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

other devilnlent they might lie up TO !
could hot guess. On the whole, We de-
cided finally in favor of what actually
occurred And lhen. $ YOU We're
taken"' he asked. But how
Give NE food and wine ANA l viii
give You my story" l replied, sitting
down to the table.
Sheppard laid his hand On NY Shout
der. No" said he; not set. There
is something further first" And. look.
Ing at him, l perceived q great gravity
on his features. He showed a WORN
and troubled face, now that the excite
ment of my return was over.
What is the natter" i asked. is
the treasure
THAT is it," he said. I want that
key. We tried the door in vain, We
could not break it down. 1t is ada
mant. God knows it was not for want
Of trying"
II fear the key is no use to Us now"
I said quickly.
He regarded me seriously and with
q pale face.
You must forget, Ned" he said gen
tly, what you left there"
MontSonlery's face had fallen. ana
be sat echoing Sheppard's colStecna-
ton. Suddenly a light dawned On he.
1t was Hood they had in mind.
Hoods not there l said. sAep-
pard stared at me.
"Not a bit OF it." l went on. Hes
plump and live as ever, and a worse
rascal
But how-but Why" exclaimed
Montgomery. Il thought the poor devil
was dead and rotten by now. We tried
I'll we could
ooh, | see l must hasten GA to my
story without more ado" l said. and
accordingly began at once upon my
narrative. Chagrin grow upon their
faces as l proceeded, and l was inter
rupted only by the expressions of as
constituent and anger which the vari-
Il episodes of my adventure evoked
from both. When it was over, Shep-
pard rose.
with your leave, Ned" said he, Il
will go down to the keep Forthwith"
And he left the room, with Montcom-
cry at his heels. l, too, followed. for l
wos eager to know the worst without
unnecessary delay.
My surmises We're quite correct. The
dungeon rested as it had done when i
saw it last and apparently had suffered
no trespass. The chests stood in the
corner as before. but they were bare
OF every piece of gold. amulet or jawel.
The thieves had made d clean job OF
their depreciation. We stared at enc
another in dismay and retreated dis
mally to the upper regions Of Tx
house.
"Well, there's an end said Mont
gomery, with a sigh, and l fancy We
were all Of the same opinion in tina
early blast of despair.
The treasure was gone, and he mus
be a sharp fellow indeed who could
discover its hiding place Throughout
the district Of the Gwent or maybe
within the borders Of the kingdom
Sheppard WAS the first to show US the
way GU of our deadly apathy.
Il am not going to see ii stop here
Ned" he said, with determination. "anL
that's the truth. That treasure must
be somewhere, ana we've got to fine
it,
II say ditto to that" cried Mont
gomery stalvartly, hcaving q sigh ot
resolution.
IF we could narrow the field" l said
"Pshaw..' said Sheppard. "They
can't have got it far. How many days
is it: Why, they can't have got the
money out all at one shot; otherwise
they would not have kept you locked
up. I'll 60 bail that the last was fetch.
ed out only last night. If as early as
that. And, if 50. the treasure is not
very far from the CASTLE
Some Of it may be in London" l al,
SWered modify.
"WeN. mind you, I don't admit ii
But say it is 50. there must be "
thing still about the Gwent. and we've
got to u it down. l think. from
what you say, you surprised them hy
SOuI Hitting Will IlS NIcol. 1t is GNi
dent that they wished to keep you q
little longer, no doubt until they had
disposed Of the treasure under our
noses
"iou are right, l believe l replied
why did they want to keep me? Not
because they had not the treasure, but
to prevent an alarm. And yet the mo.
tive was not strong enough that they
dared risk q misunderstanding with
Morgan. Yes; you've hit it. Sheppard
But the Gwent is wide enough, heaven
knows
Gone. we have reached one point
said Sheppard. perhaps we can dc
more on reflection. Don't let US give il
up. Is this treasure likely to be any.
where about the iun"'
"Thcre is the barn" said |, land the
stable lofts, and there are the cellars
"Oh, Ned, there is cverywheren'
grOaned Sheppard. We might watch
If they haven't got Il away suggested
Montgomery, with some hesitation. |,
vas not often that he INTERVIEWED in our
counsels, but his Intervention was nov
to the point.