The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-03-13
CHAPTER XIII tContinued.)

However, he made no further resis-
lance, and when they reached the
street, Aarons' manner changed com
pletely. His hand slipped through the
parsons arm with a friendly pressure
and his voice lost its grinding harsh
ness.
lis there no quiet place Of enter
tainnent near by, where we can have
a little talk-on business?" he inquired.
Pleasant business, Parson; business
that may fill your pockets with gold,
mayhap; or, If not that. at least will
give us q nance to crack a bottle of
good wine together"
You have come to the right man If
you are thirsty" replied Goodridge SOL
emily. Il never drink between meals
myself. but there are few places within
the pale OF civilization where l can not
help a fellow creature to quench his
thirst"
With which exordium, he turned into
a narrow lane or news, at h farther
end OF which a mean little inn adVer-
tised its attractions by a sign from
which the device had long since dis
appeared.
:" IT'S better inside than out" the
reverend gentleman declared, and he
was so far right that the ~unoccupied
|coffee-room was clearly sanded and a
bottle Of not absolutely poisonous port
was 5OOL Oh lLS tOABl "OONlGh LdplC
between the oddly assorted couple.
Aarons piled his guest discreetly.
while he led up to the subject he
wished to discuss. He praised the
beauty and charms of Lady Prudence.
and congratulated Goodridge on the
friendship of a lady so high in the
queens favor. No doubt her influence
would obtain some fat preferment for
his reverence? Go0dr!dge. winked with
great JUNCTION. but was not to be drawn
by any mere conversational bait.
my interest in the viscountess
is, of course money said ar
ons. with an air Of great frank
ness; that is. the only interest l have
In any Of these lne danes. They will
gamble at cards and run into debt,
until they get desperate and fly to
me with their jewels, to stave off their
creditors until luck turns or some
wealthy relative leaves them a fortune.
Many OF them owe me money, and
1t is my business to see that they do
not cheat me out of 1t. Sometimes
1t Is worth my while to pay well for
a little information"
sometimes IT may pay better to
keep a secret han sell it," said Good
Mdge, with latent boastfuIness.
Unless you are clever enough to
make n pay you for keeping It and
another for selling It," suggested
mai OAlo wv IIla l. "dhl YOU 10 Bell
me any secret of the V~iscountess
Brooke's. IT'S easy for me to know all
I want about her affairs. Ny interest
is in her lover. Sir Godfrey Beaude-
sert."
Goodridge laughed and held out his
glass for replenishment.
r'Sir Godfrey, I fear, is not worthy
Of this lady" said Aarons, passing the
bottle over to his guest. "She might
make a much better match II she could
be prevented from marrying him. 1t
would suit me better to have her
marry a rich ma who could pay her
debts, you understand, than one such
as Sir qeoffrey, who is himself only
kept out OF prison by being in parlia-
ment. Now, 1t Is more than likely that
such a gay gallant has many q little
ENHANCEMENT or intrigue or what not,
that 1t would be pseful for me to
know about, and any n who could
serve me by discovering some such
irregularity would do a true kindness
to the lady and help himself at the
same time" =, H.. -. K.
tGoodridge laughed again, and empty
ing his glass, reiIled IL and held II
with an unsteady hand between his
Weary eye and the dam window.
Larons watched him with q wry smile.