Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-01-07
was about prayed" out that night In

S8N@r
lows,
you aoere something OF q howling sue1l
as q pdrSon."
the chapel. And now you are willing
to take a hint from the prodigal. How
did you find my nest? And perhaps
you can tell me who has been making
himself so at home here lately?"
Il have said Harry evenly.
Hugh'S glance. that had been waver-
ing about the neat interior. returned to
Harry, and knowledge and anger leap
ed into it. $50 it was you. was it?
You are the IL who has been trying
his hand as a claim jumper He
lurched toward the table and leaned
upon it. I've always heard that the
devil took care of his WA. The UNI
away rector stumblcs on NY manor
and, with his usual luck-Satan's luck
we called it at college-steps in just in
time to strike it rich"
He stretched his hand suddenly and
caught a tiny object that glittered
against Harry's coat-the little gold
cross which the other had tied to his
watch guard. The thong snapped, and
Hugh sent the pendant rafting across
the doorway.
"You were something of a bowling
swell as a parson,' he said %insolently,
but you don't need the jewelry now"
Harry Sanderson's eyes had not left
Hugh's face. He vas thinking swift
ly. The bolt from the blue had been
so recent that this sudden apparition
seemed Il natural concoulitunt of the
situation. Only the problem was no
longer imminent. 1t was upon him.
Jessica was not for him-he had ac-
cepted that. Though the clock might
not turn backward. this man must
stand between them, Yet his presence
now in the predicament was intolera-
BILE.
WELL" said Hugh. with a sneer,
what have you got to say
"How much will you take for the
property?
That's your game. is it? But I'm
not such Il numskull. Whatever you
could offer. it's worth more to me.
1 know you. Satan Sanderson," he
sneered. You were always the same
precious hypocritc in the old days. pre-
tending to be so almighty ~virtuous,
while YOU looked out for No. /. l
saw Thu ough you then, too, when you
were posing us my friend and try
Ing your best all along to queer me
with the old man! l knew it we'll
enough. l knew what the reason was
too! You wanted Jessica.. YOU
Self control left Harry suddenly, as a
ships sail is whipped from its gaskets
in Il white sQuall. Before the words
could be uttered his fingers were at
Huglfs throat.
At that instant there was the sound
of running feet outside. a hurried
knock at the door n an agitated
voice that chilled Harry's blood to ice.
lis hands relaxed their hold. He
dragged Hugh to the door of the inner
ROOM, thrust him inside. shut and bolt
ed it upon him.
Then he went and opened the outer
door.
The accusation of Prendcrgast had
| stunned JeSsica's faculties. AS in an
evil dream she had seen the sheriff rise
to his feet and ~methodically put the
fragment Of paper into his po%cketbook.
A moment later she was running up
the dark path. her thoughts Il confu-
sion in which only one coherent pur-
pose stood distinct-to warn him. They
would know no need to hasten. If the
man she loved had reached the cabin.
she would be before them.
She stood before the door, her hands
clasped tightly. her eyes on Harry's
face.
"What has happened?" he asked.
"Men will be here soon-men from
the town. l overheard them. l want
ed to let you know!" she hesitated. 1t
had grown all at once difficult to put
into words.
Coming here? Why?"
ITO arrest a man who is accused of
murder"
If her eyes could have pierced the
bolted door a few feet away. If she
could have seen that listening face
behind 1t, as her clear tones fell. grow
instinct with recognition, amazement
and evil suspicion-a look that her last
word swept into a sickly gray terror!
If she could have heard the groan
from the wretched man beyond!
Whose murder?"
"Dr. Moreau's."
Jessica waited with caught breath,
searching his countenance. 1t was told
now, but he must know that she had
not credited 1t. that "for better. for
WORSE" she must believe In him now