Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-05-15

: the paper?
Il have not. What was the nature
of it?''
ut is 81 no Importance, the nature
of it. You have not seen the paper?"
Possibly have seen it, but as you
have not told me what it is"
Il thought at the time that fellow
was lying, and that he thought of you
as shield for himself
'Is this all you wanted to see me
about?" said Irving, with apparent
disappointment.
"Oh, by the way, you did not spend
the night at your rooms ?''
NO." said Irving, indifferently.
"How was that?"
"See here, colonel, doesn't it occur
to you that you are taking a vast deal
of interest in my affairs?''
We'll, you see, / like you, Warde."
Thanks
''4And you might find it to your in
terest to know something about the
paper"
1T is valuable, then?"
"Are you sure you don't know any
thing about the paper?''
Bother the paper! Why, if had
it in my pocket now, do you suppose
that l would give it to you without
having description of it?"
Pm sorry that you can't help me
about it, as it is of great Importance
to some friends of mine.'
BY the way" said Irving, is there
any news in the Wright case?''
The colonel looked at him penetrate
ingly for moment and then replied:
"Why do you ask? am out of the
case"
81 thought you took deep interest
in it on account of the family
Il think ought to ask you the
news about it."
"It's tribe stale, now. but I sup
pose the people will wake up when
the trial begins. Have you any idea
what the line of defense will be?''
None whateser. In fact other
business of very important charac
ter has occupied all my attention of
late.''
| During this conversation Merivale
| yawned repeatedly and looked inn
mense1y bored, as if he wished Warde
would go and give him an opportunity
to resume business with Franklin. He
toyed with newspaper for a while
mpatiently, and somehow Irving re-
ceived the impression that this inn
patience was largely assumed for the
1 occasion.
AT last Warde left the two men
alone. They looked at each other in
silence. Then Merivale spoke with a
sneering laugh: THAT young man
has outwitted you completely, Frank
| lin. He has your paper put away
safe; probably it is in Everett's pos
session. And there is another thing
4 that is perfectly apparent that
4 young fellow was as sober last night
4 as you are this minute. It is now
ten o'clock. We know that he was in
his room at eight, and at Everett's
shortly after, and there is not the
faintest sign Of dissipation about him.
I'm surprised that you have allowed
yourself to be SO easily deceived.
Well, I have advanced considerable
money to you to carry out this enter
prise, and have asked no questions
regarding the way it was expended;
but tell you now must have some
! vesults."
"But we are on the very brink OF
success, and If you throw it up now
you will lose everything. Nothing
but series of unfortunate events
could have prevented the accomplish
, ! msnts of our designs. II you desert
me now am simply ruined
"Well, I'll stick to you few months
i longer, not because care anything
about you. have no time for sym.
pathy with individuals; besides il
isn't business. only care for the
success of movements. II your
scheme could be carried through il
! would save me several millions; that
would be clear pickup. # yor
4 fail / shall try scheme Of my own
One thing is sure: Warde must BIZ
: got away from here. I'll try and ge,
him an opening in New York"
II Late that afternoon Warde rar
: across Hillsman, who had just got
up. The debauch Of the night before
had told plainly upon him, his flushed
t face and bloodshot eyes bearing con
Il elusive evidence against him. He die
: not allude at all to. the meeting o
t the previous evening, and it was eyi
dent that dissipation had drawn
, veil over all that had happened ant
4 left In his mind merely blank
Il Warde was considerably relieved OF
: this score, for at present he did no
: care to complicate matters by having
j. to consider Frank as an element ii
! them.
! At eight o'clock Warde and Mr.. Ev
a erett were again closeted together
!. and the paper that had caused such |
$ vast amount of trouble was taks1
/ from the safe and carefully read. I
t was dated 90 years before the tim,
X of this story. The handwriting wa'
!, bold and plain. The following wer'
the contents in full:
AGREEMENT BETWEEN JOHN I
WRIGHT AND JAMES FRANKLIN.
John T. Wright has this day made tn
following transfers of property with tn
III subjoined understanding with Jane
: Franklin: The Wright, homestead. 50
= acres. all improvements. The Magnoli,
D plantation, 1000 acres, in - parish
e Louisiana. The Coahoma plantation. s.
. 670 acres, in Mississippi. The Queen Cit
: plantation. 1850 acres. In Arkansas.
lot ON Maine and Boulevard in the cit
: of Nilus. so by $50 feet. A lot on Linde
e street, near the Bayou. 100 by 200 fee,
A lat an rr,yU r1oov~ Mo- icn =,