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

tunity, hurried through the people and
darted up side street. Thence. after
many twistings and turnings. lie got
! back to the inn. and found his way to
his room. where he sat in the dark
bordering matters.
He had thought himself so safe-had
felt the game to be absolutely in his
own hands: and here. in a moment, he
had been obliged to give up watching
the girl and her protector. and to take
flight on his own account. If. as was
more than probable. the youth. Hub
bard. knew anything about the murder.
he might denounce Nugent Leathwood
and Cornelius to the police at any mo-
meut: knowing that the Taggetts had
been in the same house. he would only
have to follow them. in order to run the
other two to earth. Cornelius began to
hope that Nugent might put in an ap-
pearance at an early moment. in order
that they might lay their heads togeth
er and decide what was best to be done:
and vet. on the other hand. he dreaded
to see his master. because he knew that
added danger would come with his APP
pearance.
However. Cornelius Viewers was, after
all, Of a philosophic turn of mind and
was certainly the last man on earth to
worry about anything before it hap
pened. knowing, therefore. that the
Taggetts could not possibly arrive at
the inn for some time. and feeling COM
paratively safe. and. moreover. being
very tired of sitting in the dark and
very thirsty. he made an excursion
down to the bar in search of the land
lord.
The bar was empty when he entered
it: he gave. a curt nod to the landlord,
who was seated behind the wooden
counter, and ordered a glass of brandy
and water. The place bei1g very quiet.
and Cornelius being vehy comfortably
established in corner, Growsy feel
ing presently stole ever him. and he
dropped into a sort Of uneasy doZe-one
Of those half-sl:lnbers in which one is
conscious of sounds and movements
around him, without being able to dis
tinguish accurately what concerning
what is going ON.
How long he remained in that condi-
to-: it is quite impossible to say; but he
was reused by the sound Of voices. The
caution of the man prompted him to re-
main perfectly quiet, While he opened
his eyes very little way and watched.
1t happened that he had sat down in his
usual grudging, surly fashion, with his
hat drawn we'll down over his eyes and
his arms folded on his chest: it was
quite unlikely that he would be recog-
nized.
The people whose voices had dis
turbed him were Mr.. Anthony Taggett
and Mr.. George Reeks. The former
lounged against the little bar with the
air Of man to whom fortune had sud-
Genly grown kind, and who can, there
fore, afford to listen with tolerance to
the woes of his fellow man; and his
fellow man on this occasion was evil
IDENTIFY giving a smewhat lengthy recit-
al of the particular woes which were
his portion. Cornelius listened intently
and heard every word; and he also no.
ticed. through his half-closed lids that
Mr.. Reeks held a telegram in his hand.
"A1y poor FRIEND" said Mr.. Taggett,
soothingly, II assure you that feel for
you very keenly in the trouble which
has fallen upon you. Man, as you are
doubtless aN are, is horn 10 trouble;
and, among the fiends In human form
VINO prey upon him are, first and fore
most, brokers'. Believe me, my friend,
have suffered in the same way; indeed,
L FSmoIlDCI, Oll OI.e OccdS1Ou, De1ng re-
duced to pair of green worsted tights
as my sole neither garments, or account
of the depredations made by brokers'"
eyes, I know, I know moaned Mr..
Reeks; "but that doesn't help me at the
present moment. Mrs. Reeks is alone
and unprotected; and, moreover, Mrs.
attracts the attention of our sex. See
Ia to1o ~ "a ho1
ment as he spoke, under the nose of
Mr.. Reeks.
eyes, my friend. I observe it. It is a
species of despairing signal, futtering
from the hand of Mrs. Reeks-a signal
of despair. What does it say? 'Brok-
ers in. Chief broker very attentive
That looks bad, extremely bad. A brok-
er is beast of prey; but he is formed
in the likeness of man, and he has feel
ings; I suppose even a broker has an
eye for fine woman"
Don't, don't. Mr.. Taggett; you'll
drive me r1ad!' cried Mr.. Reeks twin
ing his hands n his scanty hair. Il know
I can trust Mrs. Reeks, who loves me
with love not often given to man; but
it maddens me to think Of mere brok-
er casting his eyes upon her. I must go
back; I must return at once. If could
only get the money to pay off these
men. to make fresh start in life!"
"Ah, in that I fear 1 cannot assist
you," said Mr.. Taggett. "As g matter
of fact, writs are out against my per-
son; and, but for the vanity (excusable
enough in woman) of Mrs. Taggett,
should not dare at the present moment
to appear in such large type before the
public eye. But Mrs. Taggett loves me,
and honors the name I have conferred
upon her; hence this display" He
waved his hand toward the yellow pla-
card on the wall.
"Mr. Taggett," said Reeks, after a
pause, II am about to do a disgraceful
thing. I can't help tit is forced upon
me; but my home and the sacred per-
son of Mrs. Reeks are more to me than
anything else. have certain papers in
my hands which are worth 9500: I
shall take these papers to the man who
offered me that sum. directly I reach
London. The papers belong 10 MI. Gill
bert RicKerby. of whom we both know.
Dc not try to stop me; it would be