The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-01-25
his head, and called. sharply, "corne-
liusi (,Ornelius!n

Illus! Cornelius!"
After q moment or 50 the noise OF
someone moving about in another room
was heard, and then the shutting steps
Of the old man. Directly afterwards
Leathwood drew in his head, saying to
som one outside: Here, I want you;
there's business for you here"
The old man came in slowly, dressed
in a long, faded dressing gown, of no
particular color and Of no particular
cut; in his hand he carried a battered.
tin candlestick, and he looked all about
him with sleepy, %resenttul eyes.
# "Well, what the dickens is 1t
he asked, with a snarl. First, I'M
dragged out of bed in the middle of the
night by some wretched woman who's
lost Ter husband; I'm kept talkin' at the
gate in a bitin' wind, tryin' to persuade
Ter that we don't keep stray husbands
'ere; an now you start shoutin' all
over the 'ouse for me, afore I've got
fairly warm in bed again. What is it,"
s..Don't talk there; there's been a
great deal too much talking already"
said Nugent, quietly. Shut the door"
Then, as the old man obeyed, wonder
irgly. Nugent pointed at the trem-
bling Mr.. Hubbard. "Look at this
L found him in the garden just now,
shouting mad things about murder, and
bodies hidden at night. and h not.
1 tell you, Cornelius, we stand In dead
,ly danger But a few hours ago a man
came here, claiming to be Gilbert Rick
erby, and knowing, I daresay, a great
deal more than he confessed. A little
time since his wife put in an appear
.once demanding to Know where he was,
and threatening, Heaven knows what,
IL I'VE couldn't give her the information
for which she asked. By Jove, man,
don't YOU see that we shall have the
place about our ears before we know
where we areo I curse the day I ever
knew the name Of Gilbert Rickerby;
but III fight this thing out to the bitter
end. I'VE, got q big take to win or TO
lose and,eif I'm tt lose it, I won't lose.
it lightly!"
"Who'se dom the talkin' now?" asked
Cornelius, IF you've brought me ere to
pirate about what you'll do and what
you won't do, you'd best let me go to
bed again. AS for this fellow, I know
nothin' about i'm, 'cept what 'e's said
'irnself. Ask Jemima."
New. Nugent Leathwood was SO GER
tain in his own mind that Mr.. Hubbard
had discovered something concerning
the murder that it never entered his
thoughts to ask any questions about
the matter; of all things, that was the
one he was most anxious to avoid. But
he had his suspicious, naturally enough.
about a man who apparently proWled
about at night and talked of dead bod
les: he wanted to know who that mar
was, and why he had com to Kicker
by's Folly. After gazing gloonily at
the young man for a few moments, le
turned suddenly on Cornelius.
Fetch Je.nima,'' he said. I'll clear
this matter up at once. I'll have no
spies lurking about here and prying
into things that don't concern them.
Fetch Jemima." !.
, Cornelius took up his candlestick n
shu1ied away to the door. As ne
OPENED it he paused and looked back at
his master.
you've put your and to a tougher
job than ever man mastered YET ne
said, solemnly. "On'y mind-there amt
no 'us' about It.; you stands alone IN
this. With that he opened h door
and vas gone.
In the interval tefore his return Nu-
gent Leathwood said not a word: ne
paced about the room, now and then
glancing at his prisoner, ever stopping
once or twice, as though he had made
up his mind to say something; then
repenting of it and striding on again.
When, at last, steps were heard outside
he stood still and awaited the coming OF
.Jemima and her husband.
They came in, yet with what q diff
ference between them! Cornelius
showed in every line of his face dis
tlust and resentment, mingled with a
little fear of what was going to hap
rem; the old woman was as calm inc
urconcerned as ever, and turned her
lack-luster eyes upon Nugents and the
other man with a faint air of surprise.
Cornelius shut the door, and, as q pre-
%cautionary measure, put his PACK
"Now, Jem}ma," began Leathwood,
'let us have the whole truth. I'm 10th
to think you've been playing me false
about, this matter; I want to know ex-
actly how. we stand. This young man
here was brought by you into the
house
.Not by me,.sMr. Leathwood-beg-
Gin your pardon" broke in Jen,ima,
wagging her old head, SO that the gray
hair fell about her expressionless face;
mot by me. Cornelius introduced the
young gent to me, an said is ,ow It
was my son.: An I've seen too much
of Cornelius not to know it amt well
to conterdict I'm"
:But. good heavens, you surely know
your own son?'' cried NLgent. This
man is brought here, claiming to be
your son: you accept him7as such
"On,y under orders. Mr.. Leathwood."
said the old woman. submissively. THE
only child I ever 'ad died Of Group at
the age Of eighteen months, just three
months, after Cornelius left me. Wen
this gent'-she indicated Mr.. Hubbard
with one hand. but did not look at him
s-Ycame along and said as 'ow e was
my son. I didn't think It was WORTH
vile conterdictin, Tim. In fact. u
wasn't worth mentionin'. thought Il
Cornelius lad took It into IS cad to
adopt a CROWN boy. II wasn't Ter me
to raise no objection shessslfniled be.
,nisnIy upon the discounted Cornelius,
and adjusted her wrapper more COM
fortably about her.
Nugseant Leathwood turned q Mt
Hubbard. Thereswas q deadly cold po-
likeness about his tone. when he SPOKE
5thatsboded no good Ia that unfortunate
amateur detective
sN0w, SIR, he raid ghorldSlik to