Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-01-17
enough to tell me what you have done.
Now I'm ready to hear what you have

euOuSu W tell HE WIidI yOu nave zone.
Now I'm ready to hear what you have
to say"
It was plain that she meant to keep
me at distance, but still did not lose
heart, for her manner was so foreign
to her that knew it was costing her a
great effort to maintain it, and, more
over, the fact Of her having come to
meet me was proof Of the interest she
took in what concerned me.
IF I say anything to offend you,"
began, you will please stop me, and
must ask you to believe that it is your
welfare am thinking of quite as much
as my own. You are no lover of your
cousin, of whatever relation he may
be, and from all that have heard, he
stands between you and the home you
still remember and love so we'll. He
has also injured me and mine, as 1
shall presently show you, and, there
fore, he is our common enemy, and
what more natural than that we should
work together against him? But you
are getting cold standing still. Let us
walk up and down this glade, and will
you let me help you?"
I offered her my arm, but her "No.
thank you," was so very decided that
ventured upon no further politeness,
but, pacing beside her, sketched the
history of the Ragged Thirteen so far
as knew it, and particularly drew her
attention 20 the points which in our
opinion proved that D'Orville was the
head and soul of the concern. She
listened to me in silence, but now and
again she glanced at me quickly, and
at times stood still and shivered.
When I told her of what had happened
to Jim Mcguire she laid her hand on
my arm.
TELL me that again"
I repeated the story.
"Then it was my telling you that the
cards made the Ragged Thirteen that
made him crazy, AMI maybe it was
through me that Maurice found him
out. Haven't I told you, Mr.. Ire
mayne, to go away and leave us? All!
why won't you, before it is too late?"
She was breaking down much sooner
than expected, but I took no notice of
the alteration in her manner, and went
on:
"Now you see that understand per-
fectly we'll what sort of man this
D'Orville is, and yet, in spite of this
knowledge, I tell you that if you won't
help me to get your father out of his
clutches, shall either free mine or
be killed in the attempt. have told
you all these terrible incidents after
the most careful consideration, for, in
telling you, am placing my life in
your hands, and in doing so am prov
ing to you that, however little you may
trust me, trust you implicitly"
"You seem to forget" she said, that
you could tell almost as much of me as
1 could of you, and yet-and yet l
wouldn't even whisper that couldn't
trust you."
"rhen why are you so cold to me?
You didn't even give me your hand
when we met. You will hardly look at
me now. And yet, fou your sake re-
fused the loan, when by doing what
was wanted I might have been much
nearer getting this D'Orville into my
power. Nora! Nora! for Gods sake,
let there be no misunderstanding be-
tween us!'
She faced me at that, with tear-be-
dimmed eyes.
"You won't go away?" she said. II
can see you getting nearer and nearer
to the awful time when you'll have to
meet him, and no one has done that
yet and got the best of him. Oh!
Jack, tits you I'm thinking of night and
day when I tell you to go!'
Surely, now was the time for COM
fort.
I took her outstretched hands and
drew her towards me, and she came
like a child and laid her head on my
bosom and sobbed out her trouble.
And the sunshine seemed brighter. A
robin set up his carol in a bush hard
by, and I never heard music more
sweet. A faint perfume came from her
wavy hair, and the moments laden
with wealth of happiness that might
have been spread over lifetime ran
themselves in golden sands"
* j; x
It wanted but a few days to the
threatened visit of Maurice D'Orville,
when Nora met me in the woods and
brought me news that was as startling
as it was unexpected.
1--WE were at breakfast this morn
ing" said ste "when cook came in to
say that there was someone waiting to
see father. I couldn't quite catch the
name she gave, but, whatever it was,
father knew it, and I saw by the look
of his face that he was anything but
pleased. He left the room at once, and
I presently heard him walking down
the hall, and when I got to the front
room and looked through the window,
I saw him and tall man on the lawn.
At first thought it was Maurice who
was with him, for he was a man of the
same build, and his shoulders and
arms, and hands, too, if they had been
whittier, were as like him as two peas.
But when he turned I found that his
face was an ugly likeness Of Maurice.
"They walked up and down, and the
tall man did all the talking, my father
shaking his head now and then, but
saying nothing, and when I saw them
move towarl the gate slipped into the
room where they had been, and there
was letter on the table. 1t was from
Maurice, and-but before I tell you,
Jack, what was in it, you must make
me solemn promise. I don't know
how far my father has gone with these
men, but unless you'll swear that you'll
do nothing to bring him into trouble, I
won't tell you another word"
Bring him into trouble, Nora? It's
- ~, 70 hi II