Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-04-19
[coNTINUED.1


trary. l am guided by reason, and
take leave to say it is yours that is the
sentiment. We have shed blood; that
l bad. We have been the cause Of
~bloodshed, and that IN q way is worse
at least 1t seems SO TO lie. | am not
taking upon NE the obligations Of that
murder. The plain truth j ,Lat had
we not been involved III tbs teul the
man would have been alive this Gay,
If we go on it will be with Increasing
ferocity. We shall set passions in mo-
ton like q machine. the force OF which
is irresistible. the end Of which is dis
aSter. ask You to consider that"
Sheppard turned softly 10 MontSou-
cry. What 90 you say" lie asked.
Il agree with what Great9rez says"
he answered sturdily, Let Us g. ~
and finish the bru1eS. They've done
for Williams. poor chap. Its time we
did for them"
Sheppard burst into gentle laughter.
and l, too. could Cot forbear smiling a1
the boys confusion OF mind.
There, You see, Ned" said Sheppard
klyly. your eloquenee has convinced
Montgomery, and must reluctantly
give way. am all for peace. Lu,." Le
sighed, must needs be governed
by the majority in these democratic
times"
81 take your hint" / said quietly.
'Bur l am entitled to ask il you have
duly considered"
81 have. Ned" said he g~rave..y. And
you. Montgomery"
81 am anxious to go and ready 10
face the results" replied the lad.
$50 be it." said I. and thereafter l nev-
er reverted 10 the subject. Having once
made up my mind that we must go
forward. l threw myself into the hust-
ness with alacriry. Sercombe was
gone: indeed. we learned that day that
the police We're searching for him. The
treasure also had disappeared. and only
Hood remained-silent. docile. civil.
and, as knew, ~impIacable. He had
deceived Jones SO deeply that the poor
fool imagined the innkeeper was his
ally. and l dared not enlighren him for
Jul ElINolS ltoSOAS. -hOlt ON IL. ! IO
not think that he would have paid NE
any attention. He thought he knew
men, and as he had picked out Ser
combe for suspicion, and even now. as
I understood, held q warrant for his
arrest. he had in the same obstinate
blindness marked Hood for confidence.
Nay. more; it turned out that the e1-
valet must have poisoned bis mind
against our party. What passed be
tween them l have no means of guess
ing, nor what was the nature of the
suspicion he attached to us. but l be-
gan to see at once that we were lying
under a cloud. The news came TO me
in a most unpleasant form with a visit
of Mr.. Landell. the squire Of the neigh
borhood and the justice whom we had
already seen.
Ostensibly he came to question US
upon Williams movements. but his
demeanor was such that it incriminat-
ed us, and ere he left he spoke frankly
In his mild and pompous way.
II will not conceal from you. Mr..
G~reatorex." be said severely. that this
is no light matter. The events c~ircling
about the castle have become current
gossip. They have set the countryside
afame. No man has an inkling of the
truth. but all suspect. l should do
wrong not to inform you that you do
not come honorably out of these events.
There are black spots upon the specious
narrative you have sworn to. This
house is the center of disturbance. For
generations the Gwent has been as
p~eaceable as q garden. and of q sudden
this breaks out, not once or twice, but
through a continuous chain of mys,
teries. l hope do YOU wrong. but
can conceive no answer to the problem
save in the house itself"
"My dear sir" said I, forcing a note
of sarcasm. for l liked the old mar
very we'll, II can assure you you would
do we" to trust to your detectives, OF
whom You say you are not one | an,
obliged for your kindly offices. which
believe are we'll meant, but as l have q
legal mind YOU will excuse me if I can.
not follow You in your attempt to con
found the criminal with his victim
The castle Is attacked by some scoun
drels-apparently the castle is tc
blame. My man is murdered in the for
est-forsooth. I am to blame. Upon
my soul. Sir, l begin TO have some
doubts as to your qualifications fol-
your Office"
The old gentleman had no Skill in re
tort, and my sharp rejoinder, charged
as it was with logic, COMPOUNDED him
But though he made no defense, be
withdrew nothing Of his statement and
departed with much ceremony.
Sheppard pulled a mock face. I'VE
look like ending in an execution dock
Ned" he said. Il begin to follow your
arguments"
"Oh, this is a trife.' | answered i'm.
patiently. being Yet under the sting of
my abasement. They have nothing
against US. and | can't control the
tongue Of gossip, or wouldn't try. AS
we have come to a conclusion, let US
get to work
That's sound advice echoed Mont,
gomery cordially Let US get on Ser.
combe's trail"