Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-11-30
ing face of DR.. Armstrong at the door.

iAS wv W ~ 3ii'ol oLS u LIN Nool.
so. gentlemen" said he, "you have
att ned Tour end and have certainly
chosen Il %"ticularly delicate moment
fo:' Your il .'usion. l would not brawl
in the presence of death, but | can as
ure you that if l We're Il younger man
pass with impunity."
Excuse me, DR.. Armstrong, 1 think
we are Il little at cross purposes said
my friend, with dignity. IF you
could step downstairs with us we may
each be able to give some light to the
other upon this miserable affair"
A minute later the grim doctor and
ourselves We're in the sitting room be-
low.
We'll, sir?" said he.
81 wish you to understand, in the
first place, that l am not employed by
Lord Mount-James and that my sym
pathies in this matter are entirely
against that nobleman. When a man
is lost it is my duty to ascertain his
fate, but having done so the matter
Gill; w q tS L Ill lllSu. anu 50
long as there is nothing criminal l am
much more anxious to hush up private
scandals than to give them publicity.
If, as l imagine, there is no breach Of
the law in this matter, you can abso-
lutely depend upon my discretion and
out of the papers,"
DR.. Armstrong took a quick step for
ward and wrung Holmes by the hand.
You are 4 good fellow" said he. Il
had misjudged you. l thank heaven
that my conjunction at leaving Door
Staunton all alone in this plight caused
me to turn my carriage back and SO to
make your acquaintance. Knowing as
much as you do, the situation Is very
easily explained. A year ago Godfrey
Staunton lodged in London for a time
and became ~passionately attached to
his landlady's daughter, whom he mar
ried. She was as good as she was
beautiful and as intelligent as she was
good. NO man need be ashamed of
such a wife. But Godfrey was the heir
to this grabbed old nobleman, and it
was quite certain that the news Of his
marriage would have been the end of
his Inheritance l knew the lad well,
and I loved him for his many excellent
qualities. We did our very best to
keep the thing from every one. for
when once such a whisper gets about if
is not long before every one has heard
it. Thanks to this lonely cottage and
his w discretion, Godfrey has IN to
now succeeded. Their secret was
known to no n save to me and to
one excellent servant, who has at pres
ont gone for assistance to Trumpinp-
ton. But at last there came a terrible
blow in the shape Of dangerous illness
to his wife. 1t was cOnsumDtiOn of tho
most virulent kind. The poor boy was
half craZcd with grief, and vet he had
TO &c to London to play this match, for
he could not get out Of it without OK.
plantations which would expose his 60.
crct. ] tried to cheer him up by wire.
and he sent me II in reply implorinr
me to do all | could. This was ,hc tn,n
gram which ,Nou appear in eomr iury
pllrablc WAY to have seen. ala ung
tell him how urgent the danger was
for ! knew Mat h" could do no good
mere, but ! sent the truth 10 III" girl+
father, and h" very iniudlriou.lv ON
mnniraIcd it 10 Godfrey IN" result
was ilI9t b." came straight away in ,
stat" bordering ON rrcn2y and h,s re
manned ia IL" same state. kncrljuu. Vt
tn" "nh of her bed, un,jl tllis t.prnjup
dr''' ''' an cad I" her Su~rcrings
That Is all Mr. IIolu9"s. aud am