Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-29

struck a vital spot.
Hood" he said, has done nothing
but blunder. and besides
But he got no further, breaking of
suddenly and as though With an eff
fort.
"If that be So" said l. rising. ''lct u
see how Captain Sercomhe will man
age matters"
Hold hard" he interrupted. Isl
down awhile, sir. You have sprung
this affair on me. l must take my
counsel. Come, what do YOU say to go
ing shares?"
lifted my brows. You are no,
serious?" l remarked.
He glanced furtively II Montgom
cry. II will take oncthird.' he said
land no questions asked"
"My dear sir" said l in Amusement
you cmbarraSS me. Your terms are
too liberal from Il vanQuishcd foe.
could not accept such generosity. AND
now, If you will allow me, as l have 1T
appointment With Mr.. Hood shortly, ]
must
But this alarmed him. as I could per
ceive, for he changed color and put out
a finger to catch my arm.
Il will stand In with all Of you!" he
cried.
l smiled, but before l could reply al
interruption fell in the entrance of the
police sergeant, Jones, whom we had
| mat hnforo IIr eo1,,{a1 ,Ic Or1 ,,o1c
an inquiry as to his Investigations.
Il am on Il track, sir" he declared
Il can say no more.' And he eyed
Sercombe attentively.
you've not struck those gypsies, ]
hear" said Sercombe, who had Re
sumed his cigar with an appearance of
n~onchalance.
"No, SIR"
They're here today and somewhere
else tomorrow. l hardly expected you
would find them. They nose a scent
pretty SOON"
I'm on a track, SIR repeated Jones'
"Glad to hear it," nodded the cap.
tain.
I went out with the sergeant, but
Sercombe called to me.
what is it:' I asked, standing in
the doorway.
An anxious look troubled Sercombe':
eye. Il have made you a proposition
Mr.. Greatorex."
That's true" said l gravely, 'ant
l will ask you, captain, to better it
But, excuse me, my time is limited"
You giya me short shrift," exclaim
ed he, with q bitter laugh.
ooh, no." l said; but l dare say yor
will have time to think over it between
now and 8 o'clock. If you can see
your way to q more equitable adjust
nent, captain, perhaps you would be
good enough to let me know by then?'
At that l left him and caught up with
Montgomery, who had gone ahead with
Jones.
Excuse me, sir" said Jones politely
"but are you 4 very old friend Of Cap
tain Se~rcombe's!'
"Why, no." said l, 81 have not known
him long"
"Ah," said he, IAN odd gentleman
sir. Mr.. Hood Of the Woodman, lie
knows some queer stories about him.
"He says SO, does he?" said l.
Jones emphatically wagged his head
"Eery queer" he added. From which il
appeared to me that Mr.. Jones might
not be quite 50 smar as he seemed
and also that Mr.. Hood was; ever
smarter. What his object might have
been in spreading an evil reputation fcl
SercoIbe l could not guess, but that
he had an object, and a material one
! did not doubt for a moment.
Though l had introduced the idea
to Sercombe's notice, and the introduce
ton bad had its effect. l had not vet
given shape and substance to my nlan
Of setting off the one scOunlrel against
the other. l foresaw that I could i'm
prove my Owl position very substan-
TALLY by this system Of balance. and I
determined to go now Fortnight to
Hood on the same GRAND. He had
failed me in the morning. but PERHAPS
be would have grown wiser in tie
course Of the days imprisonment,
There is nothing like solitude and the
opportunity Of reflection to bring Il
mar to prudence, and now, too. 7 had
seen SercomGc and had q genuine Offer
to consider. l came to the conclusion
that, after all, Hood would rot prove
obduratc and that the end Of the war
fare was almost in sight.
In ON such mood as this / made
the journey to the keep. fattaring my.
self with the success of my diplomacy
and complaccntly contemplating an
honorable settlement which would rid
US Of our troubles, Danish these wretch
ed intrudcrs and leave us to the com
Portable enjoyment of our share in the
treasure Of the Vyvians.
Dinner was over. The clock in the
hall had chimed half past 8. l EXPECT.
ed Serconbe at o O'Clock and must
hurry to secure the interview before
that. I entered the dungeon carefully
and locked the door behind me. as was
my custom. Then, turning. I cast the
light toward the boxes upon which
Hood had sat.
He vas not there. Hastily I flashed
the lantern round the walls. There
WAC no ciOp ~ Hood Tho 5,~