Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-09-25

/ luG lOlclSllGI was llhNiF
| to accept social attentions and so in all
probability would be brought in con-
tact with Mrs. Fairbrother, he sent her
| by his devoted servant a peremptory
message In which he demanded back
his diamond and, upon her refusing to
heed this, followed 1t up by another in
! which he expressly stated that If she
took it out of the safe deposit In which
he had been told she was wise enough
to keep 1t or wore it so much as once
during the next three months, she
would pay for her presumption with
her life.
This was no Idle threat, though she
chose to regard 1t as such, laughing in
the old servants face and declaring
that she would run the risk IL the no
ton seized her. But the notion did not
seem to seize her at once, and her hus-
band was beginning to take heart
when he heard of the great ball about
to be given by the Ramsdells and re-
allied that If she were going to be
tempted to wear the diamond at all it
would be at this brilliant function CIV
en- In honor of the one man he had
most cause to fear In the whole world.
Sears, seeing the emotion he was I'M
der, watched him closely. They had
both been on the point of starting for
New Mexico to visit mine in which
Mr.. Fairbrother was interested, and he
waited with inconceivable anxiety to
see If his master would change his
plans 1t was while he was In this
condition of mind that he was seen to
shake his fist at Mrs. Fairbrother's
passing figure, menace naturally in
terpreted as directed against her, but
which, If we know the man, was rath-
er the expression of his anger against
the husband who could rebuke and
threaten so beautiful a creature. Mean
while Mr.. Fairbrothers preparations
went on, and three weeks before the
ball they started. Mr.. Fairbrother had
business in Chicago and business in
Denver 1t was two weeks and more
before he reached La Junta. Sears
counted the days. At La Junta they
had long conversation, or, rather, Mr..
Fairbrother talked and Sears listened.
The sum of what he said was this:
He had made up his mind to have back
his diamond. He was going to New
York to get 1t. He was going alone,
and as he wished no one to know that
he had gone or that his plans had been
in any way interrupted, the other was
to continue on to Ell Moro and, passing
himself off as Fairbrother, hire room
at the hotel and shut himself up In 1t
for ten days on any plea his ingenuity
might suggest If at the end Of that
time Fairbrother should rejoin him,
well and good. They would go on to-
gether to Santa Fe, but II for any
reason the former should delay his re-
turn, then Sears was to exercise his
own Judgment as to the length of time
he should retain his borrowed personal
ity; also as to the advisability, Of push
ing on to the mine and entering on
the work there, as had been planned
between them.
Sears knew what all this meant. He
understood what was in his masters
mind as we'll as If he had been taken
into his full confidence, and openly
accepted his part of the business with
seeming alacrity, even to the point Of
supplying Fairbrother with suitable
references as to the ability of one
James Wellgood to fill walters place
at fashionable functions. 1t was not
the first he had given him. Seventeen
years before he had written the same.
minus the last phrase. That was when
he was the master and Fairbrother the
man. But he did not mean to play
the part laid out for him, for all his
apparent acquiescence. He began by
following the others instructions. He
exchanged clothes with him and other
necessaries, and took the train for La
Junta at or near the time that Fair
brother started east. But once at El
: Moro-once registered there as Abner
Fairbrother from New York-he took a
i different course from the one laid out
: for him, a course which finally brought
him into his masters wake and land
} ed him at the same hour in New York.
: This is what he did. Instead Of shut
3 ting himself up In his room, he ex
, pressed an immediate desire to visit
: some neighboring mines, and, procur.
3 ing a good horse, started of at the first
available moment He rode north, lost
r himself in the mountains, and wan.
Y dered till he found guide intelligent
!. enough to lend himself to his plans
r To this guide he conflded his horse fol
! the few days he intended to be gone
? paying him well and promising him
= additional money II, during his alb
] sence, he succeeded in circulating the
0 report that he, Abner Fairbrother, had
}, gone deep into the mountains. bound
D for such and such a camp.
; Having thus provided an alibi, mo-
only for himself but for his master
r too. in case he should need 1t, he tool
e the direct road to the nearest railway
!, station and started on his long ride
l. east. he did not expect to overtakt
the man he had been personattng but
L..