Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-12-26

living from tradesmenl I'll open an
of1ce--a respectable Office, In a respect
able neighborhood; I'll launch out on
new schemes; I'll do commission work
| that i've never attempted before. Gill
bert Rickerby. whether you're alive or
dead. I'm glad you came to lodge at No,
2. Little Pond street. If ia got the
money in my pocket I'd have a CAP
home!"
But. whatever he intended 10 do, he
was in no hurry about it. Still medi-
| tating over that extraordinary fortune
which had come to him so unexpected
| ly, he resolved to take a turn around
| the house; and he noticed in doing SO
that. while one side had lighted WIN
dows dotted all over it, the other, whlch
seemed to be a separate house, was
| dark and apparently uninhabited. wan
dering on a 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 II.
Standing still, he demonstrated with
himsel for his carelessness.
'You were drunk when you came In,
George Reeks-you know you were; but
you've gone through a great deal TOO
much since then TO be drunk now.~ 1t
will never do to wake up that nice
young man again and ask the way cut;
| must go round the wall and find 1t. II
ought to be directly in front of the
lighted house; and 1 appear, at he
present moment, TO be directly behind
| the dark one. However, 1 nave to get
home to Mrs. R; so here goes!"
He had gone but a few steps when he
thought he saw in front of him, among
tn heavy shadows thrown by the trees,
a figure. Somewhat startled at first,
Mr.. Reeks drew back agains the wall;
| and then, laughing at his own fears.
yentured boldly out and called to the
figure.
II beg you pardon, but I'm lost. I
| can't find the gate. If you viii be so
kind at to
His voice trailed off, and failed him
altogether: for the fgure-scarcely a
| dozen yards from him-had not moved.
Very timidly, the little nan yentured
nearer, and began his appeal afresh.
IT 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
"a tall figure, and evidently possessing
considerable strength. Then a hand
gripped him. and another hand closed
firmly over his mouth; looking up, he
saw, in the dim light, a fair man, with
a fair mustaChe and a tanned skin, and
with a deep scar across n 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. If you know me, nod
your head"
Mr.. Reeks nodded, though with con-
siderable difficulty.
"I see YOU do. l am Gilbert Kicker
by. If I let you free, will you swear to
me not to attempt to raise the alarm
will you swear that you will do as / tell
you? Remember, I have a dozen times
your strength, and could catch you and
silence you before you had gone a yard.
Nod again."
Mr.. Reeks nodded with what empha-
sis was possible under the circum-
stances, and the next his
mouth was uncovered.
"He-he told me you were deaGl" 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 or
not.
Yes; he thinks I am" replied the
other, bitterly. But what We're you
doing therein that house?"
Once again George Reeks felt that
there was nothing for it but to make a
clean breast of the business; haltingly,
and with many excuses for himself, he
told his tale -told, last Of all, of the
promised 500 which was to come to
him so easily. II thought that you
were dead, Mr.. Rickerby, and that it
would not matter" he pleaded.
81 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 a young girl
"a, young lady?"
"Said she was there-and in safe
keeping" replied Raeks.
'In safe keeping! Good heavens
and he dares to say IT. Mr.. Reeks, I
am kiding-I am living on false pre-
lenses; / have nc n~ame--nothing that
Lean cali my own. But, will you help
meT"
Then the head OF poor Mr.. Reeks was
whirling round again, or seemed to be;
but he answered, steadily, though with
something of a gulp al the thought Of
his lost fortune, II will; I don't want
his money, or anyone's. What is the
matter?"
you shall see for yourself" said Gil
bert, gripping his arm. IT believe you
have a heart; you must have; any
man but a black-hearted villain would
help a Door wretch, bowed down under
such misery and grief as mine. Come,
o shall know for yourself what I
wanti'
Utterly bewildered and feeling much
inclined to Shrek out, and wishing
most devoutly that he had never seen
or heard of Gilbert Rickerby, Mr.. Reeks
suffered himself to be drawn towards
the dark house, at which he had gaZed
so curiously but a few moments before.