Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-02-06

Reeks, starting to his feet. where IS
this young girl?"
IA gentleman came here last night
soon after you had gone to bed. He told
me that you had taken away this young
girl out of his charge-a sort of abduc-
ton, George. He said that he was her
natural and proper guardian: that he
old not want scandal or fuss. And he
took her away with him."
Mr.. Reeks, in hopeless bewilderment.
stood staring for a few moments at his
wife. finally dropped the knife he held
at his feet, and cluSched both sides Of
his scanty hair with his hands.
George; don't look like that! What
have I done? If you had only aold me
what you intended at first"
Don't talk, my dear, don't talk!' i'm
plored the unhappy Mr.. Reeks. II
don't know quite what you've done, or
what you haven't done. But you've got
me into a horrible middle, and don't
quite see what am to do to get out of
it. Now, let's be calm; for Heavens
sake, let's be calm!"
He looked anything but calm himself.
as he walked up and down the room,
clutching his hair and muttering to
himself; but, after few moments. he
stopped in front of his wife and put a
question.
'Tell me-this man who came in the
middle of the night and took away the
girl-what was he like?"
IA very dark man, with a swarthy
skin and black eyes. Spoke in a soft
voice."
Mr. Reeks gasped. "Leathwood-by
who'll no exclaimed "MV
love-" he went on, with desperate calm
ness. Gin one moment you have undone
what I and others have plotted to do,
to save young and innocent girl from
a villain; in one moment you have Civ
en- that young and innocent girl back
into the hands of man for whom no
have told you; but do look, my dear,
the sort of man who would abduct a
young girl and bring her into your
house in the dead of night and leave
her on the sitting room sofa? Do look
it, my dear?"
Mrs. Reeks burst into tears, and ad-
mitted, through her sobs, that he GER
tainly did not.
There, it is no use crying, NY dear;
We've got to do tilr business all over
again. The girl is in danger, and must
be got out Of the place to which l'eath-
wood will have taken her. She can't be
brought here again, because Leathwood
knows this house, and would only come
here again for her. But I must go
there at once-that's certain. Did ne
leave any message: did he say any
thing at all to you?"
"He said that he expected you to
bring the papers you had promised
within two days." replied Mrs. Reeks.
oh indeed-did he?" said Mr.: Reeks'
sarcastically. Anything else?'
THAT if you brought them within
that time you should have the reward;
if not, he would force you to give them
UP, and you would get nothing"
The little man buttoned his coat res
olutely, and shook his head, With an ar
of defiance. I'VE shall see," he SAID,
grimly. "Now, understand, my love-
that under no circumstances do you
give up those papers. I may be away
for some time; I can't tell at all what
I may have to do. But you shall hear
from me. This man, Leathwood, may
come here in the hope of getting the
papers: don't let him have them"
eff he gets them out of me he'll be
clever" responded Mrs. Reeks. But
George, you're not going to 1un any
risks or get into any dangers, are you?
Think of me, George; think of me!''
"My love-" replied the little man,
duty calls me, and I must not hold
back. But whatever danger l may
rush into (for I am naturally bold
man, Lily, as you are alvarez, l shall
think, even to the last, of you" Then
revertirg to his more natural manner,
he said: IT heartily wish I'd never
mixed myself up in this business; but
I can't bear 20 think of that young girl
in danger. Don't forget about the pa
pers. Good-bye-good-bye."
He rushed out into the little hall, fol-
lowed by Mrs. Reeks, who assisted, him
to struggle into his overcoat. Ram
ming his hat firmly on his head, he
started forth at a pace that must nave
astonished any of the n3ighbors who
had been in the l-abit of seeing him
saunter out on ordinary occasions.
He never stopped or slackened his
pace until he came into the neighbor-
hood of Rickerby's Folly. 1t was still
CON raratively early in the afternoon;
and the little man knew that to carry
out his purpose with any chance of sue
cess, he must not he seen by anyone in
the house. So he cooled his heels and
his impatience at the same time in the
adjoining streets; and when the kindly
darkness had fallen upon st. Johns
Wood, crept round to the back en-
trance in the alley, out of which Gilbert
Rickerby had thrust him on the night
of the strange burial in the garden.
Even here he dared not knock or make
any sign; he could only wait in pa
tience, on the chance Of something for
tunate happening 20 assist him.
He had to wait a very considerable
tine, and had just began to make W.
his mind to an attempt to scale the
high wall, when he heard the sound of
feet among the dead leaves inside. Not
knowing what else to do, the little man
raped sharply with his knuckles on the
wooden door; ond then drew back nat
against the wall beside it, hoping to es-
cape notice if the person who answered
the summons should not prove to be
the one he wanted.
In a moment or two the door was
cautiously opened, after little grating
of the key in the lock, and head was
thrust forth. The head turned slowly
L