Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-02-13
By TOM GALLON

CHAPTER Nv. (Continucd3

That's rum" he said. COW should
man get into that room?''
There's only one man could be there
and a dead man at that" whispered
Nugent. Il saw it once before-saw it
come and 60, just in the same fashion.
Suppose-no, it's too mad altogether.'
What's too mad?" asked Cornelius.
I was going to say-suppose this
girl. who is always talking of this dead
lover Of hers-suppose in that mad
state she's in she actually meets him;
suppose, in some fendish, ghostly fash
ion he's helping hero"
Il don't suppose anything about it,
said Cornelius, giving himself a shake.
whats the use of supposin'? When
once 1 get out of this blessed damp
garden I'll suppose somethin' useful.
sonlethin, maybe, valuable in finding
the gel. Come inside and ave some
brandy
Il think you're right" said Nugent.
trying to laugh. In five minutes I'll
be all right again, and ready TO look at
this matter squarely."
In less than that time. after drinking
pretty freely of neat brands. Nugent
LeathWood began to see things from
different standpoint: TO lose sight of
any possible ghostly interference. and
to see only some unknown human
agency at work. With that thought.
the courage of the man rose again. and
his one idea was to find out as rapidly
as possible, what people he was fight
Ing against. and to secure Olive once
more. His first thought was in regard
to Mr.. Reeks: he felt that that man
might. after all have had the audacity
to linger about near the house and to
secure the girl, by lucky chance.
when she escaped from it. With that
thought in mind. he directed Cornelius
to get cab and to hurry to Little Pond
street.
Il can't 60 myself" he explained.
because I am already known there,
and they might refuse me the informa-
ton. But you can go, and you're sharp
enough to find out whether the girl is
there or yhere Reeks is If he's not
there. and they can't give any salts
factory account of him. shall know
that he is in the business again. Make
haste; you can pretend you have come
to see him on business. to pay him
moaey-anything. If you see the wo-
man you can easily discover from her
manner if she knows anything
You seem to forget" said Cornelius,
that I've already seen the woman-at
the gate here, when she came to in
quire about her precious husband"
10 be sure. Then, that won't do.
NO; l must go myself: if there is ser
want l may get hold of her. I'll be
back as quickly as possible"
He returned to Rickerbys Folly in
something less than an hour 1--WE
seen the servant" he said. land it is as
I suspected. The girl is not there; but
Reeks is away-no one knows where
and they don't know when he'll be
back. Now, what are we to do?"
They stood in the room in which Nu-
gent ordinarily sat, and Cornelius held
in his hand a torn half sheet of news
paper. The old man held it up, as the
other asked the question, and pointed
to part of it, clumsily marked about
with pencil
This is what We'll do" said Corne-
1ius with a grim" We'll follow this
ere advertisement. Since you've been
out, I've been 'avin look round. I've
been 'untin' in that room where those
p'ay-actors were-anG I've found this
He tapped the paper with his long fore
finger as he spoke. TITS an ADVERTISE
Nugent Leathwood caught at the ma
per impatiently and read the advertise
ment marked: it was as follaws:
Wanted-Heavy man and soubrette
Tor Ghost Show. No beer kegs nor bar
props need apply. Will Anthony Tag
gett and wife write in? Spencer Com
olnation, Crown and Cushion, Barnet"
We'll, what does it mean?" asked
Nugent. looking at it in perplexity.
Its all Greek to me. What has this
got to do with the disappearance of the
girl?'
Its only suspicion. of course re-
piled the other. 'but I've got an idea
that you'll find the girl somewhere near
the Crown and Cushion, at Barnet"
What makes you think thato" asked
Ieathwood, eagerly.
Cornelius scratched his chin thought
fully, and looked up sideways at his
master. well. in the first place, that
woman. Taggett. an good deal of
friendly feeling for the gel; I caught
'er once 'er twice comm out of the gels
room Then, again, they went away
yesterday, that's pretty evident. to take
this engagement at Barnet. If the gel
as bin got away at ALL it's quite likely
they've got and in it. That chap,
Reeks, may not be in the business at
all. At any rate, I'm off to Barnet"
I'm inclined to think that you're
right, Cornelius" said Nugent. you'd
better start at once and spy out the
land. AS can do nothing here. I'll fol-
low you in an hour or two: l want to
stop here at present, in case, by any
chance, the girl has not gone there, and
cores back
There's a better way than that"
said Cornelius, after a moment or two
OF thought. Til go down tonight and
ave look about me: if I find she's
there I'll send you a telegram in the
mornin'.'
Yes, that's better: that's muc IN bet
ter said 'Leathwood. by Jove, Cor
nelius, you're a wise old bird I'm glad
/ trusted you so completely. Between
US, WE. ought to be able to get hold Of
this girl. And. look here; I'll have no
more doubts about it this time; I'll take
her away where's there no possibility
OF any Of those sympathetic friends
getting hold of her. Wen discuss that