Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-10-28

Dravada had been savage and want
ed to try torture. but the attorney, en-
ragged as he frequently became in his
failure and disappointment. would not
permit this and had got trustworthy
rascal of his acquaintance. named Sim.
with two other men. to keep con-
stnnt guard over Jed with view not
only to prevent his escape but to keep
Dravada from doing him harm or TAX
ing him away.
The lawyer. both dismayed and en-
ragged by Jed's obstinacy. had finally
thought of cOrrupting someone in the
house 10 find and steal the manuscript.
The best he had been able to do was
to persuade maid to prove false
enough to introduce the real thief.
'Dravada and the lawyer never had
any hesitancy at having their quarrels
In the room where they held me-" Jed
said. Brown was afraid Dravada
would corrupt the fellow, Sim. torture
me and get the story. Dravada was
afraid Brown would corrupt someone
in Hartley house and get the manu-
script. Each one feared that the
other would succeed independently
and get away without making q divi-
sion.
"Dravada pretended to be satisfied
when Brown told him that he> must
not appear near Hartley. When they
thought they were going to succeed IL,
stealing the manuscript ont Of my
room Brown proved to Dravada that
the only one of them that could 20 to
meet the maid was Brown. Dravada
appeared to accept that as reasonable,
and he must have put Brown Off his
guard, because Brown told him all the
plans.
"Dravada used to be very stupid,
but his cupldity has given him a sort
Of intelligence. He allowed Brown to
think he was perfectly satisfied. but
he wasn't ut all. BY seeming to be
satisfied he learned all about the de-
tells Of the plan. and he knew that
Brown, to avoid pursuit. intended to
take the way to Norwich.
"He knew that If Brown went
through Norwich he would stop for
several drinks. He would need them
If he was disappointed. He would have
to have them If he had the manuscript
and was excited by 1t. So Dravada
went to Norwich. It all worked out.
and when Brown got TO the village. he
found Dravada. Then he telephoned
to the fellow Sim to let me go. was
perfectly harmless. 1t was an inter-
estfng situation"
II could wish Dravada had tortured
you" ! said to Jed. HE has the
means now. through you, to torture
this family"
II said I knew Dravada had the
manuscript" said Jed. II did that for
effect. What Il ought to have said was
that I knew he thought he had the
manuscript. If had no more than the
intelligence you credit me with. doctor.
could not have conducted this affair,
so long. What Dravada has is not the
diary Of Mr.. Sidney.7
Until felt the relief following Jed's
explanation that the blackmailers had
stolen only decoy. did not fully
realize into what dependency our
predicament up to that time had.
thrust me-, If Mr.. Sidney's diary were
being read by INSCRIPTIONS men, we
might expect anything.
The lawyer. whose shrewdness and
lack of morals made him formidable.
was dead. The Spaniard would soon
discover his disappointment and would
he furious. thought the physical
danger to Jed was greater than ever
and found some pleasure; in telling
him so.
He was convinced of that himself
and was not happy.
"Why don't you end your rascality7"
urged him. "Why don't you give the
manuscript to Mrs. Sidney and allow.
her to make whatever disposition she
wants of it? Then. your conscience
will be easy-Sour position in this
house will for the first time be tolera-
BILE to decent man; and your physi-
cal security will be promoted"
He would not. He seemed to hest.
ldlc LUZ d luoIuculs Uut Ills puIpOSc
was too long fixed. and too much a
part of his life...s,4y,. -. =. ~.
He no longer was surly with me,
and seemed to have lost my ability
to enrage him.. We parted with my
telling him that there would be no
possible truce or peace between us
unless he respected the women of the
household. He bowed. -
Anything else, sir?" he asked; and
then he departed as the servant.
Mrs. Sidney's relief to find that
the robbery had proved only a hoax on
the robbers was such as would come
from escape from tangible horrors.
The lady had been Keeping control Of
herself, as was necessary to protect
her husband and Daughter from her
own agony of mind and to keep the
household from finding significance in
what could be passed over as a triy-
ial piece of robbery. 1890
When she learned that the alarm
was over, she relaxed Imply in her
~, = ~ ,;-.I,<