Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-02-22
Montqomerg on az luatch.

Initiated into the mystery. line Dare
facts took away his breath and in
spired him apparently more with de-
sire for bloodshed than for the treasure
itself.
Il can tell you this, Mr.. Sheppard,
that if / sight either of the scoundrels
within shooting range I'll empty both
barrels into them on the off chance.
And of that I'll give 'em warning"
"BravoT' said Sheppard, slapping
him on the back and smiling his pleas
ant smile You're the man for my
money, old cockT'
"And now" resumed, 1--WE are
brought front to front with affairs
We have half the paper. How are we
to get possession of the other?"
at is plain enough" said Sheppard.
''that one of those fellows, Sercombe
or Hood. has it--Hood for choice. and
a pretty scoundrel he must be, from all
you say of him. You must introduce
me to your friend Hood. have
fancy for Hood. p
AS it fell out he had an earlier chance
of the acquaintance than either of us
anticipated. Shortly after breakfast
on theetollowing morning the maid
brought me word that Captain Ser
combe was in the library and begged
to see me.
"Here is a pretty piece Of impu-
dence," said Sheppard, smiling. Con
found the man, but like him! By
all means let US have him up
He looked at me. mot at ALL" said
], "but since there is nothing to steal
in the library save some hundreds of
musty volumes, let him wait upon our
pleasure"
Sand my toe" growled Montgomery,
assuming a ferocious expression.
mo, no, my dear lad,'' said Shep-
pard, with his gentle and insinuating
smile. "You are too forward, too pre-
cocious in your arguments. Let US bag
the captain, whom, / confess, am
dying to see well basted, but let it be
by more diplomatic processes"
every well, come on" said l, rising,
for, to say the truth, was curious to
know the mans business with me- We
descended in file into the library. Ser
combe, who was staring out Of the
window and curling his mustache with
an air of abstraction, turned rapidly
and, putting bis heels together, gave me
a military bow.
sAh, here is my young friend of the
claretp he exclaimed lightly, nodding
briefly to Montgomery, who fixed a
stolid and somewhat glowering glance
upon him. Then his eye fell on Shep-
pard, whom he observed with dispas-
sionate curiosity.
81 was in hopes to have met you
alone, Mr.. Greatorex," with little
hesitation showing in his voice.
s"These' are my friends, said l, from
whom / have no secrets.
ssAllow me to introduce myself" said
Sheppard politely, stepping forward,
.'since Mr. Greatorex has overlooked
the Formally Reginald Sheppard,
Captain Sercombe-a gentleman, as
hope, but of no occupation and vast
deal of ambition, who is proud to make
the acquaintance of so notorious free
companion as yourself
Sercombe stared, somewhat discom-
posed by this deliverance, but, recover
ing himself, smiled genially. 1.-THE
pride, sir, is on my side to encounter SO
pleasant a gentleman" Then he looked
at me. q take it, Mr. Greatorex, that
I may state my business here"
sBy all means,p | answered CURLY,
land the sooner the better
ITO be brief, Mr. Greatorex, . he said,
81 have come to strike a bargain with
you. / will confess that SO far you
have outmaneuvered us. I will go so
far as to say that l thought / had you
cornered yesterday. Yesterday morn
ing would not have put 2 crowns up
on your appearance in the race. But
you have sharp eyes, sir, and you are
a sharper man than | had reckoned.
But, upon the other hand, where do
you stand? ask you to consider that.
And what price do you put on your
chances? You have, / should guess,
about as much chance to lay your
hands on what you want as have. Is
that so?''
81 am not here to discuss my chances
with you, but to listen to you SIR
said I "What have you to say?"
He made a slight grimaee, deliver
ing it instinctively to Sheppard and
went on: well, I suppose What you
have to say will keep. WHAT I have
won't, if we are either of us to get any
further. We stand upon equal terms
now, Mr. Greatorex, as you win see,
but those terms are impracticable. You
have only one half Of a secret. and we
have the other and it will take a clev-
erer man than you to find our half, as
l make no doubt you also have yours
in pretty safe hiding. don't reckon to-
hunt London for a piece of paper. But
this brings me to my point. Let us
show our hands. Let me see what you
have in yours, and give you the word
of a gentleman you shall see all mine"
He paused and Intercepted me mo-
III. l..