The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-02-22

a Tor the sake OF Qrlnklng so
that, naturally enough, in a short time
Cornelius came under the influence Of
what he had taken, while Nugent, Tor
the best part, paced aboue the room
and, save that his face was flushed and
his eyes bright. appeared none the
worse. Only, as the glass was emptAed,
Nugent Leathwood had bred in him q
certain dangerous hooking demon that
might carry him far, and carry him
recklessly v anything. The old man
merely became somnolent.
Fat plays strange tricks with men,"
said Nugent, with a laugh. Here we
stand to-night-yous and with our
work nearly finished, with this girl in
the. same house with ourselves, and
only a cnuckle- headed old transformer
and his wife to keep guard over her.
On that night when I killed Gilbert
Rickerby I set out to do a thing few
men would have dared; I put my hand
to a work that would have appalled, the
stoutest. Do o hear me, Cornelius?'
Cornelius was almost too a gone to
hear anything, but he sat up at the
summons and murmured, sleepi1y:
Jus SO, JUS SO. master. You'll win
yeti" \
win! I should think I would! Do
you think I fooled an old mar in his
dotage for nothing? Do o think I.
schemed to keep Gilbert Rickerby away
from home, and from England, for
nothing? Why, what is there to fear?
Asfew simple FOOLS, who can be bought
at the price I like to suggests. a helpless
girl, without a real friend or relative in
the world. Cornelius-do you hear what
I say?"
He walked across to the old man and
shook him roughly by the shoulder.
Mr.. Viewers rolled his heavy head about
once or twice, AMI then dropped it for
ward on the table. Nugent fell back
from him and surveyed him froWningly.
ST wonder If you're to be trusted" he
miuttered. II can't trust any man now
I dare not. The only thing that keeps
this creature loyal 10 me is the thought
that I can pay him well for his silence.
Suppose he knew that I have scarcely a
penny in the world; that h fortune
left in my hands for Gilbert Rickerby
was s~quanGe1ed long ago; that the
money I am supposed to pay for these
paper which ore to be brought to me.
has already been broken into for neces-
sary expenses! Would he stick to me
CnonS OUS I1cdNOns o. w AS1I a . -
mine taht I can only hold the
from my neck with hands filled with
gold: that there Is not on earth one
creature tonight who would stretch out
a, hand for love of me, to save mel"
He poured out some more brandy AMI
drank 1t off; and that softer mood
passed from him. A more reckless one
took its place-a mood in which he was
prepared to do anything, and to dare
anything, to gain what he wanted. He
came across to where the old man sat.
with his head on the table. and looked
at him critically; he had to steady him
self by the table as he did 80. for the
room was swaying around him as he
strove to stand upright.
"Asleep," he muttered. "Why should
I wait; why should I not have the full
advantage of what is offered me? This
girl-alone and friendless-out of her
mind, they say-why should I not?" He
began to move ;~unsteadily about the
room in his growing excitement. "a
lucky chance has brought me to q
very place where she is. I am no milk
and-water creature, to stand aside Tor
questions Of right or wrong; I o her
by the sheer right OF conquest she -
mine. Her lover is dead: there is no
one in the world to whom shec an turn.
She Is mine-she Is mtne!"
He stumbled towardSthe door, turned
the key and pulled II open: closed II
again and went back to the table. Fe
picked up his glass and emptied the.
fiery stun down his throat; then made
again for the door. On the threshold :
it he paused. and tried to steady himself
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