Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-27

bowed and slipped my whisky and
water
"You are also aware" he went on.
chat now you, the only other person
who has knowledge of that private
road, are, let us say, enjoying the hos
| pitality of the Woodman, the treasure
| chests are not likely to remain long
| where they are"
| He waited on my answer as If some
! thing anxious, but l merely nodded
| and watched him. Captain SercOmbe
from his comfortable attitude bent his
red brows at me. May l ask you,
Mr.. Greatorex," he said quite coolly,
IF you happen to have locked the door
Of the dungeon?"
For answer and without giving the
matter thought produced the key,
which, as l have already narrated, ]
had put in my pocket.
Sercombe's eye lightened. He rose
and went to the door, opening it and
glancing into the darkness. Then he
returned and drew his chair nearer to
mine.
you made me proposition this
afternoon" he said earnestly.
II did," said l, (Which l now beg to
retract."
"It was not good enough" he went
on, paying no attention to my sarcasm
mot nearly good enough. But what
10 you say If make one to you now?'
l shrugged my shoulders. u am at
your mercy" said.
II envy you your powers of ease" he
said. II am pretty good, but I admit
you beat me. But come, am making
you proposition. What do You say!
81 have already said It,"
II see will get no more change out
Of you" he said soberly. But know
IL man to trust when 1 see him. That
has been my safeguard, Mr.. Greatorex.
And know man to distrust, though
sometimes it is unavoidable He
broke off. "Your friends don't know
where you went tonight?" he asked
suddenly.
"Why do you ask?' said.
Elf the dungeon door is locked 1t Is
impossible that they can get into it.
But if your friends had the key" he
gent on, growing very earnest what
would happen? l imagine that they
would open the door, find the bird
l1ovn and perhaps the entrance to the
secret passage disclosed"
This began to interest me. What was
the fsssa1's purpose?
"Well?" put in.
He lowered his voice, which convey
ed certain effect of fear to my mind.
''In which case the treasure would
remain in the possession of the castle"
You speak like a book of Euclid"
returned, after pause. "And now,
captain, let me ask in my turn what
proposition are you making to met"
He considered for moment. There
are three of you" he said. "But con-
TESS cannot reckon my friend Mont
,yomery. Let us say two, then. / am
willing to go halves with you. In
which case, as you will see, there is a
quarter for yourself"
you would betray your associates"
J. said dryly.
Pardon me-" said the captain, 1--WE
IRE not here to pass criticisms on NOR
ais. And, If it comes to that, what are
we all? l see no pin prick between
us. l do not invite your conclusions
On my conduct have the honor to
make you proposal"
The rascal leaned back in his chair
and watched me with curious air of
fatisfaction. Indeed, his complacency
was well grounded, and could not but
admit to myself that he was making
me handsome offer. His distrust or
his fear Of Hood was stronger than his
greed, and it was to that we owed this
unexpected intercession when fate had
turned clean against US. Here was l,
"A prisoner and with no possibility Of
escape. The treasure lay at the mercy
Of these vagabonds, and even at this
moment the pieces might be slipping
through Hoods loving fingers. Assur-
eddy should be fool, / thought, to
refuse Sercombe's compromise. He
must certainly have made the proposal
In good faith, for all 1 was invited to
do was to surrender the key, key
which could be of no possible use to
him now that the subterranean en-
trance to the dungeon had been d.
covered. Withdrew 1t from my pock-
ct. He nodded conf1dentially.
"That is all ask" he said.
"And II" queried.
"You shall be at liberty at the earli-
est opportunity can find." he return
ed. "observe, Mr. Greatorex, that /
am taking great risk. I am depend
ing upon your word"
IF I give it." / replied, "you may
depend upon it. You will warn my
companions?" asked.
II will see that they pay visit to
their prisoner" said he. land reckon
they will want little warning after that"
you may take the key" said l after
pause. But at that moment slight
sound as of soft feet upon the creaking
stairway reached us. Sercombe whit
ened vistbly and looked uneasily at the
door.
"It is better that l should leave you
now" he said hurriedly. Eve can set
tie this tomorrow morning" And,
showing clear signs of discomposure
he left the barn.
AS for me, sat with the key in my
hand, considering thought could
put name on the owner Of those steps.