The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-03-01
ture as may still be in it. You know

ture as may still be in It. You know
that, don't you?"
II amt likely to forget the 'ouse that
was orce the place my por dead mis-
tress lived IN" said the old woman. in a
low voice. Between those half-closed
lids Of hers she was watching him pref
ty narrowly, although her face never
che nged, and although he set her down
in his own mind, as a half-witted dull
lard, whose senses and emotions had
long since been ground out Of her by
hard work and dull, m~onotonous days.
quite So" he replied, easily. "But
what I wanted to say was this: That
although the house is untenanted, there
is always the fear that-well-that
tramps and other persons might try to
get nto It for the sake of shelter. I
suppose it is properly locked up and Sc
cured?"
"There amt nobody bin in it all these
years, not that I knows on" h said, in
the same dull, level voice.
"And you neva- ~hear-never hear any
noises there-eh?" He asked the ques-
ton in a lower voice, and with some
hesitation.
The old woman raised her head and
looked at him sharply for a moment;
then laughed. a quaint, dry sort Of
laugh, which seemed to shake him as
the sight or sound Of something uncan-
ny might have done. 'oh, yes-I ear
noises enough" she said. "Many's the
time at nights I've card an seen things
a, might ave upset me II I 'adnt
known what they was. Why, you saw
EN- once yourself."
IT? What do you mean?" ~
SsvTyA.~ ~1k 60 1No~ c{noo vnpV 90 NJ a
sEadder on the blind Of my poor, dead
an said"
There, never mind what I said. You
talk Of things you've seen and heard; I
tell you now, I don't believe 1t. You're
in some fiendish plot here; you know,
you are! You've got people in that
house-or you've lad them in there.
Gomez want the truth, and I mean to
have It." N' II
'I'm on'y tellin' you the truth" re-
piled the old woman, imperturably.
''Shall I say it again? There amt been
no one in that 'ouse but Master Gilbert
Rickerby-",
Take her away! Stop her tongue!"
cried Nugent, with his hands upon his
cars. "You were right, Cornelius; her
wits have gone long since. Take. her
away"
MI. Viewers seized Jemima by the
shoulders anG unceremoniously pushed
her out Of the room AMI shut the door
upon her. Immediately afterward there
came q quick knock at it. Cornelius
opened 1t, was thrust aside, and Ursula
Sewell came in. For a moment or two
Leathwood and the woman scowled at
each other in silence.
'Well," he said, at last, and what do
you want? I don't know now long you
mean to hang on here, or what you'll
gain in the long run. I don't want to
create a scandal, or I'd turn you out of
the gate into the street; falling that, !
o I must wait until you choose to
go Of your own accord"
1T want to speak to you'll must speak
to you,' she said, slowly, with a glance
at Cornelius.
WELL, say what you have to say, and
be done with it," said Leathwood, turn
ing away and looking owe some papers
at the desk. again, what do you
want?"
IT want to speak to you-alone." she
went on, with another glance at the
grinning Mr.. Viewers.
ct don't think that's necessary" he
said. Cornelius knows all that I do,
and everything about my business. 1t
you have anything to say, you can say
it; If you object to mis- presence. you
can 60"
Ursula hesitated q moment or two,
standing with one hand on her breast,
as though to control the passionate
things she would have said, glanced
again at the old man, and spoke:
"I wanted to tell you, il you will listen
to me. that you are in danger" she said.
Leathwood turned swiftly towards
her, waiting for her to go on. With an
other curious gesture of the hands, half
as though what h said were forced
from her and h said it against her
wish, the woman went on:
you are in great danger. I know
nothing Of the matter. or OF what you
are trying to do; but I know that all
your hopes and your desires are unded
upon what can never be, and never q
been. I scarcely know what I am say
ing, but I know that I speak the truth.
You believe Gilbert Rickerby to be
dead?"
II know him to be Dead" said Nu-
gent, in a low voice. 1T has been Q
claimed in all the papers that he rs
dead-that he died In hospital. ,What
then?"
.'That is where your danger lies" she
cried, earnestly. "Nugent' don't turn
from me; only believe in me and
trust me, and I'll save you. elIpeft
Rickerby is not dead!"
Nugent Leathwood seemed to reel ~
from q blow; recovered himself, and
shook his fist at Cornelius. II knew It
I knew it," he cried. 1.-THE body gone
slipped away without help. and without
q soul to aid 1t. BY Jove!-she's right
shes right"
wait q bit-wait . bft,,' urged Cor
nelius, putting up his hand. you don't
know what you're talking about. mas
ter. P'r'aps this lady as something
more to tell US. Il seems to me That
we've all bin .avin' dreams an visions
OF some sort. Now. miss. p'r'aps you,A
explain" ~
II can't explain-I won't" said Ursu-
la, .Oniy I know that 9 man called
GILBERT Rickerby has benin this place;
that the girl for whom you cast me
aside has met and talked with him;
that they are lovers. I know nothing
beyond that"
Nugent Leathwood stood perfectly
still IN the middle Of the room, staring
at the girl. Once, In. q daEed fashion, ne
put his hand to- his head then hc LET
the hand fan t., his side again. Finally.
,,,,ysth 4 hidden fierce. impatient geSsy