Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-04-12

the cover or DARKNESS, II we might not
actually wrest from its abominable
holders the gold and jewels Of the
treasure. At 10 o'clock we three were
gathered within the shelter of the deep
thicket before the Woodmun. Mont
gomery had taken up his position there
by light, out reported that there had
been nc movement in the inn.
Within our coign of vantage we rest
ed, pecping through the interSticeS of
the foliage upon the Woolman. The
windows cleaned With light. but be-
yond that there was III mark Of life.
Halt an hour went by in this way,
and then a sound Of voices rose from
the inn, and presently there emerged
from the doorway two men. who stood
in conversation for 4 few minutes be-
fore the house. 1t was too dark to
make Them out distinctly. but one l
set down rs Hood. After a time they
separated. Hood, Is supposed him to
be, returning into the inn and his com
panion walking down the road away
from us. II we We're to effect anything
this man must be followed, and I
whispered as much 10 the others. deter
mining to take the duty on myself.
Slipping through the copSe, therefore,
| struck downward through the fringe
of wood that hordered the road. My
progress was naturally slower than
that of the man l was tracking. and
soon l was surprised to lose The sound
Of his feet. But 4 moments reflection
convinced me that he had turned off
the roadway and was proceeding, like
myself. through the forest. This con
viction became certainty a little later,
When. pauSing to resolve upon my di-
r%ection. l heard the noise of breaking
sticks ahead of me and q brushing
among the foliage. Guided by these
sounds. | shifted my path and went
forward. | imagine now that the mar
must have heard me Just as l had
news of him in the wood and that he
knew he was being followed. At the
time l thought myself undiscovered,
for | moved with slight noise. Yet
what happened was this: | suddenly
ceased once more to get tidings of him.
nansnl anl vaitn1 b,,t tba v,1l,r
(for We were now winding into the bot
TOM WIS Stagnant with silence. save
for the purling stream in the distance.
Slowly ana cautiously | pushed on and
came out into a more open sDace.
where | stood silent. waiting again. |
must have remained there. still and at
tentive to all the tiny rap1,,ras Of the
nocturnal urietudc fin. moro ,han half
an hour. But I heard nothing of my
man. ana so in some disgust resolved
to abandon the nllrs1,it Patracino my
steps, ! climbed up to the road and re-
Joined my companions ia the thickct.
I found Sheppard in what for him was
a bad temper.
Our sport is being ,noiled" he said
imna1icntlv. and +, nv o,1ostin,s add
ed. Jones"
"What is he about:' | asked.
".Aruarentlv ON The same GRAND as
| ourselves" he observed
considered. WED better 90 back
| sald. The less Jones sees of Us the
- '-N' cS'tNNS' NV II wv Jul HOlh
1or US
think we all welcomed the sugges-
ton. for we We're all nightly weary of
the game. but We retreated to the cas-
tie in some chagrin. Sheppard pulled
at liS pipe for some time in silence.
wei, what do YOU think Of it?' he
QueFied after a time.
my head. Il felt better this
AFTERNOON.
80 dld L. he returned.
You re not geng to give up?' asked
montgomery.
We both laughed. Not VET | said.
There's plenty of time for despair"
well. We'll consider the position to-
morrow said Sheppard. vawning.
With which we got to bed, and for
one slept like the graveyard dead.
rode into Raymond next morning
! with Montgomery. taking the road
upon the south side of the valley. away
from the Woodman, upon which SbeD-
n,,d nron,i.oa w
an,r. 1;a
~ - 80