Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-02-27

VIXEN the startled voice of his master re-
called him; he stopped and faced about
instantly. NugeIt had picked up from
the floor a crumpled white handker-
| chief, and was holding a corner of it to
| the light.
"Well. what's that?" asked Cornelius.
look here! ! found this on the floor
here; read the name on it. Don't stand
| staring there like a fool! Come here
and read this name. Am going mad,
or is this name burnt into my brain?"
Now, read it,"
| Mr.. Viewers took the thing in his hand
and bent over it. so as to get it within
the range of his vision; read aloud, in q
sort Of dazsd whisper: Gilbert Rick
erby." Then he raised his head, and
the two men looked into each other
eyes in terror-stricken rerp!exity.
| Nugent Leathwood was the first to re-
cover; he caught up the candle and
strobe across to the cupboard, hesitated
for moment with his hand upon the
fastening, and len threw it open. The
cupboard was empty!
| After staring at it for moment or
two in dazed fashion, he came slowly
back to Cornelius and set down the cam
die. Cornelius glanced at him with
| 3
tell you?"
| IF had seen this thing done alone"
murmured Nugent. ;lowly, II should
have said that my senses had cheated
me; but with two of us, there is no
mistake about it. One thing is certain
| the man was dead when we put him
| there"
WAS 'e?" asked Cornelius, quietly.
| - T..
faced round upon him savagely. IF he
wasn't dead, then I never saw a dead
man yet The question i,-what has
become of the body? 1t couldn't move
itself: someone has taken it away
well, I 'ope they like it. now they've
got it," said Cornelius.
But who should take it? If there
was anybody in the business who was
| well-disposed toward us, who feared
trouble for us, and so wanted to get it
out of the way, could understand; but
no one knows this but ourselves-no one
comes near this place."
II wonder what that light was we saw
in the room down below?" remarked
Cornelius. THAT wasn't fancy"
"And this handkerchief; there's no
fancy about this" said Nugent, taking
it from the hand of the old man. "This
has been found by someone-someone
who has had to do with the removal of
the body-and dropped here. Perhaps it
may have even fallen from the body it
self. Cornelius, what does it mean?
What business is going on in this place
of which we know nothing? What Sc
cret agency is at work to undermine all
we do, and strike at the root of all we
| have done?'
1T beats me- replied Cornelius, help
| lessly. "Oweve,, there no gittin over
| the fact that the body's gone-an', more
than that. it's out Of our way. I've
go: a sort of feelin' in my bones that
somethin is goin' to 'appen tonight
that'll clear the way; don't know what
it is, but the feelin' is there.'
Nugent Leathwood had been thinking
deeply while the old man spoke. Look
ing up now. with something of a smile
upon his haggard face, he put his
| thoughts into words.
| CATER all, there is nothing much to
fear Gilbert Rickerby entered the
house alone; who is to say what hap
rened tc him insi lie it? Cheer up, Cor
nelius; the body is gone, the man is
gone; We'll fight through this yet. There
| is only one man I fear.'
who's that?"
| THE servant-the mysterious man,
who has seemed to be in all this bust
ness, and yet has not been in it. I am
| confident that it was that man met in
the dark in the inn last night. I arm
sure, too. that he knows Or suspects
something. Well, let him suspect; he's
got to prove, and proof is not easy
| Easy? 1t amt possible" Mr.. Wee
vers walked across the room and calm
ly shut the cupboard door. cit works
| both ways, master. If them as are
friendly to u whoever they may be)
ave taken the bo1y-well an good; if
| them we are workin' against ave taken
that the thing is gone, an we 'avent
got to trouble about it?"
perhaps you're right; I wish could
think So" replied Nugent. But we'll
get back into the other house. expect
that fellow Reeks will turn up tonight.
and I mustn't miss him. Besides.
want to find out if he has been here
already"
They went back the way they had
come-cautiously. and listening at ev-
cry step-and regained the room in
! which Nugent had found the old man.
Then sudden idea occurred to the lat
ter, and ne gave voice to it.
ST seems to me- he said, slowly and
thoughtfuily; at seems to me that Je-
NINA may know something about this
ere. She's got a 'abit of wanderin'
about the place, by night as we'll as by
day; she's got some mad notion in 'er
cad that 'er old mistress is still there
an wants or. 1t might be we'll to try
| and screw something out of err
"Yes; I had thought Of that. Fetch
her here. BY the way" added Nugent
as the other was shutting out Of the
room, II suppose you feel Sure as to her
loyalty; you don't think it likely that
she is in the plot If there is one
against us, do you?"
Mr.. Viewers stopped, shook his head
knowingly, and grinned. Don't you
worry about that" he replied. "Jemima
amt got wits enough to plot against
anyone. She goes about with what eyes
she's go shut, and 'er ears shut, too.
You'll see if l amt right, when come