Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-03-11

-i-a2 =
Of the fast recedin@ figure Of the man
who was beginning 10 ascend the
mountain.
NO more: Nevair more" he Kissed
mysteriously.
Janet was speeches. with astonish-
merr. She vas familiar With the lads
heroics, hut really this vas something
u Of the ordinary.
Dis nigLt-a," continued Beppo in a
sibillant whisper. he mus'-a die"
Nov, what 90 you mean:' Janet
demanded s~ternly. with the evident
Intention of getting at the bottom of
the matter. sit right down in that
chair and tell me without any more
NONSENSE
For a reply Beppo drew his hand
across his throat and gurgled sugges-
lively.
Janet was beginning to be seriously
alarmed. She knew that the young
ster was emotional to the verge of abb
surdity and that he was not to be de-
pended upon in an emergency. She
had discovered that he had a passion
for e~xaggeration, but it seemed to her
that there must be something real
about this.
"Beppo," she commanded in a tone
hat left no alternative, do as l tell
you"
Thus brought to terms, the young
Sicilian whispered e. tale of contem-
p1o tod occ cci,n{;o o,1 rnJ1o,,- @I,,+
would have been Il veritable noon TO
n of the operate maestro OF the last
generation. Three men of the noun
tain gang, be declared. had plotted to
murder and rob John RosSiter on that
YER! Christmas night, knowing that
mountain. Beppo gave all the details
of the dastardly business with the
most ingenious explicitness and seem
ed to expect Janet to share his enthu.
siaSm over the removal Of her enemy.
Jane; did not stop to sift the mat.
ter. Il was sufficient for her that the
mar she loved was threatened by 8
danger which she might avert. She
did not hesitate a moment. Distrust
ing Beppo. she feigned satisfaction al
the prospect of so soon being rid OF
her enemy and sent the boy to the vii
lage on an errand. AS soon as he was
out of sight she left her house and be
gan to ascend the mountain as quickly
as she could.
Half an hour later she stood at The
open door of Rossiter's cabin and face
to face with it's occupant.
Janet" he asked her doubtingly
ARE YOU actually here:'
Yes" she returned breathlessly an(
without looking at him at all. 81 hav,
come to offer you a Christmas gift"
He looked at her amazedly, but die
not speak.
Il have come to offer you your life.
II don't understand; really I do not
Janet" he said helplessly.
Then she told him Beppo's story.
He heard it to the end without
word of comment. When she had fin
ished he sighed long and deeply.
Il am disappointed" he said, with
curious little quaver in his voice. "
am disappointed in my Christmas pres
ent. l hoped thought perhaps 1
might be something better"
What is better than life?"
You are-far better" he declare,
audaciously.
Janet knew that the long conflic
was ended. and the knowledge lifte,
the weight from her heart.
IF o really believe anything o
that sort, john she began.
II forgot to tell you that there ism
a word Of truth in your precious Bep
pos story" John said as they were de-
scending the mountain. "Why, th
very men he named are in the villap,
lookup at the present moment--to,
much holiday, you know. I saw then
as l came up from the train. They ar,
all good workmen, and in the mornin,
! shall go down and pay their finel
and get them out Of limbo"