The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-19

he ride the horse there at once and return home on borrowed one. But he could not resist the temptation of the hunt, especially after few drinks to celebrate the sale. He decided to make the run and put Wildhre at the fences with the best of them. A disarrangement of his, stirrup threw him behind and he rode fon with double speed to catch up, cursing at his .ll luck. which threatened to rob him of the glory of being in st the death. He put Wildfire desperately at fence with stakes on 1t and ditch in front of it. The horse struck heav- fly. "stalsad" himself and rolled from the bank into the ditch. dead. Mir. escaped without a scratch.
 Dunstan's own unmarketable person He looked at the horse. swore. brief iy. emptied his pocket-hask into him. self and turned to trudge home, prefer ring to suffer the indignity of walking rather than to face any of the com pany after his Ill luck.
 It was dark before he reached the outskirts of Raveloe. Heavy mist had closed In. He had to feel his way with his heavy riding whip. Cautiously he went on till he found the break in the hedge row which told him that he was near the opening at the stone pits. En- tering there. he perceived gleam of light which he knew must come from Silas Marner's cottage.
 The weaver and his hoard had been in his mind continually during his walk. With sudden resolution he de- termined to sound Marner as to the chances for a loan. Perhaps little frightening would do the man good. too. he thought. He turned up the bank, not without some fear lest he might miss the right way. He felt the ground cautiously with his whip and reached the door safely.
 He knocked boisterously. but got no reply. Knocking a second time. with the same result. he pushed the door open. bright fire was burning on the hearth. It lit up every part of the room. Nobody was there.
 Dunstan seated himself by the Are. glad to feel it's comforting warmth. He wondered where the weaver could be. The thought came to him that the man might have fallen into the stone pit. This was an interesting Idea. If the weaver was dead, who had a right to his money? Would anybody know where 1t was hidden? Would anybody know that there had been any if 1t should be taken away before people discovered his death?
 So rapt did he become in his specu- lation that he quite forgot there was no reason to assume that anything had happened to Marner. He looked around the room. His quick eyes noticed an irregularity in the brick flooring. In an Instant. before he had given the matter a really conscious thought. he was at the spot. He lifted two bricks. Tn a cavity beneath were two leather bags.
 A moment before the son of Squire Cass might have shrunk from the thought of vulgar theft. The two heavy bags in his hand decided his course for him without giving him time to think. With his heart in his mouth he replaced the bricks, looked fearfully over his shoulder, and then hurried in- to the darkness It was thicker and blacker than ever. The weight of the bags made 1t hard for him to feel his way. He stepped forward swiftly to escape from the vicinity of the house he had robbed.
 Just as he disappeared into the gloom Silas Marner came hastening along the road. An errand had called him to the village In such a hurry that he had for gotten to lock his door. He put his supper on to cook and then decided to take a look at his loved guineas. The joy of them was like golden wine to him.
 He removed the bricks. The sight of the empty hole made his heart leap violently. But the trembling man would not believe at once that his gold ndd gone. TIC passed ms tnlh uduu HI around the hole, forcing himself to think his eyes had deceived him. Then he held the candle to the cavity. trem- bling more and more. At last he shook so that the candle feu. He lifted his hands to his head, trying to think. Then he arose desperately. looked un- der every chair, shook his bed, search ed every possible corner. and then kneeled down again and felt once more all around the hole.
 He could deceive himself no longer. nor ward off the terror. He clutched his head again and screamed wildly. Then he tottered 90 the door. Without head covering, without fastening the door behind him. he ran to the village
 The dignitaries at the Rainbow im- agined that they saw a ghost at first. when Silas, white. with water stream inE from his long hair. appeared sud