The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-01-04
CHAPTER w.
THE BLACK TORTOISE AGAIN


THE BLACK TORTOISE AGAIN.
have little to relate about the months
which followed after that Sunday at Mr..
Frick's
Young Mr. Howell still lived in the
house; he took fancy to ski" sport,
and learnt it in surprisingly short
time.
F4e accepted Tricks pressing invita-
ton to remain in Christiania till the
summer, when he intended visiting Fin
land and Spitzbergen
Einar Frick and Reginald Howell be-
came good friends, in spite of the differ
ence IN age. much TO the satisfaction of
old Prick. They were always toeether,
and fancy old Frick was not very strict
during this time With regard to his
nephew's Office hours
A detective, however, incidentally gets
to know good many things, and soon
discovered that the two young men did
not always pursue the most innocent
pleasures Even in Christiania, there are
always to be found at leasr dozen young
good for nothings, who have plenty of
money and nothing to do. Einar and
Mr. Reginald became regular visitors in
this circle, where later it became the
fashion to gamble, and not for very low
stakes, either
| became uneasy about this, and one
day / spoke to Einar and gave him a
serious warning.
By the young mans bushing and
frank confession, / saw that he had not
as yet entirely fallen a victim to evil
influence. Besides, he added that he
had latterly had more pocket money
from his uncle, and didn't play higher
than he could afford. Mr.. Howell had
several times prevented him from play
ing for high stakes He also promised
to withdraw altogether from the gam
bling circle, which Mr. Howell had said
he also was inclined TO do
This treasured me, and on the whole
| must confess that Mr. Howell's be
havior was in every respect that of
gentleman That /. in spite of this. en-
tertained a shadow of antipathy or sus-
picion about him. is one of those things
which cannot De explained.
One thing ! cannot pass, over in my
story: One fine day, when summoned
up courage and put the all-important
question to Miss Prick, ! received as
satisfactory an answer as any man could
wish.
She desired that we should, for time.
keep our engagement secret, for she
shrank from telling her uncle, who
would scarcely take the prospect of los
ing her with composure Old FEick was
remarkably fond of his brothers chill
dren The old man had lived his life
for many years without having felt the
sunshine of tenderness other than that
of comradeship; now he seemed to be
making up for it in the fond relations
between him and the two young people
who were tied to him by the ties of
blood as well as by those of gratitude
| have, all the same, a suspicion that
the old fox had an idea of what had
passed between Sigrid and me; and at
the same time, | also think that had
been fortunate enough to win his re-
spect, SO that if he were to lose his
niece, he would rather have given her TO
me than to any one else
1t was the tentn Of May, and beau
tiful day; the spring had come unusu-
ally early that year, and the trees were
already covered with leaves.
My work was finished 1t had been
long and troublesome day, and ! was
just standing in my room, wondering il,
as reward, should give myself an
evening off and spend it at Villa Bal
larat | had not had time to visit Sigrid
for several days.
Just then I heard the telephone bell.
Hello is that you, Monkf"
1t was old Tricks voice; ! knew 1t
WE'LL it was the same voice that, eight
months ago, had asked me for the first
time to come to Villa Ballarat
eyes, it is /"
"Can you come out here at once?
Something has happened"
II shall be with you in ten minutes"
At St. Olaf's Place took carriage:
! didn't want to lose minute.
An uncomfortable feeling possessed
me that some misfortune was pending.
or had already occurred. do not know
if one can really have presentiment
without some material cause; in this
case the feeling had sufficient ground by
old Tricks abrupt message.
At the outer gate stood Prick himself,
holding it open for me- He locked the
gate carefully after us, stuck the key
in his pocket, and then said, as he
stopped in front of me with his hands
in his pockets:
"The black tortoise Is gone agaial"
"Cone?"
eyes, gone Stolen, l say!" and he
raised his voice.