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

kept our watches III the ~Dattlcments.
We must now merely transfer them to
where the treasure has gone"
"Where is that" | asked.
Let us say the Woodman,' replied
Sheppard. smiling.
"A Very much more dangerous duty
| said slowly.
dangerous. We thrive on danger"
said Sheppard gayly. Anyhow. let us
break up the conference and take an
airing. There's nothing TO keep us now
in the castle. and hence We are in no
need OF draworidSes. 1t is We Who are
the aSSailautS.
THAT reminds me-" l put in. 81
found the d~rawbridge down when I
came i'll just now.
Sheppard winkod. My dear boy, if
you'd had to answer all the awkward
questions l have had TO during the last
three days YOU would have let down
the drawbridse in despair"
Jones' | uueried.
Jones it is. the majesty of the law,
and an Internally suspicious law it is"
1t was yet early in the afternoon, and
there might be time TO put q point up
Oh our resolutions. This thought ran
in our heads as, all three, we turned
down the road that led to the Wood
man.
Sercomhe was summing himself be-
fore the door of the inn. seated in q
comfortable chair beneath the swing
ing sign. AS We cam abreast of him
he looked up and greeted US.
Good day. ~sentlemen." he said
cheerfully. I'm glad to see YOU back.
Nh. GreatoreE. We heard that you had
disappeared, and We're beginning to be
anxious about YOU"
The amazing i~npudence of the man
took away my breath, but 1 managed
to recover and say:
Yes; l have been taking a little hol-
iday; private business, you know. cap
tain
"-Ah.' said lie, shaking his head. Il
wish l had the time. But / find holi-
days must look after themselves. I've
too much on hand.'
Il sylnpatnize with YOU, Captain Ser
combe," said Sheppard. For myself.
I evc could abide business. But l
think understand to what YOU refer
q bad business, a very bad business"
Sercombe studied him attentively.
You seem to know q great deal. my
dear sir" he replied.
Il know, and you know that 1 know,
that you have the heaviest team to
drive uphill that ever man undertook"
said Sheppard, watching him.
maybe" said the captain after a
pause. "Life's not all beer and skit-
ties. gentlemen. Perhaps you're right.
l don't say you're wrong. But the fact
Is that well, it's a pity we couldn't
have fixed a arrangement together
earlier"
He spoke so freely that I inferred he
was not any longer in the fear of Hood,
which meant for us that Hood Y a alb
sent.
Was he absent, looking after the
treasure: Upon consideration I dacid-
Ell that this was unlikely: otherwise
Sercombe would not be resting so com
ldbtS IL LIS NloIl llc wv StDull-
drels dared not trust one another. In
that case the odds We're that the treas
ure lay in the WoodMan. and here was
Sercombe. and as likely as not q Greek
OF two, keeping guard upon it. This
was all l wanted 10 know, and, having
gained this information, | doomed il
time to retire. YDu will think me ras1
il my conjectures. but yol must con
ceive that in the game We We're playing
1t was necessary to come 10 q concIu-
sion quickly. and had learned to come
to a conclusion on the slightest cyi-
dence. Anyhow. I gave the signal for
retreat, and back we went u the caste
By a circuitous route, 80 rs to avoid
any suspicious on tie part OF tie cap
tain.
Night was the occasion I wanted. ana
it was for the fall Of Gari. that we
waited with great Impotence. Hlcp-