Oakes Republican., 1902-02-21
quite impossible to set any vehicle a,

w
do posting say they can't turn out any
thing till the morning. You'll ave TO
give up the gel: you've got quite enough
on your 'ands without 'er."
Il won't give her up!" replied Nugent,
doggedly. II know what we can do
our one object is to get the girl out of
this house, and out of the hands of
those who are friendly disposed towards
her I know what money will do; you
go about these things in too niggardlS
Il fashion,"
mot when Tn spending someone
else's money" retorted Cornelius. "You
don't know these ERE places: offered
'em any money they liked-an they
laughed at me. Can't you see what a
hole you're in. without runnin into
fresh danger? This chap. 'Ubbard. is
about Barnet. watchin' US; that play
actor fellow as got wind of the busi-
ness some'ow: within an hour or two
We'll ave 'em all on our track. What's
gels Wen yer neck's in danger? I tell
you-"
'"There don't talk don't talk" broke
in Leathwood, impa tiently. "I want TO
think about this business--to under
stand what is best to be done. I'm not
such a craven as you: I don't give in at
the first danger signal that happens to
flash before my eyes, want to think
I want to think. But I can't here. IN
this cheerless room without something
to help me. What have you got to
| drink ?"
''I don't keep bottles up ere" said
Cornelius. But I can get what YOU
like from down below. I don't mind
admittin' I'm dry myself. What shall
it be?"
Nugent Leathwood did not appear to
hear what he said for moment: even
when he looked up and spoke it was
with the air of A man whose thoughts
We're for away. ooh, anything. any,
thing: set some brandy. All these
things crowding on me at once, have
taken the nerve out of me somehow: I
| want bracing up. Yes, get some BRAN
| dy."
There was no hesitation about Corne-
Illus when he set out on that errand. In
a few minutes ne re-entered the room
with a bottle of brandy some glasses
and water. Nugent half-filled tum-
bier with the neat spirit and drank it
off, blinked and coughed a little, and.
then smiled on the other man.
'"rhat's the stuff" he cried. cit puts
heart into a man. Cornelius, I was
rough with you just now-said things
ought not to have said. Forget it; I
didn't think what I was saying"
"Don't mention it," said Cornelius,
drily, looking at his master and then at
the bottle. IT don't mind.''
"I'm driven into a corner, Cornelius"
went on Nugent; "but they'll find me
with my back to the wall I'm fighting
for a big stake, and I'll fight to the
| death. Pour me out some more brandy
| and help yourself"
| Neither of them thought of the water;
| Nugent, because he wanted to be
worked up to certain pitch; Cornelius,
because water in any shape did not ap-
peal to him. But is must be remem-
| bered that the younger man was excit-
| ed, and threw off whatever effect the
spirit might have had easily enough:
the old man was cool enough, and
| drank for the sake of drinking. So
that. natrally enough, in a short time
| Cornelius came under the influence of
what he had taken, while Nugent, for
the best part, paced abou. the room
and, save that his face was flushed and
his eyes bright. appeared none the
worse. Only, as the glass was emptied,
| Nugent Leathwood had bred in him
certain dangerous mocl1ing demon tha,
might carry him far, and carry him
reckless]y over anything. The old man
merely became somnolent.
Fate plays strange tricks with men,"
| said Nugent, with a laugh. Here we
stand to-night-you 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 1 killed Gilbert
! Rickerby I set out to do thing few
men would have dared I put my hand
to a work that would have appalled, the
stoutest. Do you hear me, Cornelius" ?"
Cornelius was almost too far gone to
hear anything, but he sat up at the
summons and murmured. sleepily:
"Jus' SO, JUS SO, master. You'll win
yeti"
win! I shoula think I would! DO
you think 1 fooled an old man in mis-
dotage for nothing? Do you think I
schened to keep Gilbert Rickerby away
from home, and from England, for
nothing? Why, What is there to fear?
A few simple fools, who can be bought
at the price like to suggest; a helpless
girl, without 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
II wonder if you're to be trusted he
n1uttered. II can't trust any man now
I dare not The only thing that keeps
this creature loyal to me is the thought
that I can pay him we'll for his silence
Suppose he knew that have scarcely a
renny in the world; that the fortune
left in my hands for Gilbert Rickerby
was squaneered long ago; that the
money I am supposed to pay for these
| panerS which are to be brought to me