The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-12-14

"You are in trouble, SIR" responded
Reuben, manfully. II have noticed 1t;
your niece has, too. Let me help you, If
I can, and Meta"
Metal" repeated Drake, with a
slight frown.
"She's that to me-" declared Reuben
staunchly. "for I love her. Oh, sir, do
not Gear! I have not told her SO.
You have kno-n it first. Leaving that
aside, you have made Of me loyal
frierd and my heart aches for you"
A quick moisture came into the eyes
of Drake. He made an impulsive move.
ment and his lips moved as though he
was about to award some confidence.
Then they compressed again.
THANK you, Black" he said huskily,
but you can be of no service to me in
this case. l must bear my burden
alone. Maybe later will tell you; just
now all you can do is to drive me over
to the Drew farm after supper"
Reuben bowed and retired. Two
hours later Drake got up On the seat
beside him. Neither spoke during the
dreary journey. 1t had begun to rain
and as Drake alighted Reuben drove
the horse under the shelter Of some
trees.
He watched Drake enter the house.
Then he made him out through the
open window Of lighted room, seated
at u table opposite Drew. Reuben got
down from the vehicle and crossed the
farmyard. For a moment he stood In
the shelter of haystack, watching the
two men in the house. Then, almost ir-
resistibly, he was drawn toward the
open window. He had lighted his pipe.
This he set on the ground, so that no
faint of tobacco smoke might arouse
the suspicious Of the willy Drew. With
in the room Drake, stern, pale, des-
perate look in his eye, was saying:.
"Ive brought the money"
"Hand it over" pronounced the evil
eyed Drew, glibly.
"Not till l know I am going to get
the notes in return"
"Oh, I've got those In safe place.
Don't get saucy, Drake, or I'll call
the deal off. owe you something for
marrying the only woman ever cared
for. Revenge might be sweeter than
money"
"You are a monster!" spoke Drake,
unrestrainedly.
''And you are a forger!" was the
mocking rejoinder.
"Yes," admitted Drake" to save the
farm years ago l forged some notes;
but paid them like a man and no one
knew save you, through theft of the
papers,"
"Tll go and get them," said Drew,
and he arose and then with stare out
side uttered sharp cry. Some sparks
from the pipe carelessly placed on the
ground near the haystack had ignited
it and it was all in blaze.
MY hiding place-the papers! The
hottest" fairly screeched Drew, and,
dashing out, he flew toward the stack,
but, stumbling over a log, fell pros
trate, stunned.
Reuben, striving to pull out the blaz-
ing hay, suspended that operation. He
dragged Drew out of danger from the
blaze.
Let it burn" he said calmly to
Drake, as the latter appeared. 1.-THE
papers this wretch held over you are
hidden in that stack"
Drew raved like mailman when he
recovered and found his power gone
and himself harmless so far as Drake
was concerned.
Its a trick, plot! You set the
fire!" he raved to Reuben. "Tll have
you arrested for arson"
"All right" replied Reuben. "You
utter a peep and We'll have you arrest
ed for attempted blackmail."
They left the batfled wretch to his
misery and Drake went home happy
man, the dread of his life removed
through the unconscious efforts of the
loyal Reuben, his son-in-law that was
to be.