Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-02-06

; NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 8
e Rickerby's Folly IS
2 3 BY TOM GALLON K Z
BY TOM GALLON
10000 ooooooooo oooooooo
CHAPTER NIy-1Continued.l

MI. XXI ~ = AA8
beer tusy while she was talking. He
began to conceive a plan so daring, and
yet SO ludicrous ON the face of IL, and
so designed to cheat the un~suspicious
George Reeks and bring down punish
ment upon him, that he could scarcely
forbear from laughing at the mere
thought of it. But he kept a steady
face, and looked at Mrs. Reeks with an
expression of pity and sorrow for that
suffering woman which almost drove
her frantic.
My dear lady, far be it from me to
cause you any unnecessary pain" he
said, laying his hand. with the delicate
touch of sympathy. upon her arm but
In a matter Of mis- kind IL is well TO be
frank. Your husband has, unfortun-
ately. formed an attachment for this
young lady tdon't cry ont or make a
noise. 1 beg of YOU, and has, for some
purpose of his own abducted her from
her home this very night. I am her
guardian: 1 heard of IL: / followed, as
rapidly as possible"
''Oh-good' heayenst' exclaimed the
poor lady, under her breath.
Naturally enough, my dear ma
DEM went on Nugent. glibiy. II am
h&AlOh6s III RODlDiNf ~ oNNAf &Ak 49,
DIAL; and, above all, to avoid having
the name of a foolish, headstrong girl
mixed up In such a business. I am her
guardian, as I have said; and IL 1t be
within my power. / should like to take
thu girl away with me a. once. and as
quietly as possible. You tell me that
your husband is asleep: why should
not this foolish girl be struggled out of
fhn Ln.,ca N q uttfafIv &C She xkra a Cp1if0-
glod into it2''
Mrs. Raeks was In too great a state
of excitement to be able to think clearly
or to know what to do at that moment;
but she did see. very distinctly, the ta-
bles turned upon that false husband of
hers when he woke In the morning to
find the girl gone. Already Mrs. Reeks
saw herself reveIing In a condition OF
stony silence, while Mr.. Reeks frantic
ally endeayo:ed to discover where the
girl had gone. and what part Mrs, r..
had played In the business. Under all
the circumstances il was. perhaps. only
natural that she should jump at a.
chance of r~evenging herself, and, at the
same time, getting rid of the visitor
a chance which was, moreover. ar easy
one.
a " 4 ~ o1 Y -
.,but I do know that I won't have that
woman In the house another FIVE min
utes. You are her guardia; you GER
tainIy have the right to take her away
and to bring her to her proper senses.
A pretty thing. indeed. IL respectable
men are to be made the victims of de-
signing"
at is a great shame. + admit" broke
r. Av.~n gtI...S rnrtarc the laos said
about the matter the better. Where Is
this young lady?"
Mrs. Reeks pointed toward the door
Of the sitting room; Nugent Leathwood
nodded and stretched out his hand fol
the candle.
eff you win permit me-" he said, ito
see the young lady alone for a moment,
i think / can have little difficulty in,
p~ersuading her to return with me-"
Mrs. Reeks closed her. eyes and shiv-
cred ~virtuously. II have no desire TO
see her. l can assure you,p she replied.
Nugent Leathwood took the candle
and passed quietly into the room. The
young girl had stretched herself out on
the old-fashioned chintz-covered sofa,
and was sleeping quietly; HI man
stood with the candle in his hand look
ing down at her for a moment in ST.
ience.
YES you're worth making a fight for,
my Steering Beauty" he muttered. i
believe / may even turn out a respect
able member of society If / once have
you with me. They tell me you've been
having dreams and visions, and such
like things, since that sickness of yours.
/ wonder what vision induced you to
come here, with that old mandman to-
night? Wen, l must induce you to go
back again. ami after that I'll run no
more risks of losing you"
He set down the candle. and then bent
over the girl and spoke her name in mis-
softest end most agreeable accents.
"Olivel'
She opened her eyes on tie instant,
and looked up at lin with a smile:
seemed. as she came fully awake, 10
recognize something in his face that
brough a shade Of fear to her own, and
started upright. The man laid a quiet
hand upon her shoulder.
Don't be frightened. Olive" he said;
ct have come to take you home. Do
you understand? To take you home"
She looked up at MIN wildly a moment.
as though she failed TO understand
where she was or how she had reached
that place. Nugent Leathwood, watch
ing her eagerly. wondered what clu he
should get as to the best fashion of per-
shading her to onIe away with him.
And. even while he waited, he got the
clue he sought.
The girls face cleared. as If by magic.
Whatever dream was in see poor, dis
turbed brain al that moment, found ex-
preston In the one word that had pow
er always TO call her back. even IL not
TO sane things, at least to the brighter
memory OF happier days She spoke
that one word. eagerly, now.
Gilbert! I might ave known: Gil
bera wants me-Gilbert has sent you TO
fetch me. He said always / was 10 so
10 him IL he sent
The man turnsd away from her, abb
ruptly. as though he could not bear
thu sight OF her smiling face. Always
that name!r he muttered. 'frhe fellow
might be killed a hundred times-might
be buried under a mountain-and she
would think Of him. III make her for
get him some day"
But he had got what he wanted. He
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