Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-04-30

l.OSt, dll lOSL. duN JuoS w.
have taken up new life and enjoyed
II to the full. Lord Loremulr-ban!
fugitive hiding from justice, WIN
nothing between me and starvatlon
hut a few pounds and this useless dla-
mond. I cannot show myself dare
not; my only hope is to get away and
dispose of the Empires Dream as
quickly as possible | must suck 10 II
now and guard it with my life"
He took a packet from his pocket,
and laid the Empires Dream upon
the table.
"a pretty thing, but is it worth the
price am paying for it? Well L"
AS. he glanced at the table he broke
off suddenly with half-articulated
cry for there in the center. imprinted
in the dust, was something he had not
noticed before.
1t was the imprint Of a mans hand.
He gazed at it for moment In
fascination Surely it must be
mold of his own making. He laid his
own hand beside it, but the imprint
was longer and broader
And then as he shivered with
| fright, an arm was passed over his
shoulder, hand seized upon the Elm
pires dream" and at the same time
extinguished the candle. A laugh OF
| triumph sounded in his ears, and then
all was silent.
| More dead than alive. Winton CROP
ed in bis pocket and found some
matches. Fearful of what he should
| see, he looked around him.
The room was empty.
Raising the candle he examined the
! floor, and there in the dust we're foot
marks leading to door on the oppo-
| site side of the room. He strained his
! door, and then nearly shrieked. Slow
ly and almost imperceptibly it, was
opening, and then face appeared.
Percy Twist"
Eyes, it Is Percy Twist. You have
been long time getting here, Winton,
considering you left Leeds three days
ago"
'T--I have been walking. How did
you get hore, and why did you play
the fool with me just now when you
| took the diamond"
Because | wanted it, my dear Win
ton, and because l have come all the
way from London to get It,"
ut was safe with me- But what Of
| Hammond-how did he come to be
arrested? / have just been reading
the news"
perhaps you know more about that
than I do. You have been plotting
with Kate Dauncey, and she gave him
up to the police"
Miss Dauncey! Impossible"
II should have thought so once upon
time, but / have the evidence of my
own eyes g. sent Hammond out to
the appointed place in Leeds to meet
you, and shortly after went there on
tram car saw Hammond talking
to Miss Dauncey; then they parted,
and in another minute Nosey was in
the hands of the police"
ut is not true, Twist. Leeds was
too hot to hold me, and had to leave
| in hurry sent Miss Dauncey tc
tell you where I had gone to-"
"The more fool you, when you know
! as we'll as I do that she is hand In
glove with Joe Drawn, Griffin and
West, to say nothing of Mary Bren1
and Judith Ballard. However, as you
deny the existence Of an understand
ing between you, l may be able to of
fer further proof. When l found how
matters stood in Leeds left imme
diately and went to London. I real
lied that my only chance of getting
out of the country was to ship as {
common sailor, and with the purpose
of carrying out that object I went tt
the docks"
'"Aud you failed"
81 succeeded better than expected
After wandering about for some time
I found myself at Plumstead anG
there I scraped acquaintance with 6
man who occupied the position OF
chief stoker on the DIANA After ex
pending a considerable sum in liquid
refreshment, I preached the subject OF
being taken on the voyage, and offer
ed tenner if he could manage it for
me-"
| ITO Be Continued.)
|