Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-03-13
any very distinct notion as to where she

any very distinct notion as to where she
WAS going.
A light shore in one window, and
presently, while she looked, Mrs. Reeks
saw shadow fall across the window
and man stretch forth his arms at
either side and close the shutters. leav-
ing even that face Of the house abso-
lutely blank. More than ever disturbed
in her mind with fears as to the fate of
Mr.. Reeks, the good lady stumbled
along among the dead leaves until she
touched the wall Of the house; then, in
the pitchy darkness, she began to grope
along the bricks, in the hope Of finding
the door.
To do her justice, Mrs. Reeks was no
coward, and it is probable that she
feared nothing absolutely mortal. More
than all else. she was nerved by the
thought of that unfortunate little hus-
band of hers in that strange house, I'M
dergoin". perhaps, unknown horrors for
the sake of that horrible $500. Just as
Mrs Reeks reached that point of
thought she touched door. felt fever
ishl:-. for the handle, and tumbled
through into a passage.
Darkness and silence. The door had
closed with soft thud behind her, and
Mrs. Eeeks knew not which way to turn
or whether it was safe to advance a
step. Indeed, it is probable that at that
moment she would have screamed
aloud had she not seen, straight In front
of her, a CLEAN of light. Hurrying to-
wards it, she thrust open door, and
found herself in room with lighted
<H.4 60, q
empty.
Now, wonder where poor George
has go: to-" she painted. looking wildly
all around her. Two doors-one up in
the corner one to the right. Well. I
think Ill trust to luck, and take the one
to the right"
Mrs. Reeks caught up the candle
stick, pulled open the Coor to the right,
and found herself in a narrow passage.
AS a matter of fact. it was the passage
that connected the two houses. and Mrs.
Reeks. in darting along it. as she now
did. was passing into that house in
which Nugent Leathwood had lived and
in which Gilbert Rickerby had that
night been struck down. Mrs. Ree2ks
knew nothing Of this, she only knew
that she was in the same house to which
her husband had come that night, and
that She meant to find him.
Carrying the candle. she passed
through the passage and came 10 the
second house. All was dark and silent.
Not whisper nor a football anywhere.
And then, in the midst of the silence,
cutting like flash Of steel, came the
faint scream of woman.
l1o;y
dropped the candlestick and felt in
clinei to scream, if only as species Of
friendly echo. The next moment, as the
cry was repeated, all that was best in
her was reused. and she ran forward
blindir in the darkness, plunged head
long. with all her substantial weight,
against door, and fell forward into
room.
The room was lighted, too, although
the shutters We're closed; and there
Were two people in it, The first person
that Mrs. Reeks noticed, when she
scrambled up from her knees, was a
young girl, drawn back against the Wall,
ana staring. with frightened eyes, at
the other occupant of the room-an old
man OF a suriously bent and twisted
fgure-the man Mrs. Reeks remembered
to haze seen at the gate when she came
to Rickerby's Folly, in search of her
husband, on the former occasion. The
old man swung round upon the uncere-
morioEs visitor, snarling at her like q
sort of Wild beast.
''Well-what do you want?" he
g,owled. VINO sent you blunderin' in
ere like thiso''
I've come to 1ook-to look for my
husband-Mr. Reeks,' painted Mrs.
Reeks. What are you doing with that
young LADY,"
What's that to you?" snapped Cor
nelius. Your husband went from ere
a good 'alf-hour ago, an with five 'un-
dred cash m is 'ands-muh more than
e deserved, the dog. by 4 lot. You'd
better follow i'm. an not come forcfn'
your way into 'onest folks 'ouses at
this hour of the mornin'. Come, be off
with you!''
But Mrs. Reeks, quite unexpectedly,
stood her ground. Not much!" she ex-
claimed. resolutely. II believe this is
the young lady I did wrong to
Though goodness knows I never meant
it'll a day or two back. What's the
matter with her now I heard her cry
out a minute ago.
well. an if you did? It's one of the
ways of gels to squeak said Corne-
Illus. with an ugly grin. Look ere, my
good woman, you'd better git out of
this as soon as YOU can. My master'll
be back in a minute or two, an e
amt in the best of teElpers JUS now"
That for you master!" cried Mrs.
Reeks, swapping her fingers in front of
his face. Il don't care for forty mas
tiers; but wort stand by and see a
young girl ill-treated by an ugly old
sinner like you. Stand out of my
way"
Mrs. Reeks. with one swift movement
Of her arm, swept the estonished Mr..
Viewers almost off his feet, and crossed
swiftly to where Olive was crouched
against the wall. Something in the
strong, defiant face must have attract
ed the girl, for she sprang forward with
a low cry of relief and caught Mrs.
Reeks around the Leck.
''There-tEer@my pretty: don't be
upset. inurmured the good woman. Il
was beast to you the other night. and
I doubt if I'll ever be forgiven for turn
ing young girl out of doors and Civ