Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-01-30
Observation-Disclosures



| the time and place, near here. I know
that woman with whom we spoke lit
tie time ago. will keep her word and
| rescue my dear girl from this house.
| Will you be there?"
Yes, yes, I'll be there!" exclaimed
Mr.. Reeks, with hard pressed agains,
his forehead. ooh. you needn't think 1
| am going to fail you: only I've seen
such things tonight that this poor head
| of mine is in whirl, and 1 don't know
! where am. or what I'm doing. When
came out tonight Mrs. r. assured me
that l was Gilbert Rickerby; since
| then. I've seen ghosts among the trees,
and dead men, and fools in sheets, and
old women carrying lanterns, and"
There. there, never mind all th@t,'
broke in Gilbert. The time will come
when all these things will be set right,
when YOU will forget all the tragedy of
thar horrible place, and when will not
forget how loyalty you have helped me.
Good night-until Tomorrow"
So Mr.. Reeks staggered out into the
alley, thence into the Streets and
made his way home as rapidly as pos
sible.
1t was only When he actually came in
sight 1T the house that he realized how
late it was; remembered the scene at
tbs garden gate be- yeen Cornelius and
Mrs Recks: and wondering how that
lady would greet him. There had been
so much to think of before that this
last most important point had slipped
hi thoughts altogether: but it pressed
itself upon him now with remarkable
urgency. He put his key in the lock
and entered as softly as possible. Be-
fore he had fairly got inside the door
of the sitting room was pulled open,
| and Mrs. Reeks stood looking at him.
us that you, George Reeks?" she
asked. 1t was, of course, quite a SUI
pertluous question, seeing that Mr..
! Reeks, though small, stood fully re-
vcaled: hut Mrs. Reeks had to make a
beginning somehow and she was abso-
lutely boiling over with questions.
Yes my love- responded Mr.. Reeks,
meekly. "I-r.l afraid I'm a little
late
Mrs. Reeks made no reply; size
turned quickly and marched back into
the sitting room. Mr.. Reeks took off
Ills outer garments, and hung them up,
and then followed his wife, nervously.
Arrived in the sitting room, he sank
into his chair, rested his elbows on the
table, and YEARLY covered his face with
his hands.
Mrs. Reeks was growing impatient.
She tapped her foot hurriedly, for a few
moments, on the floor, and then spoke,
in clear tones which seemed to stab the
unfortunate man like SO many knives:
George Reeks-you went out to-
night for a certain Iurpose known and
approved by me-
Il know, my love-I KNOW muir
INJURED Reeks, without uncovering his
face. II wish you would be kind enough
not to mention it,
But I insist on mentioning it, Mr..
Reeks,'' she retorted. Are you to come
home at such an hour as this, and in
the woebegone condition you are in
and tell me not to mention it? l will
mention it! What have You been do
ing all these hours@"
: Mr.. Reeks shuddered. II would rath-
crunch rather-not say" ne replied.
ITS no use, my dear; I know quite
we'll that you are burning to know what
has happened. If 1 told you, you would
not believe me; you'd put cooling things
on my head, or dose me with something
for incipient insanity. Therefore, I
won't attempt it. I went out tonight
or last night don't know which it
| was-with the full intention of becom-
ing Gilbert Rickerby. I'm not Gilbert
Rickerby, and never shall be. I'm not
quite sure that know VINO I am: I
shouldn't be surprised if you find that
you've married the wrong man, after
all. Don't ask me anything about it;
within a remarkably short space of
time I shall either be hanged or make
my fortune. And don't know which"
With this extraordinary statement,
Mr.. Reeks took UP the lamp and de-
clareG his intention Of going to bed:
Mrs. Reeke, utterly at a loss what to
do with him or to say to him, for per-
haps the first tima in her life, followed
him with extraordinary docility.
There was no sleep for Mrs. Reeks
that night; she lay awake listening to
the disturbed mutterings of her hus-
band, and striving hard to connect
them into some definite shape, and SO
piece together q story to satisfy her Gu
riosity. But. although he talked of dead
servants and live masters, and bury
ings under bushes, he made such a jum-
BILE of it all, and plunged about the bed
in so wild fashion and with such hor-
rible gurglings ard screenings that
Mrs. Reeks was more than glad when
daylight fully dawred and she could get
and see about her usual household du-
ties.
'Mr. Reeks, hollow-eyed, trembling,
and shivering, came down at about mid
day and pretended to eat some break
fast. This time Mrs. Reeks, remem-
Boring her previous defeat, went to
| work in more diplomatic fashion; but
an artful question or two in her light
est and most pleasing manner. But all
to no purpose; Mr.. Reeks had so fully
made up his mind not to open his mouth
! that he went so far as to keep that res
| olution, even in regard 10 lis break
fast. and pushed away everything un-
tasted. Finally, taking advantage OF
the absence Of Mrs. Reeks from the
! room for a moment or two. he darted
out into the hall. got his hat and coat,
ard slipped out Of the house. Mrs.
Reeks heard the front door bang, and
ran in great hurry; but too late to
stop him or ask him where he was go