Oakes Republican., 1902-02-07
of course. it was necessary that Ie-

oe oo,rco II Was necessary that Je-
NV, &c The one peson into whose
a,.aaif,, nb,r,re t},. Girl had been put,
should make good her part OF the sto-
w.. II miaht nave gone hard with her,
,.l,r,,l1ad her husband, had she
failed to do this. Therefore. When some
two hours had elapsed after Gilbert
Eickerbv had returned, she entered the
room where Nugent lcathwood was
seated. smoking and writing, and Ia
conicallv delivered her message:
.Tt amt worth mdntonin', p'r'aps."
sha said but that gel is missin'
again" ~:
T,eatbwood sprang from his chair.
"yybat do YOU mean? Didn't l. tell you
to give strict attention TO her-heVer
let her out of your sight? Tomorrow
WAS to have taken her away with me,
as YOU know.
..Yos-T know that" said Jemima,
without moving muscle Oh lief iaee.
"And now you've let her so again!
But She can't have gone far; you nave
not looked for her. She must ne ABOUT
the place somewhere.
II list went away from the room
minute. an wen ] got back she was
CORN. Stoonid like, I left the door open;
so careless of me. l'ut I've united Ign
an low-an there amt no sign OF >el.
II tell YOU she must be in the grounds
somewhere or in the house. sssld Nu-
gent making for the door. You OLD
fool-as if You couldn't keep 1hat babE
of a girl safe, She mustn't get into
the streets as she is now, ne NUT
tered. as he hurried out of the room.
Goodness only knows what she might
saw. or What story she might tell OF
this Gilbert Rickerby, who is forever IN
her thoughts. observation-disclosures
neius.
Cornelius came shuf1ling out OF an
other SOON and confronted his master.
Nugent caught him by the arm and
Whispered what he had to say, as
though he feared someone Nigh hear
him. even in that house, to which no
one ever came.
"The girls gone. Don't stare like
thar: that old idiot Wife of yours has
let her slip. Alone, she can't have gone
far, and Jenlima says that she has
slipped out within these past few min
utes. Come along-you to the right,
to the left; we must bring her back!'
AS they hurried through the house
and into the garden, Leathwood con-
tinued to urge his fears breathlessly to
Cornelius.
Before, that girl. Ursula. brought
about the business, assisted by that
rascal, Reeks. I don't think she'd dare
to try it again. or he, either. II she
has merely slipped outcome on, dod-
derer: how slow you are-we may find
her; if there has been treachery again
they shall answer for it, whoever they
are. Gene back here if you don't find
her in ten minutes"
They separated and hurried off on
their different ways. Within ten min
utes they stood again ct the gate:
looked into each others eyes, and had
no need of words to tell that they had
failed.
"Not a sign of her anywhere said
Leathwood. savagely. I've stared into
the face of every woman I've seen: I've
raced down side streets after 9ASe]y
ones. Not sign of her: and you?7'
"she amt gorn my way-that I'll
swear said Cornelius. Nearly blown
I am and not so muyh as shake Of
her finger ave I seen. What do you
make of it?"
"I make treachery of it-that's what
L ildhe, So1lu lIedlllWOOu, closing ClG
gate and standing for & moment in the
darkness Of the garden. 'I don't like
it,; there's something here I don't un-
misunderstanding that takes the
nerve out of me. Think. man-wlat it
means! The only creature on earth
who could be interested in her is dean
we know how; vet there are people
conspiring and plotting 10 get this girl
away. Why?"
COW should I know?" asked Corne-
Illus, resentfully. Maybe they don't
like the looks of you, and they think
the gel would be better off somewhere
else. Don't ask me why!'
"I can't make it out" said T.aath-
wood, thoughtfully. He was staring at
the ground. He CHANGED 10 raise his
head as he spoke gave a sort of crv
and clutched Cornelius. "Look---fo,.
heavens sake, loolz!" he Whispered in
shaking voice. whats that?"
Cornelius Viewers. with q cur;o,s
feeling upon him, as though warm air
We're stirring about his scalp, turned
to look in the same direction. T1non
the blind of that room they had causa
to remember so we'll, appeared again
the shadow of a man-groWinp and
growing until it filled the snace No
tween the top and bottom of tho win
dow; then disappearing, as suddenly
as 1t had come. Cornelius breathed
heavily, but tried to look unconcerna,5
CTO BE Continuedl