The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-03-08
CHAPTER Xxx.
Face to Face.

Nugent Leathwood had no doubt in
his mind that what this man said was
true. He had been stunned when the
idea was first forced upon him, that the
Gilbert Rickerby. whom he had never
seen, was, in some mysterious way, how
ering about, ready to fall upon him; he
had been stunned afresh by the descrip-
tion-coinciding so exactly with his re-
collection Of the stranger who had at
tended at the funeral and whom he had
met at the inadgiven by old Jemina
of the Gilbert Rickerby h had remen-
bered so we'll. His first wild thought
was that the man he a strangled was
not really dead; that he had, in some
fashion, regained life and vigor, and es-
capped from the house. Then, when
common sense told him that this was
absurd, he ceased to have any coherent
thought about the matter, n merely
waited, bewildered, for what might
happen. That he had blundered in some
way, he knew; but that he had killed
the servant instead Of the master new
err occurred to him.
But If this mar was really Gilbert
Rickerby, the whole business had still
to be faced; nothing had yet been done
to bring about what he had so urgently
desired. Even while he looked at the
man, his brain seemed to be reeling un-,
der the pressure of a thousand wild
thoughts; he thought OF, that first
night, when the man had come into the
room bearing the card Of Gilbert Rick
erby, and keeping the appointment
made by Gilbert Rickerby; Of the bank
notes found upon the body of that man.;
- H. I.11Is~y 110~14 r.hfrIH on
| abled him to take advantage of the
death of Miles Probyn, and to set up a
grave, as it were, in the public sight,
which should cover his own crime. He
thought, too, of the strange fashion in
which different people had been drawn
to thwart him, and to endeavor to res
cue the girl, Olive, from his hands; and
of the mysterious removal of the body
from the deserted house; Of the lights
and shadows on the blinds Of that
house. But he was not the nan to
take defeat-especially vague defeat
lightly; he recovered himself in a mo-
ment, and bowed, ironically, to Gilbert.
.Tve no doubt we shall find much to
| say to each other before we finish" he
said. "But I must remind you that
man who makes such a preposterous
| claim as you have done must do some
thing to s~ubstantiate 1t. It appears that
you know something of this same Gill
bert Rickerby-or think vol do-and
you're going to try and trade on the
knowledge. It's a bold scheme. my
friend; only q bold man could have
thought Of 1t. I don't discuss my pri-
vate affairs before other people; IL you
care to talk to me alone, Ill listen to
what you have to say"
VI xsD-..-.-.Rpn S-k--L ~-a 40
fore these people," replied Gilbert, quiz,
city.
"You insolent dob" cried Nugent,
pretending wrath to cover up a deadly
fear which was creeping over him;
you know whose house you are in?"
"Yes-mine!" came the prompt reply.
Perhaps you would like to know how !
got into it?'
"It would be interesting" said the
other, with q sneer.
ST have lived here for some days past;
I have been within q few yards Of you;
/ have known all about your incomtngs
and your ~outgoings. You saw shadows
on the blind Of the old haunted house.
did you? You saw lights come and go
about the windows-eh? You hound
murderer and profigate! The time has
come when the shadows stand U In
realities-when the ghosts OF R~ickerby's
Folly become fesh.and blood, to haunt
Mr.. Viewers had been slowly hut
Ming along towards his wife, with an.
evident intention to make a. bolt OF II;
he stopped when Gilbert spoke. and
slowly scratched his head and grinned;
maliciously. Ga
Nueent Ieathwood seated himself n.
the edge OF the writing table. with his