Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-01-23

liust Cornelius."
After a moment or SO the noise OF
someone moving about in another room
was heard. and then the shutting steps
OF the old man. Directly afterwards
Leathwood drew in his head. saying 10
some one outside: Here. / want you;
there's business for you here.
The old man came I'm slowly, dressed
In a long. faded dressing gown, or no
particular color and OF no particular
cut: In his hand he carried a battered
tin candlestick, and he locked all about
him with sleepy, resentful eyes
well. what the dickens is IL now?
he asked, VITA a snarl. First, I'm
dragged out of bed in the middle or the
night by some wretched woman who's
lost 'er husband; I'm kept talkin' at the
gate in a bitin' wind, tryin' TO persuade
Ter that we don't keep stray 'usbands
ERE: an now you start shoutin' all
over the 'ouse for me. afore I've got
fairly warm in bed again. What Is it,
Don't talk there; there's been a
great deal too much talking already,
said Nugent, quietly. h the door.
Then, as the old man obeyed, wonder
irgly, Nugent pointed at the trem-
bling Mr.. Hubbard. Look at this man.
I found him in the garden just now.
shouting mad things about murder, and
bodies hidden az night, and what not.
/ tell you, Cornelius, we stand in lead
~ danger. But a few hours ago a man
came here, claiming TO be Gilbert RICK
erby, and knowing, 1 daresay, a great
deal more thar he confessed. A little
time since his wife put in an appear
once demanding TO Enow where he was,
and threatening, Heaven knows what,
fl we couldn't give her the Information
D which she asked. BY Jove, man.
don't you see that we shall have the
place about our ears before we know
v here we are? I curse the day ] ever
knew the name of Gilbert Rickerby;
but III fight this thing out to the bitter
end I've got a big stake to win or 10
lose and, If I'm to lose 1t, I won't lose
it lightly"
Whose doin' the taikin' now?" asked
Cornelius, 'If you've brought me ere to
pirate about what you'n do and what
YOU won't do, you'd best let me go to
ped again. AS for this fellow, I know
nothin' about i'm, 'cept what 'e's said
'fmself. Ask Jemima."
Now, Nugent Leathwood was so GER
tain IN his own mind that Mr.. Hubbard
had discovered something concerning
the murder that IL never entered his
thoughts to ask any questions about
the matter; of all things, that was the
ono he was most anxious to avoid. But
he had his suspicious, naturally enough.
about a man who apparently prowied
about at night and talked of dead bod
les: he wanted to know who that man
was, and why he had come to Kicker
by's Folly. After gazing gloomily at
the young mar for a few moments. tie
turned suddenly on Cornelius.
Fetch Jenima," he said. IN clear
this matter up at ono III have no
spies lurking about here and prying
into things that don't concern them.
Fetch Jemima."
Cornelius took up his candlestick n
shufIIed away to the door. AS ne
OPENED ft he paused and looked back at
his master.
you've put your and TO a tougher
lob than ever man mastered yet. he
said. solemnly. "On'y mind-there amt
no 'us' about IL: you stands alone IN
this" With that he opened h door
and was gone.
In the Interval before his return Nu-
gem Leathwood said not a word. ne
paced about the room. now and then
glancing at his prisoner. even stopping
once or twice, as though he had made
up his mind TO say something; then
repenting OF 1T and striding on again
When, ar last, steps were heard outside
he stool still and awaited the coming OF
Jemima and her husband.
They came in. yet with what a diff
ference between them! Cornelius
showed in every line Of his face dis
Trust and resentment. mingled with a
little fear of what was going to hap
rem: the old woman was as calm and
u~rconcerned as ever, and turned her
lack-luster eyes upon Nugent and the
other man with a faint air of surprise.
Cornelius shut the door, and, as a pre-
c~autionary measure, put his back
against 1t.
Now, Jemima,' began Leathwood,
'let us have the whole truth. I'm 10th
to think you've been playing me false
about his matter; / want TO know ex-
actly how we stand. This young nan
here was brought by you into the
house
Not by me, Mr.. Leathwo0d-beg-
GIN your pardon" broke in Jenima,
wagging her old head, so that the gray
hair fell about her expressionless face;
mot by me. Cornelius introduced tie
young gent to me. an said as 'ow st
was my son. An I've seen too much
OF Cornelius not TO know 1t amt well
to conterdict i'm
"But. good heavens. you surely know
your own SOM" cried NLgent. This
man Is brought here, claiming to be
your son; you accept him as such"
"On'y under orders. Mr.. Leathwood,"
said the old woman, submissively. "The
on'y child I ever 'ad died OF Group at
the age of eighteen months, Just three
months after Cornelius left me. Wen
this g~ent'-she indicated Mr.. Hubbard
with one hand. but did not look at him
-"came along and said as ow e was
my son. / didn't think II was worth
vile conterdictin' I'm. In fact. il
wasn't worth mentionin'. I thought II
Cornelius 'ad took it into is cad to
adopt a CROWN boy, It wasn't fer me
to raise no objection" She smiled be-
nipuly up0u the a~isc0ntfted Cornelius.