Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-12-20
CHAPTER XIII.
HI SEALED PACKET.


Mr.. Double did not hurry after his
client, but gave him a good 10 min
utes' start, while he made Samuel
search the blue bag for some imaginary
papers. and then. bidding him shoulder
his hated burden, went forth. much
treasured by the absence OF commo-
ton in the square
The posse had collected outside the
house, and eyed the lawyer and his
clerk s~uspiciously. There was q mo-
ment Of expectation as they recognized
the companions of their quarry, but
Double and his satellite were not mo-
Tested, and at a short distance they
separated. and Samuel pursued his
westward way alone. He did not go
far, but leaving his bag in charge OF a
friendly law stationer, scurried back to
Lincoln's inn. and slipping through the
c~onstables, ran upstairs m knocked
timidly at the door Of Mr.. Perry's pri-
vate sanctum.
What do you want here, fellow?"
demanded Perry, opening h DOR and
discovering the little. cringing, shabby
figure, shrinking into h shadow. This
is not the clerks Office"
Gould I-can speak a word with
the-the lord?" stammered Samuel.
Mr.. Perry looked very ~searchingly at
him for a minute or so. Then
he relaxed a little and made
room for him to pass into the room,
which he did, smoothing his faxen wig
over his forehead with his moist palm,
and evidently in u desperately uneasy
frame of mind.
do you want to speak to me?" de-
manded Lord Beachcombe, in a
naughty voice, that sounded so terrible
to the clerk, that he could hardly
stammer out, Yves"
And what have you to W" I'm
quired Mr.. Perry, in q more ncour
rfaA~ A~Wrn eNG~~~ ~ -
frightened; nobody viii hurt YOU"
"Ah! but he would, IL he knew"
quavered Samuel, jerking his thumb
owe his shoulder.
You mea Mr.. Double? 1 suppose
you want to tell US something he is
concealing from US. Ell? Well. we will
protect you from him. said Mr.. Perry.
''Tis not SO much him I'm afraid of
as the captain" whispered Samuel,
glancing from side to side, an though
he expected to see him lurking some
where about. Then he approached
Lord B~eachcombe on tiptoe. What
will you give mo If I get you those
certificates?'
"Damnation!" cried B~eachcombe,
starting up, black with fury: ARE my
private affairs known to every quill
driver in the town."
Samuel turned livid with terror. 81
only know where they are" he whim-
pered:. II don't know anything about
them"
well. where arc they?" demanded
B~eachcombe. ~threateningly.
A CLINT of cunning sparkled in Sam
uel's eye. 1T wouldn't be any use for
me to tell your lordship where they
are. No one can get them but me,
and as ! shall be suspected, it's worth
a good deal for the risk I run-if the
certificates are any use to your lord
ship"
"How do you know what certificates
these are. II you say you don't know
anything about them?" i~nterposed Mr..
Perry.
Because I heard the captain tell Mr..
Double that he could afford to let
Lord Beachcombe have everything else,
80 long az he kept the two certificates
back. SO he put them where nobody
knows but himself and Double and me.
And he'll have them out II I don't
hurry and get there first"
You need not be uneasy about that"
said ~Beachcombe, with Z grin Of ma
licious joy. Captain Treemantle 10 on
his way to Nawgate prison by now,
and Il those-papers-alnd their way
into my possession, I think It 10 safe
to say that he will never come out ex-
cept to make the journey u Tyburn."
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