Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-08-05
CHAPTER Ix.--tContinued.,

CHAPTER IA.--(COntinued.D
The Doctors fat bulk began to SILVER
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 space Of
two or three minutes.
'Of course" said Jethroe, at length.
IL could make 1t 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 l want
to serve me has not always been over
scrupulous."
"Look at me now" said Monbodio,
suddenly, "and began life as a gentle.
man."
"Not you" said Jethroc. with n laugh.
"You fuddled yourself with wine when
you were schoolboy. You loafed your
student days away In billiard rooms.
Don't meet me with that kind Of rot.
Monboddo. Name your price" lie wait.
ed, and no answer coming, he spoke
again. "lll name 1t for you, and III
salve your conscience into the bargain
Read that" lie took from pocketbook
q scrap Of newspaper and handed II to
Monboddo. who after a while made shift
to master its contents. snow read that
He passed over another scrap Of news
paper, aud waited until his companion
returned IL THAT fellow Edgecome fol
his own purposes was personating me
and he was murdered In mistake for me
The men who killed him mean to marx
me down. I don't mean to let 'em do II
80 long as they believe me to be above
ground the hunt will go on. That Is why
/ mean to disappear"
ats a dangerous game" said Mon
boddO TREMENDOUSLY. '"lne law doesn''
inquire into motive In these matters"
"I'll pay" said Jethroe. Then HI
paused, looking down at the doctor. wst
gradually Strengthened himself to look a
him. "l'll pay" he repeated. ant
then paused again--"tive thousand dol
lars"
"Make it--mnke item. and It's Z
bargain" Monboddo gasped.
"Five," said Jethroe, cOolly: "and IT,
Q bargain. and better bargain than yo'
looked for, Tom Monboddo. l have m!
plan laid out already. and will talk y
over comfortably after dinner"
II suppose Monboddo ventured--."I
suppose you couldn't make It convenien
to Oblige me with trihe on account
I'm little pressed. as 1t happens. In
I'm u trHe in arrears with the land
lord here. for example. and the-ah!-
the village tradesmen are-exigent a
times. They're ill.bred brutes, these PEG
pie. Boeotians. sir--boOrs."
"You can take that for handsel," salt
Jethroe.
Zone hundred!' exclaimed Monboddo
"YOu are generous indeed! You are In
deed generous. my dear sir" lie folde,
the notes which Jethroe had cOntemptu
ously let fall before him and thrust then
into a pocket.
There was n knock at the door. an'
q rosy old woman came In with tra.
and began to arrange the table. Jethro
fell into talk with her, and she becnm
voluble about the business Of the tours
season, and the contrasting quiet Of tn
winter. The doctor slipped back to tn
kitchen and. having astonished tho land
lord by asking for change for ten.dolln
note. amazed him still further by payin
his bill.
II have reason to believe" DR.. Mon
boddo whispered to him mysteriously
"thnt my circumstances are about to III
dergo a change--a change Of no SINAI
mngnitude--of no small magnitude, m
friend"
When dinner had been served an
cleared away, Jethroe expounded hi
scheme. The doctor was firm upon hi
feet by this time. being one Of that me-
ancholy contingent who drink themselve
90 81 ntv
den senses. and wake to the bemuse
helplessness Of intoxication In the morn
ing.
"You will find me entirely loyal to you
purpose. Mr.. jones'" he said. as he pre-
pared to face the stormy night In hi
own ramshackle trap. II have all you
instructions In mind. and they shall b
obeycd to the letter."