Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-02-20

were for away. 'Cn, anything, any
thing: get some brandy. All these
things crowding on me at once. have
taken the nerve out Of me somehow; l
want rac.ng UP. Yes. get some BRAN
dy."
There was no hesitation about Corne-
Illus when he set out on h a errand. In
a few minute he re-entered the room
with a bottle of brandy, some glasses
and water. Nugent half-flled a tum-
bier with the neat spirit and drank IT
of. blinked and coughed a little, and
then smiled on the other man.
That's the stuff" he cried. ut puts
heart into a man. Cornelius. / was
rough with you just now-said things
ought not to have said. Forget IT; j
didn't think what / was saying"
Don't mention It." said Cornelius,
drily, looking al his master and then at
the bottle. Il don't mind"
I'm driven into a corner. Cornelius,
went on Nugent; but they'll find me
with my back to the wall. I'm fighting
for a big stake. and I'll fight TO the
death. Pour me u some more brandy
and help yourself"
Neither of them thought of the water;
y NEtAL. bNA1AS~ AN IN
worked I'D TO a certain pitch: Cornelius,
because water in sny shape did not APP
peal TO him. But Is must be remem-
bered that the younger man was excit-
ed. and threw off whatever effect the
spirit might have had easily enough;
the old man was cool enough, and
drank for the sake Of drinking. So
that, naturally enough. in a short time
Cornelius came under the influence OF
what he had taken, while Nugent, for
the best part, paced abou. the room
and, save that his face was flushed and
his eyes bright. appeared none h
worse. Only. as the glass was emptied.
Nugent Leathwood had bred in him a
certain dangerous hooking demon that
might carry him far, and carry him
recklessly owe anything. The DID man
merely became somnolent.
Fate plays strange tricks with men,"
said Nugent. with a laugh. Here We
stand to-night-you n with u
work nearly finishe ]. with this girl in
the same house with ourselves, and
only a chuckle-headed old transformer
and his wife TO keep guard over her.
On that night when ] killed Gilbert
Rickerby ] set out to do afthing few
men would rave dared: / put my hand
to a work that would have appalled, the
stoutest. Do o hear me, Cornelius?"
Cornelius was almost too far gone 10
hear anything. but ne sat up at the
summons and murmured, sleepily:
Jus SO, JUS so, master. You'll win
yeti"
Win, I should think I would! Do
grnn think n FNnla1 an nlA man fD rSS
dotage for nothing? Do you think /
schemed to keep Gilbert Rickerby way
from home. and from England, for
nothing? Why, what is there 10 fear?
A few simple FOOLS, who can be bought
at the price I like to suggest; a helpless
girl, without 4 real friend or relative in
the world Cornelius-do you heal what
/ say?"
He walked across to the old man and
shock him roughly by the shoulder.
Mr.. Viewers rolled his heavy head about
once or twice. AMI then dropped it for
ward on the table. Nugent fell back
from him and surveyed him fr%owningly.
II wonder if you're to be trusted" he
n4uttered. Il can't trust any man now
II daTS not. The only thing that keeps
this creature loyal to me is the thought
that I car pay him well for his silence.
Suppose he knew that I have scarcely a
Jenny in the world: that the fortune
left In my hands for Gilbert Rickerby
was squancered long ago; that the
money ! am supposed to a for these
papers which are to be brought to me,
has already been broken into for neces-
sary expenses. Would he stick TO me
then? Oh. Heaven! What a position is
mine. taht / can only hold the moose
from my neck with hands filed with
gold: that there Is not on earth one
creature tonight who would stretch out
a hand for love of me to save me-"
He poured out some more brandy AMI
drank 1t OF; and that softer mood
passed from him. A more reckless one
o Its place-a mood in which he was
prepared to do anything. and to dare
anything. to gain what he wanted. He
came across to where the old man sat.
with his head on the table, and looked
at him critically: he had to steady him
self by the table as he did SO. for the
room was swaying around him as he
strove to stand upright.
Asleep" he muttered. why should
I wait: why should / not have the fun
advantage Of what Is offered me- This
girl-alone and friendless-out of her
mind. they say-why should I not2" He
began to move unsteadily about the
In his growing excitement. "a
lucky chance has brought me TO the
very place where she is. j am no milk
and-water creature. to stand aside for
questions Of right or wrong: I love her
by the sheer right of conquest she Is
mine. Fer lover Is dead: there IS no
n In the world to whom she can turn.
h IL mine-she is mine!"
He stumbled toward the door, turned
the key and pulled il open; closed II
again and went back 10 the table. He
picked up his glass and emptied the
fiery stuff down his throat: then made
again for the door. On the threshold Of
1t he paused and tried TO steady himself
and TO know where he was.
Let me think-let me think. Corne-
Illus said hat the room was to the right
of this-the third door. Third door,
Now. my Slesp:ng Beauty-no need TO
run away with you-no need-"
Ha was ont I'm the ~ tha cor