Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-09-12

doctor drew the revolver from his breast
pocket and laid it before him on the ta
BILE 1t was unloaded, but it looked as
imposing as if there had been six mems
lives within it, and Monboddo was not
fond of loaded firearms. He drew a
single leaf of parchment from the
satchel, and then, taking the weapon in
his right hand, he held out the leaf.
Come and take this" he said, "and
go back to look at it."
Plain Mr.. Smith advanced. looking
Monboddo in the eye. The doctor had
not the appearance of a man who was
conspicuously brave. and plain Mr.. Smith
was a blood-stained desperate. who had
carried his life in many lands as men
in a spoon-race carry an egg in tea
spoon. BE walked up to MOnboddo very
slowly, quelling him with his eye as he
advanced, and Monboddo's rubies lost
their vivid color and took tones of mauve
and magenta. And plain Mr.. Smith
walked right up to the pistol barrel and
took the shaking leaf from Monboddo's
hand, and then, without word, possess
ed himself of the satchel, which still lay
upon the table.
Now" said he contemptuously, well
have a look at these, and then we'll talk
business. Put that thing down" he add
ed, indicating the revolver. IF it's load
ed you'll be doing mischief with it.
He stretched out his hand with such
perfect GOODNESS of mastery that Mon
boddo allowed him to seize and take away
the weapon. He opened it at the breech,
spun the chambers, and seeing that it
IN he of n
armchair a yard or two away, and be-
gan to examine the contents of the
satchel.
Yes" he said, ave seen all these be-
fore. They're right enough"
He had been as cool as a cucumber in
his defiance of Monboddo's revolver, but
he broke out in blotches of perspiration,
and his hand trembled visibly as he han
died these little leaves of parchment,
which to his Imagination gave their own
er the cue to uncounted millions.
DO you know what to do with these"
he asked, and he was so brusque and in
tense that he fairly frightened Monboddo,
who could think of nothing better to say
than that he had a sort of general idea.
- sort of a general season ticket for an
idiot asylum" said plain Mr.. Smith do
you know how to find the key to the
statement these things have got for the
man who can understand emp"
Yes" said Monboddo, 81 know
enough" Fe heartened himself by a
great exercise of resolution. IN thank
you to give me my property back again"
''AH in good time" said plain Mr..
Smith You sit there, and don't you
trouble yourself"
So Monboddo sat and unused within
himself as to what he should do with
this bold and overbearing adversary He
had won in a measure. He had persuad-
ed Jethroes pursuer that he had found
the thing of which he had been so long
in search, and MOnboddo was fairly sat
isfed, further, that the man no longer
doubted Jethroes death. But if he had
perhaps succeeded in this enterprise so
far as his employers interests were con-
cerned, he had no doubt whatever as to
the completeness of his failure with re-
gard to his own. Jethroe had signified
a means through which few loose thou
sands might be made by swindling the
unprincipled. Plain Mr.. Smith was not
in the least likely to part with any thou
sands for what he held in his hand
already, and it began to aff1ict Monboddo
to think that Mr.. Smith might even de-
tect the fraud which had been PLAYED
upon him, and take personal vengeance
upon his deceiver. He was, indeed,
bound to find out the truth sooner or
later. Monboddo wondered why he had
not estimated this certainty at its full
value earlier. He felt very, very sorry
for himself and he wept a few tears. 1t
was his time of day for being low-spir-
tied, for one thing.
I'm tell you what" said plain Mr..
Smith; you and neil go up to Chicago
together and get an expert to solve these
problems. Here's a plan of the chess
board with the key on it. When we've
got the message plain and straight We'll
go out to South America together"
How do you know it's South Amer
les p asked Monboddo.
obi" his companion answered with
a jeer. I've known that much wear
or two. When shall you be ready to
come to Chicago"
But 1 don't want to CO." said Mon
boddo tearfully. Il want my property
back again, that's what l want"
You can please yourself, you know"
said Mr.. Smith. I'm going, and I'm 60
ing tonight l shall start by the mid
night mail"
IF you don't give me my property"
said MOnbodfo, handkerchief in hand and
tears in full flow, Il shall call in the po-
lice"
"Oh, DEAR no. said Mr.. Smith. ''You
won't do that, you know. because you
stole this nroDerty Yourself -
NO l didn't" wept Monboddo. at
was given to me. 1 mean 1 found it,
"Well, now" said plain Mr. Smith
Its been given to mel mean 1 found
it-and I'm going to stick to it till | get
it translated"
Then" said Monboddo, I'm going to
make a clean breast of it, and tell rela-
tives of deceased"
Hold on therew said Mr.. Smith, seiz-
ing him as he began to lurch away.
You release me, sirr exclaimed Mon
boddo, with tragic dignity. Il am going
to do my duty to honorable family.
They're ready to give ten thousand down
in ready money. That's inducement to
any honest man to do his duty"
You sit down and talk business" said
Mr.. Smith. How do you know whether
I'm willing to pay until we've had a
chance of talking things overY
II am going to do my duty" said Mon
boddo, and by this time he was really
persuaded that he was on his way to a
noble action. He waved the adversary
aside, and made for the door, but Mr..
Smith suddenly laid hands upon him. and
by an unexpected display of agility and
strength flung him into an armchair.
where he sat down so hurriedly and
heavily that he left his wits behind him.
The chair mus have been an unusually
solid piece of f rniture, for except that
it recoiled a foo or two under Monbod-
dos impetus, it was unaffected by his
plunge into it. But Monboddo himself
was absolutely as Indifferent as the chair.
He made not movement and gave no
sign of life for quite considerable num-
Der of seconds, during which plain Mr..
Smith stood watching and listening with
barred teeth and cleaning eyes. Then the
hslf-recumbent figure heaved one great
sigh; the limbs and hands began to dis
pose themselves as if for slumber. Wheth-
or Mouhoddo thoupht ar III of tb;S ro,,,h