The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-02-01

best. It was only after he had been
wandering aimlessIy for an hour or two
that he remembered the appointment
for that night, and that he had prom
Used to give Olive Mallory shelter at
No. 2, Little Pond street. And then, in
deed, ne began to fear that he had gone
q little too far, and that Mrs. Reeks
would have first to be reckoned with.
II can't explain he thought, miser-
ably. How can I tell her that this
young girl is out Of her mind; that she
is being pursued by q Villain, and that
she Is the promised wife 81 q man$whom
everyone believes to be dead, and
whom I have tried to p~ersonate?f How
can I explain my eas for bringing
such q visitor, at go late IN hour? how
can I make her understand that that
visitor is in danger, and must be kept
lin hiding? Well, / must hope for the
best, and trust to luck to pull me out OF
1t somehow"
Still, fearing further questioning on
the part Of Mrs. Reeks, he wandered
about all that day until the time drew
near to keep his appointment. It had
been settled that Gilbert Rickerby
should let the two women-Ursula ard
Olive-out into the little alley al the
back of the house; that Ursula should
take the girl to a quiet by-street some
distance on the way to Camden Town,
and that Mr.. Reeks should meet them
there and take charge Of Olive.
Half-a-dOzen times, at least, Mr..
Reeks approached the spot agreed upon
and Immediately ran away from It.
For now Mrs. Reeks did, indeed, loom
over the unhappy man, a gigantic fig
ure. in his imagination, Of wrath and
suspicion and jealousy. But he had
that loyalty to Gilbert and that pity for
the girl which gradually overcame his
fears; and he wen back at%last, fairly
r%esolute, to meet his charge.
It had been arranged that they should
meet at a very late hour-long after
midnight, in fact. when the streets
would be empty, and when any who
might watch their departure from Rick
erby' Folly would have retired long be-
fore, to rest. The little man had, by
Gilbert's Instructions, procured a FOUR
wheeled cab. which he had left wait
ing around the corner Of the street.
Coming into the street itself, he saw
two figures slowly pacing towards him;
and at the same time he had a dim feel
ing that there was another figure in
the distance, standing looking after
them. Indeed, this last figure impressed
him SO much that he went quickly to-
wards Ursula and the girl, and asked a
question concerning 1t at the very mo-
ment Of meeting them.
who's that?" he asked. II thought
I saw a man coming this way; he
passed under a lamp a moment ago.
Are you sure no one has followed you??"
Ursula Sewell had faced about quick
ly WREN he spoke. and was looking in
the direction he indicated. There's no
one there" she said, looking round at
him again. You're nervous You for
get thai there are other people in the
=. streets Of London. wen SO late as this.
It would be bad for any one who tried
to follow me-" she added. with a laugh.
George Reeks looked again in the d.
rection in which he had seen the figure;
but it was gone. Rcassured, he started
off with them towards the cab that was
waiting; put Olive in and got In him.
self. Looking out of the cab window,
AMI seeing Ursula standing alone in the
street, he said, with a touch Of COM
junction:
IT don't like the idea Of your going
back to that house alone After what
you've done tonight, there may be dam
gec for you" y,
"what should harm me?" she asked,
def,antly. 'I must go back there; it's
the only place that has any ties to draw,
me to it. Don't be afraid. I know
how to take care OF myself" She nod
Ged, quietly, and turned and went back
the way she nal come.
Neither Of them noticed, while they
spoke together in those few moments
before the cab started, that man had
come out Of the street, and, stepping,
briskly into the roadway, had gone
around: on the other side Of the cab. and
passed close to the further window
much closer than was necessary-in q
act Of crossing the road. AS the wo-
man had said, London's streets were
never really empty, and 1t was only the
little mans nervousness that had made
hin suspicious Of that figure in the
distance. But they might have been.
disturbed, indeed. had ttey seen this
man stop at a little distance and watch.
this cab as it rolled on towards Cam,
den Town; watch It, with q fist grimly
shaken after 1t, and a little burst sf
laughter for the simplicity Of the people.
who had tried t outwit him. It was
Nugent Leathwood.
~ suppose I might have got hold of,
the girl in the street while I was fol-
lowing them,'s hon uttered. stroking his
chin, thoughtfully. .'But that would
never have. done: there might have been
screams and q scene, and, goodness:
Knows, what sccrdal-and ! can't 1T!
ford to risk that. Never mini; I know
where she IS. and that's:the great thing
And I won't! forget sweet Ursula''--he
kissed his fingers in the direction she
had taken-'.what Lowe for this nights,
work. AS for you, you bald headed.
little rascal. with, you talk Of Gilbert
Rickerby, ana diaries and papers-T.m
not likely to forget you. either. It's
lucky I got that az dress out Of you; I'll
call on. you presently There's only one
thing which puzzles me; what on earth
has Induced you to mix up IN the BUSH .,i
ness. and who put you onzto this? Yod
didn't meet Ursula when y0l came to
the house. thatgIyl swear, for I saw yolll
out OF it myself. There's rome hendish.
mystery here that ! haven't gotEto ths'
bottom d yet sala n
He wlIlseds on again 4forasaAltttle ais
lance, and Their stopped once IhoreFin
the silent street, inSSaIiotheravaill en-
gdeaYors "a thrash out this ssthfng ttlat'
WAS puzzling him. &sS8ga
ts NJ wonder IL that fellowssssfInbbsnard,s