Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-03-06
CHAPTER tx.
Face IN Pare


Sugent L~eathwood had no doubt in
his mind hi what his man said was
true. He had been stunned when the
idea was first forced upon him, that the
Gilbert Rickerby, whom he had
seen, was, in some mysterious way, how
ering about. ready to fan upon him. he
had beer stunned afresh by the descrip-
tion-coinciding so exactly with his re-
collection Of the stranger who had at
tended az the IunsraI and whom he had
met al the inrgiyen by old Jemila
of the Gilbert RickeTby she had remem-
bered so well His first wild thought
was that the man he had strangled was
not really dead: that he had, IN some
fashion, regained life and yigor. n es-
capped from the house. Then, when
common sense told him that this was
absurd. he ceased 10 have any coherent
thought about the matter, n merely
waited. bewiidersd. for what might
happen. That he had blundared In SONS
way. he knew: but that he had killed
the servant instead Of the master new
er occurred 10 him
But IL this man was really Gilbert
Rickerby, the whole business q still
TO be faced; nothing had yet been done
TO bring about what he had so urgently
desired Ev=n whae he hooked at the
man. his brain seemed TO be reeltng un-
der the pressure OF q thousand Wild
thoughts: he thought Of that first
night, when the maj had come INTO the
room bearing the card OF Gilbert Rick
erby, ard keeping the appointment
made by Gilbert Rickerby: OF the bank
notes found upon the body Of that man:
Of the strange. lucky chance which en-
abled him to take advantage Of the
death OF Miles Prohyn, and TO set up a
grave. as IL 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 10 eBdezvor 10 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 1ha
house. But he was not the man 20
take defeat-especially vague defeat
lightly. he recovered himself In a mo-
ment. and bowed. ironically. 20 Gilbert
I've no doubt we shall fird much to
say TO each other before we finish he
said. But / must remiRd you that a
man who makes such a preposterous
claim as YOU have done must do some
thing TO s-ubstantiafs IL. II appears that
You know something Of this same GIL
bert Rickerby-or think you co-an6
you're going to try and trade On the
knowledge. It's . bold scheme. nay
friend: only q bold maa could have
thought OF X. / don't discuss my pri-
vate Affairs before other paorle: IL you
care 10 talk to me alone, IL listen 10
what you have TO say"
You win listen here and now-and be-
fore these people" replied Gilbert quiz
city.
You insolent dob,- cried Nugent,
pretending rat 10 cover up q deadly
fear which was creeping oyer him; q
you know whose house you ara in9"
"Yes-Eninei" came ths prompt reply.
Perhaps you would ike TO know how I
got into it,
II would be interesting" saia the
other. with a sneer.
Il ave lived here for some DAYS past:
! have been within a few yards OF You:
/ nave known ali about your incoEnings
and FOUR outgolngs You saw shadows
on the blind Of the old haunted house,
did your You saw lights come and go
about the windows-h? You hound.
murderer and proaigatei The time has
ccne when the shadows stand ont In
resliues-whsn the ghosts OF Riekerbys
Folly become flesh and blood 10 haunt
Mr. Viewers had Sesn 1Iowiy shut
fling along towards his wife. with an
evident intention 70 make a bolt Of u:
ne STOPPED when Gilbert SPOKE and
slowly scratched his head ard E-5rrAS
msliciouSiy.
Nugent Lea.hwood seated hirnself on
the edge Of the writing table, with his
hands thrust IN his pockets, and one
leg swinging. and nodded slowly 20 Gil
bert Go on. my inventive friend" ne
said I'm curious tc see how yeah
play TIE Part you have arranged for
yourself Let us Rave the whose thing"
You shall have IL an replied Gil
bert. and from the very beginning u
have arranged that my friend. M.
Reess- here. should be present tonight
ycur guilty soul as il was never haunt
"a before Ccrnehus"-he turned sharp
II In the direction Of the old man-s9s L
see o making towards the door sgsfn
IN twist that why neck OF yours a it,
tie nature has already done"
because there is a part Of the story
which he a tel: my old nurse. Je-
NINA Viewers f. also here az nay re-
Guest, because the story could not be
told well without her. Oh. yes: roo
shah G n all. Cousin Leafhwocd-
i see-I zee" uurnure3 Lesthwood
nadcing slowly and smiling. -cuite n
httle syndicate: al the facts GOT mp
beforehand and b plot carefully ar
ranged But 80 ONO on
Wien i frst received ycnr lettsr.~
began Gilbert. speaking xfsrnly and yet