Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-04-05
would not trespass upon o

ing, for l had not the fuinte>t notion
of what he was driving at.
You are aware" he continued in his
pleasant voice. that there is an access
TO the dungeon in which, juSritiably or
pthorwiSe-I express no opinion-you
confined our host"
l bowed and slipped my whisky and
water.
You are also aware" he went on.
that now YOU, the only other person
who has knowledge Of that private
road. are, let us say, enjoying the hos
pitality OF the Woodman. the treasure
chests are not likely TO remain long
where they are"
He waited on my answer as if some
thing anxious. but l merely nodded
and watched him. Captain Sercombe
from his comfortable attitude bent his
red browS at ne. May l ask you,
MI. Greatorex.'' he said quite coolly,
'if you happen to have locked the door
Of the dungeon"
For answer and without giving the
matter a thought l produced the key,
which. as 1 have already narrated. ]
had put i'll my pocket.
Sercombe's eye lightened. He rose
and went to the door. opening it and
glancing into the darkness. Then he
returned and drew his chair nearer to
mine.
you made me a proposition this
afternoon" he said earnestly.
sI liS - co;j 7 iyrN;,h T rnr- 1nr 20
retract."
ut was not good enough" he went
on. paying no attention to my sarcasm
mot nearly good enough. But what
do YOU say if make one to you now:'
I shrugged my shoulders. Il am at
your mercy" l said.
Il envy You your powers of ease" he
said. Il am pretty good. but l admit
you beat me. But come. I am making
YOU a proposition. What do you say?"
II have already said it,"
II see l Will get no more change out
Of YOU" he said soberly. But l know
a man TO trust when l see him. That
has been my safeguard. Mr.. Greatorex.
And | know a man to distrust. though
sometimes it is unavoidable He
broke of. Your friends don't know
where you went tonight?' he asked
suddenly.
"Why do you ask 1 said.
"1f the dungeon door is locked it is
impossible that they can get into it.
But if your friends had the key he
went on, growing very earnest. what
would happen? 1 imagine that they
would open the door. find the bird
flown and perhaps the entrance to the
secret passage disclosed
This began to interest me. What ~
the rascal's purpose?
"Well:' I put in.
He lowered his voice. which convey
ed q certain effect Of fear to my mind.
"1n which case the treasure would
remain in the possession Of the castle"
You speak like a book Of Euclid |
returned, after a pause. Aid now.
captain. let me ask in my turn what
proposition are you making to mc:'
He considered for a There
are three Of you he said. But / con-
TESS l cannot reckon my friend Mont
gomcry. Let US say two. then. | am
willing to go halves with YOU. In
which case. as you will see, there is a
quarter for Yourself"
You would betray your associates"
l. said dryly.
Pardon me- said the captain, we
are not here to pass criticisms on NOR
ais. And, if it comes to that. what ara
we all! l see no pin prick between
us. l 90 not invite your conclusions
on my conduct. I have the honor to
make you a proposal"
The rascal leaned back in his chair
ana watched me with u curious air of
Satisfaction. Indeed, his complacency
was we'll grounded, and l could not but
admit to myself that he was making
me a handsome offer. His distrust or
his lear OF HoOd was stronger than his
greed, and it was to that we owed this
unexpected intercession when fate had
turned clean against us. Here was 7,
a prisoner and with no possibility of
escape. The treasure lay at tie mercy
OF these v~a2abonGs, and even at this
moment the pieces might be slipping
through Hoods loving fingers. A.ssur-
edly should be a fool, l thought, to
refuse sercombe's compromise. He
must certainly have made the proposal
IN good faith. for all l was invited to
90 was to surrender the key, a key
winch could be Of no possible use to
MIN now that the subterranean en-
trance to the dungeon had been dis
covered. I withdrew it from my peck
1t. He nodded confdentially.
That is all | ask" he said.
And ~ I Queried.
You shall be at liberty ut the earli,
bst opportunity I can find" lie return
cd. observe, Mr.. Greatorex. that I
am taking q great risk. | am depend
Ing upon your word"
IF ! give it," | re. led, you may
depend upon it. You will warn my
companions" I asked.
Il Will see that they pay Il visit to
their prisoner" said he. land ] reckon
they Will want little warning after that
you may take the key" said after
u pause. But at that moment a slight
sound as of soft feet upon the creakIne
stairway reachad IN larnnyuha mhtt