Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-02-13

playthlng TO be damned in this world
and the next.'
"Are you bound for the city Of de,
struction?' she laughed, not moving,
but showing such confidence In her
power 10 hold him back that he stop
ped in spite Of himself. III so, you
are taking the direct road there and
have only to hasten. But you had bet
ter remain in your fathers house, even
If you are something of u prisoner
there In company with my very in
significant self. The outcome will be
more satisfactory, eve If you have TO
share II with me-"
"And what course will you take" he
asked, pausing with his hand on the
fence, III | choose destruction without
you rather than perlitlon with youT"
What course? Why, shall tell DR..
Talbot just enough Of what | know to
prove yuu TO be M desirable a witness
in the impending inquest as myself.
The result | leave to your judgment.
liut you viii not drive me TO this ex-
tromiiy. You will come back and
"Wolnan, will never come back. /
shall have TO dare your worst In two
weeks, aud | will begin by daring you
now. u
But he did not lcnp the fence, though
lie made a move TO do SO, for mt that
moment n party OF men came hurryilg
by on the lower road, one Of whom
was heard to say:
81 will bet my head that we will put
II hand on Agatha Webb's murderer
tonight. The man who Stoves $50 bills
around 50 heedlcssly should not wear a
beard so long ii leads to detection"
II vas the coroner, the constable,
Knapp and Abel en- route to the forest
road on which lived John and James
label.
Frederick and Amahel confronted
each other and after n moments ST.
lcncc turned as If by n common i'm
pulse toward the house.
what have they got In their hcadsf'
quericl she. whatever II Is It may
serve TO occupy them till the two weeks
Of your probation have passed"
lie did not answer. \ new difficulty
had entered bis already overcrowdcd
life.
Let us follow the party now winding
up the hillside.
In Il deeply wooded spot on a side
road stood n little house to which John
and James label had removed when
their business OH the docks had tcrmi-
Gated. There was no other dwelling
Of greater or lesser pretenslOn on that
road, which may account for the fact
that none Of the persons now approach
Ing IL had been In that ncighborhood
for years. though it was 10y no means
a long walk from the village Ia which
they all led such busy lives.
The heavy shadows cast by the
woods through which the road mean
dcrcl were not without their effect
upon the spirits Of the three mcn pass
Ing through them, so that long before
INV lNfAI llNN wv 'lN'lllllE III " Dl'u Alih
label cottage stood silence had fallen
upon TIE whole party. DR.. Talbot es-
pcciaily looked rs if he little rclishc1
this late visit To his old friends and
not til they caught n glimpse Of the
long. slopiug roof and heavy chimney
Of the label cottage did not shake OF
the gloom incident 10 the nature Of
Lis GRAND.
"Gcullcmcn," said he. coming TO a
sudden halt, 'l,t ~ understand each
other. We are about TO make n call
on two Of our oldest and most ~respccta.
Die townsfolk, II In the course of that
call | choose 10 make mention OF the
$40 bill left with Lotion, well and good
but If o you are 10 take my reticcncc
as proof of my own belief that they
had nothing TO do with it,"
Two Of the party bowed. Knapp
only made no sign.
There is no light in the window
observed Abel. "What If we find then
gone to bpdE'
"Vye will wake them" said the con
stable. II cannot go back without
being myself assured that no NOR,
money like that given to Lotion re
mains In this house"
Very we'll" remarked Knapp. ant
going up to the door before him hC
struck n rrsounding knock that wa,
startling In that place of silence.
But loud as the m was |
brought no answer. Not only the moon
lighted door. but the little windows oil
each side Of 1t remained shut. an,
there was no evidence that the knocl
had been heard.
"Zahcl. John label" shouted til,
constable, stepping around the side o
the house. Get up, my good friends
and let an old crony in. James! John
Late as il Is we have business wit
you. open the door. Don't stop I
dress
But this appeal received no NOR
recognition than the first. and aftc
rapplng on the window against whic'
he had flung the words he came bacI
and looked up aud down the front o
the house.
II had a solitary aspect and wa
much less comfortable looking than b
had expected. Indeed, there wer
signs of poverty or at least Of neglcc
about the place that astonished hin
Not Only had the weeds been Above
10 grow over the doorstep, but frOI
the uEpaluted front Itself bits Of boar
hal ro,tel away, leaving great GAP
about the window hedges and at III
base OF the sunkcn and well nigh TOT
ping chimney. The moon flooding I'll
roof showed up all these impcrfc,
tons with pltilcss lnslstcnce, and III
torn edges Of the green paper shade
,I,t I.If ..,uynI,1 tl., r,,Y,g ,yfttf