Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-08-15
CHAPTER Ix.-fContinued.,

The Doctors fat bulk began to shiver
under his hand and he released him.
Monboddo skunk into an armchair, and
sat there covering and pitiable. Jethroe
planted himself with his back to the
fire. There was silence for a space of
two or three minutes
"Of course" said Jethroe, at length,
Il could make it extremely unpleasant;
but you dismiss any such idea from your
mind. l never played the sneak yet, and
I'm not going to begin now. / mention
these little things just to show my knowl-
edge of the fact that the man 1 want
TO serve me has not always been over
scrupulous."
Look at me now" said Monboddo,
suddenly, 'and / began life as a gentle
man."
Not your said Jethroe, with laugh.
You fuddled yourself with wine when
you were a schoolboy. YoH loafed your
student days away in billiard rooms.
Don't meet me with that kind of rot,
Monboddo. Name your price" II" wait
ed, and no answer coming, he spoke
again. "Ill name it for you, and I'll
salve your conscience into the bargain.
Read that" He took from a pocketbook
scrap of newspaper and handed it to
MonAoddo, who after a while made shift
to master it's contents. "Now read that.
He passed over another scrap of news
paper, and waited until his companion
returned it. THAT fellow Edgecome for
his own purposes was personating me,
and he was murdered in mistake for me-
The men who killed him mean to mark
me down. | don't mean to let 'em do 1t.
So long as they believe me to be above
ground the hunt will go on. That is why
l mean to disappear"
Its a dangerous game" said Mon
boddo TREMENDOUSLY. Tine law doesn't
inquire into motive in these matters"
I'm pay" said Jethroe. Then he
paused, looking down at the doctor, wso
gradually Strengthened himself to look at
him. III pay" he repeated, and
then paused aGain-"fve thousand dol
lars"
MAKE it-make it-ten, and it's a
bargainr' Monboddo gasped.
Give" said Jethroe, coolly; "and it's
a bargain, and a better bargain than you
looked for, Tom Monboddo. have my
Ian laid out already, and will talk it
yer comfortably after dinner"
II suppose" Monboddo ventured-"l
oppose you couldn't make it convenient
o oblige me with a trife on account?
m a little pressed, as it happens. I'm
I'm a trife in arrears with the land
ord here, for example, and the-ah!-
the village tradesmen are-exigent at
times. They're Inbred brutes, these peo-
pie. Boeotians sir-boors."
you can take that for handsel," said
Jethroe.
Zone hundred.' exclaimed Monboddo.
You are generous indeed! you are in
deed generous, my dear sir" He folded
the notes which JethrOe had COntemptu-
ously let fall before him and thrust them
into a pocket.
There was a knock at the door, and
q rosy old woman came in with a tray
and began to arrange the table. JethrOe
fell into talk with her, and she became
voluble about the business of the tourist
season, and the contrasting quiet of the
winter. The doctor slipped back to the
kitchen and. having astonished the land
lord by asking for change for ten-dOllar
note. amazed him still further by paying
his bill.
81 have reason to believe" DR.. Mon
that my circumstances are about to I'M
dergo a change-a change of no small
magnitude-of no small magnitude, my
friend"
When dinner had been served and
cleared away, Jethroe expounded his
scheme The doctor was firm upon his
feet by this time, being one of that mel
ancholy contingent who drink themselves
day by day into possession of their sod
den senses, and wake to tie bemused
helplessness of intoxication in the morn
ing.
"You will find me entirely loyal to your
purpose, Mr.. JONES'" he said, as he pre-
pared to face the stormy night in his
own ramshackle trap. Il have all your
instructions in mind. and they shall be
obeyed to the letter"