The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-12-13

E9}~f self after awhile. though, and
AE BEGAN 10 question me Sarcas-
tic-like. First he wanted To
know where the niger was now and
what ~Wpodpiie he was in. | tod him |
didn't know anything about the rascal.
except that he'd promised to give me
$500 If I'd let him off and on condition
| was never to tell his employer Of
what had passed between US. Well
says your uncle, did he give YOU tie
$500 No., says /. He said he @ u.dn't
do it until you bad cot control Of the
old boys money Then your uncle
laughed. He said ! was a fool. But
says |, he rave me some valuable trim
kctS he'd stolen from q cabinet in the
sald they We're heirlOomS and wouid
easily bring a thousand. You Internal
liar. said your uncle, but he cot Il lit
tie palor. Would You like to take a
peek At what's in this lite bag says l..
puiln- 4 leather pouch from my inside
pocket. lie sort OF nodded. so | took
out a wonderful gold snuff box with
the picture Of a gorgeous French lady
and Il bI- letter n engraved on it and
he'd it up. His eyes almost popped
out, but he managed To sit still. Then
| showed him a magnificent god
watch, a couple of rings set with ru-
bies and diamonds and
How did you get them cried
David, his eyes wide with amazement.
II remember them. They once belong
ed TO my father. My grandfather gave
them To me 4 few weeks before he was
kliled. But-but ] did not have time TO
get them that night. They were left
hight where You put en- said
Dick coolly. In The secret drawer of
that Old wardrobe in your room. Kid,
you've got an awful memory. Don't
You reeoAect tcilin ms they were there
and that you'd give anything iii the
world TO have your fathers watch.
your mothers rings and your great
2randfather's snuff box that had be
lonAed 70 Napoleon B%onaparte? Wen,
| just ent in and got EN- for you,
that's all"
"A regular magician, by ~crickey."
gasped Joey.
Ills audience was fairly hanging on
his words. We'll, sir. you'd orter seen
him then. | thought he bust. He
said something about his brother and
his brothers watch. | didn't wait for
him TO get collected. | then proceeded
with a great deal of caution, to take
Il OF another pocket a long, frayed,
yellow envelope, This said |, was
given to me by the niger that night.
1t had once contained Il large sum Of
money. he said, but you had taken
most Of il, leaving him just so. DO
yo1l recognize the enyelope?'
II held it out, but beyond his reach.
lie sat there for three minutes gain
nj the handwritin' on the thing. his
lips moving as if he didn't know they
were doing it. My God he saws. it
is Arthur's handwriting. I'd know IL
among a million. Then he jumped up
ana began to curse. Three thousand
dollars" he yelled, forgettin' himself.
Did that black scoundrel say | had
taken il? He lied. He DOL II him
self. I've never seen this before. |
didn't know It existed
Il put the things back in my pocket
and calmly says, i reckon you'll pony
up five thousand, won't you?' Well.
sir. what do you think he does? He
pulls himself together and politely asks
me to have a juiep. Finally he says
he'll he hanged if he'll be blackmailed
All right says |, 'youli find me az
the tavern in the town over there If
you want to change yOur mind. Think
it over. III give you two days to get
the coin together
With hat | got up and walked
away. just as cam as you please. |
knowed he was done for. He killed
your grandpa sure. David, and he
knowed he vas found out. walked
right peartly, though. SOS he couldn't
have a chance to go in and get a u
before | was safely down the road to
where my saddle horse was tied. |
went back to the tavern, paid my bill
and took a train out of town. But
got off at the first station and doubled
back, sleeping that night In a barn.
The next day, up he comes TO town.
He was a sight, he was 80 pale and
shaky. | could see he'd been drinkin'
all night most. They told him at the
tavern I'd gone away. up to Washing
ton to consult the president about
something, but that I'd be back in two
days ] naver cav . man look 90