Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-01-16
.-1agge.t-you arc the same old rag,

down.. he caught nOlQ OF the lantern,
as he spoke. and shut off the light.
Yes, there's no doubt about it that I
am alive in spite of all that anyone
may say to the contrary. But I am in
hiding here, and tonight have to per-
form the gruesome task o. 5urying a
murdered man."
"You-you are not rehearsing any
thing, are YOU. Rickerby?" asked Tag
| gett, as a CLEAN of nope shot into his
mind.
| mo. This is solid. sober earnest. un-
fortunately. The man we are to bury
tonight was killed in mistake for me,
and hidden in that empty house. This
! good friend Of mine, Mr.. Reeks, knows
! all about it. and is helping me-" Mr..
George Reeks was seen in the semi
darkness, to bow, in acknowledgment of
the introduction: ne appeared at the
same time, to shiver, violently.
There is no time to explain matters
| now" went on Gilbert. I'VE must get
this thing done. Tell me. as quickly as
possible what you're doing here, and
waht mad prank you We're playing in
that sheet when You stumbled into my
arms -4t.
j.. My dear young FRIEND" began An
tEony 'Taggett. lowering his voice to
/ suit the occasional had heard great
deal about the haunting of this house"
Haunted. indeed--poor, unhappy, old
place." exclaimed Gilbert, glancing
round at the dark windows. What is
to be the end of it all. wonder; what
! other fate. awaits you? Bla tx murder
anu midnight burial. and men flying
I from the place with terror-stricken
faces to die violent deaths! Forgive
me- Taggett." he.hroke Off, and glanced
| round at the two men. 81 have seen
such things in this place as few men
see anywhere. But. no matter how you
| come, l am glad to see you; have
need of all my friends about me now, if
| 1 ever had need of them in my life.
| Now, tell me, how did you come here,
and who is with you?"
| Mr.. Taggett, as briefly as possible.
and not without much dramatic ges-
ture and much waving of a, white
sheeted arm towards the night-sky,
| gave a full and particular account of
all that had happened to him since he
set out to walk from Bristol; Of the
meeting on the road with Ursula Sew
ell; the coming to the house; even the
meeting that day with the strange son
| Of Old Cornelius Viewers. This last
| piece Of news appeared to puzzle Gill
bert Rickerby r.lre than anything else.
old Viewers SOM" he exclaimed.
There must surely be some mistake.
I was always led to believe that Jenli-
| mas child died when it was a mere
| baby. You're quite sure he said he was
| a son?'
absolutely certain" replied Taggett.
| 1.-THE woman you call Jeminma appeared
to recognize him, and spoke with de-
light of the way in which he had
| grown
After puzzling over the matter mo-
ment or two in silence, Gilbert Kicker
by appeared to cast the thing out of his
! mind; turning about, in a business-like
fashion, he stopped over the body and
! spoke sharply to Mr.. Reel1s:
! Come, we have no time to lose" he
said. I'm sorry to drag you into this
business, Mr.. Reeks, hut you know how
I am situated, and what have to do"
1T was thinking" said Mr.. Reeks,
liesitatingly, that your good friend,
Mr.. Taggett, might care to take my
| place. So far as I can see in this light,
| there is more Of an official look about
him, and he is, besides, a much bigger
| man."
MY dear SIR said Anthony Taggett,
| hastily, II have no desire to step In and
| take your duties from you. My cos
| tune is, I admit somewhat ridiculous;
but feel that shall grace this occa-
| sion more as g. spectator, and, by how
ering about, to prevent surprise, than
by taking any actual active part in it."
! Every we'll, SIR" replied Mr.. Reeks,
resignedly. He stopped and picked up
one end of the burden; together he and
| Gilbert Rickerby lifted it and began to
bear it away towards an angle of the
| high wall, where clump of bushes
! was planted tllickly. Mr.. Taggett, who
| had got hold Of the lantern again. fol-
lowed slowly, tucking up one end of the
sheet over his arm, and blowing his
; way among the weeds and the dead
leaves of many past years.
Just as they reached the clump of
| bushes the three of them stopped dead;
there had come, from the other side of
the double house, violent ringing of a
| bell-the bell which was attached to
the outer gate. AS if by common con-
sent, they laid their burden down, in
the shadow of the bushes, and dropped
silently down on the ground themselves.
For heavens sake, Taggett, take off
that ridiculous Sheet whispered Gill
bert impatiently. cit will draw atten-
ito to us, for certain, if you go futter-
ing about in that fashion! Take it Off
mani"
81 have already explained to you,
Mr.. I:ickerby," came the whispered re-
lly. that I merely donned it for pur-
poses of my art. AS it is likely to COM
promise you, ami as it is, moreover
ccnfoundedly in the way of my legs,
obey with pleasure He slipped out OF
the garment as he spoke, and thrust II
behind him.
After cutie long time, during which
the ringing Of the bell was once OF
twice removed, the three men, crouch
ing down in the darkness, heard the
sounds of the drawing of bolts and the
creaking of door; saw light &C
dancing aero IS the darkness in the dis.
tango. Then Il mans growing tones
and the shrill voice of female in re-
ply.
Don't tell me, old Guy Fawlles!" ex-
claimed an angry voice. II tell you the