then to he drunk now, II
will never do to wake UP that nice
young man again and ask the way out;
I must go round the wall and find II. II
ought to be directly IN front Of the.
lighted house; and / appear, ct The
present moment, to be directly behind.
the dark one. However,sI have to get
home to Mrs. R. so here oesY!'
He had gone but g few steps when he
thought he saw In front OF him. among
thu heavy shadows thrown, by the. trees,
a figure. Somewhat startled a { FIRST,
Mr.. Reeks drew back agains the wall:
and then, laughing at his own fears.
figure.
II beg you pardon, but I'm lost. I
can't find the gate. II you will be 30
kind at to-
His voice trailed of, and failed him
altogether; for the figure-scarcely q
dozen yards from him-had not moved.
Very timidly, the little man ventured
nearer, and began his appeal afresh. Il
81 say; could you show me-"
He had not time to finish the sen
tence; the figure moved suddenly and
without warning, and leaped upon him
tall figure, and evidently possessing
considerable strength. Then a hand
gripped4 him, and another hard closed
firmly over his mouth; looking UP, he
saw. in the DIM light, a fair man, with
fair mustache and q tanned skin, and
with a deep scar across cheek
bone. Trembling In deadly fear. he
waited for the man to speak.
do you know me?' asked. the man.
sternly. Don't try to speak, because I
shan't let you. II you know me. nod
your head"
Mr.. Reeks nodded, though with con.
siderable difficulty.
IT see yoi do. I am Gilbert Kicker
by. II I let you free, will you swear to
me. not to attempt to raise the alarm
will you swear that you will do as I tell,
you? Remember, I have a dozen times
your strength, and could catch you and
silence you before o had gone q yard.
Nod again"
MI. Reeks nodded with what empha-
sis was possible under the circulm-
stances, and the next moment his
was uncovered.
.He-he told. me you were dead!" he
stammered, pointing feebly toward the
lighted house. and evidently not quite
certain in, his own mind as to whether
Gilbert Rickerby was really dead OF
not.
Eyes; he thinks I am replied the
other, bitterly. But what were YOU
doing therein that house"
Once again, George Reeks felt that
there was nothing for It but to make q
clean breast OF the business; haltingly,
- .~,aAH> -H~vp -n~nSvuou Rnw 2HAf~ecn1R lhAS
told his tale-told, last OF all, OF the
promised 500 which, wal to come to
him 80 easily. 81 thought that you
were dead, MI. Rickerby, and that "
would not matter" he pleaded.
II know-I know: and ]. believe you
replied Gilbert. But he must not have
those papers: he shall not. Tell me-;
did he say anything about q young girl
"a young LADY,"
''Said she vas there----ardl In SAFE
Keeping replied Reeks.
".In safe keeping! Good heavens
and he dares to say 1t: Mr.. Reeks..sI
am .hiding-I am living on falsepre-8
lenses; Il have Notwithstanding that
I can cali my own. But, will you help
me q"
Then the head Of poor Mr.. Reels was
whirling round again. or seemed to y;
but he answered, steadily, though with
OF a gulp al the thought Q
his lost ,fortunesssH'.I VIII; ]. don't want
his money, o + anyone's. What y the
matter?!" 1 3 5Tgg
You. shall see for yourself said Gsil-
bert, gripping his arm. II believe you;
have q heart; you must have; any
but q black-hearted Villain, would
help q poor wretch, bowed down under
such misery and grief 90 mine sGome.
you shall, know q yourself what =
wanti,,s Ss II %ssSSs
Utterly bewilderedsai mi feeling much
inclined to shrek ard wishing
mostSNdevoutIy that he had never seen
heard OF Gilbert Rickerby, Mr.. Reekss
suffered himself tosbe draMn SStOwardsss
the sdark house, atswhfch nsshad gazesdAS
10 culdonsly but afew nAosshsesnts before
S Us CHArTER yIlr. 4
hssswsr11s Drsss..... \
stili. wiith,S;athatappssIwvesar srtp I'M
arm, Nj. George Resks nWks drsMnl'
along towards tn dsrkshhpusk. aualking
'inwardiy, ! ssnnsd. tossaufth veaFsys
fI,yelx curiosstt1 O. Y whatsWa soissagS
,togs happen Af sthes mornsat AZ ~ nos
sth6alsh tofstheSEt 0o WhdeSah1a2M aalppsNd
lthfouSh% HIS GeFAtA hi n would -.