THE BARTONS SECRET.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7288, 16 August 1893, Page 4

THE BARTONS SECRET.

tfTSRATURE

' CONTINUED I Dogdyke seemed to read something in,his face, or a new access of bis fears disturbed him. He drew slowly back s yard or two, holding the shaking revolver pointed at the Count. * I’d never hare come out here,’ he said, ‘if I’d known what sort of place it was. We’re a mile away from anybody. I don’t trust you.’ I My goot Dogdyke,’ replied the Count, with an admirable phlegm, • while you hold that tangeroustool in ihst way, I’m very far from trusting you. Pot it away. Let’s talk pusineas. You have bothered m«j a great deal of late, and, to deal frankly with you, I am growing a little tired.’ *I am growing tired myself,’ said Dogdyke. * You agreed to halves, and I»m not going to bo satisfied with less. * I want you to understand, Dogdyke,’ said the Count, * that I am not prepared to surrender what you wish. Insanest of creatures, why <lo you want to dangle that foolish thing before me ? Put it dowo, I tell you; I’ve seen enough of it.’ * All right, sir,’ returned Dogdyke. * I haven’t the faintest desire to do anybody a mischief, but lam going to take care of myself; but yon are here, and you are here for egcellent good reason ; and here, or not at all we will conduct oor business. Put that thing away.’ Dogdyke lingeringiy obeyed, bnt he kept bis distance. ' Now,’ said the Count, • you are an armed man, and my bands are empty. Why should you be afraid of me ? Let us sit down and talk together. I shall gif you a thousand pounts if you go to America, and let me half done with you.* Dogdyke shook his head. * I am not bore to take a thousand pounds, sir,’ he said. ‘I shall not dream of taking any such amount. Don’t believe it. Count von Herder. You never fell into a bigger error in your life.* ‘ So!’ cried the Count. * You browbeat me, my good Dogdyke. Understand,* he waved bis fat gloved forefinger at his shrunken little adversely, with an air ot open menace,’ ‘ I have brought you here to tell you that I will gif you one thousand pounts to go, and that I will give you no more; and I haf brought you hare to tell you, too, that lam a very tangerous man to fight against.’ Dogdyke’a blood took a sudden chill, and he whipped his hand once more to his breast pocket, aod laid it on the butt of the revolver.

1 No, no.’ said the Count, smiling in a rather ugly way to look at. ‘I don’t moan violence here, or yet, my goot Dogdyke. Ihaf here for you one thousand pounts. . Will you go and let me see the last of you P ’ ‘No!’cried Dogdyke, with an exasperated whine, * I won’t. I’ll have fair halves or nothing.’ * I’ll go this much lurtber,’ said the Count. 4 i’ll rise to one bid higher, and I should very urgently atvise you, my tear, goot, Dogdyke, not to’ refuse that bid, for your sake and for mine,’ His eyes glittered, each a mere slit behind bis glasses, and his teeth were bared. His voice rose a full ootaye, and he questioned ; ‘ Will you please understand that I mean pusiness V Dogdyke,liked him less and less, but the loaded resolver gave him confidenoe. 4 1 want half,’ he answered, •anil won’t take a penny less than half. I’m not to be defrauded of my share. I can guess, J he added, with a tremulous defiance, 4 what you have got me here for. I can see it in your wicked face, hot I am protected. Don’t you think I’m going to walk in front of you. Don’t you think I’m going to travel back with you. Don’t you think I'm going to give you a chance oi having year wicked will on me.’ * Do you know, Dogdyke,’ the Count responded to this qnivering threat, 4 that you are really a very shrewd judge of character P I can offer two ways out of the dilemma m which your littletiscovery placed me. lean pay you as much as two thousand pounts —one thousand here ibis moment, and one thousand when you reach America, or if you don’t accept that chenerous offer, I can ' he paused. Dogdyke questioned : * What T » i can really, my little frient,’ the Count answered enigmatically, 4 1 really can. believe me.’ 4 1 don’t care,’ said Dogdyke, with a courage half hysteric and half brandi* * I can guess what you meaot to do with me if I’d eome.here unarmed.’ * Tot, tot, tut ?’ cried the Conn'. * Haven’t we heard enough of that ?’ Do you take my offer P’ * No I’ said Dogdyke. The Count looked at him in anger, and Dogdyke recoiled an inch or two, and pointed his weapon. Little by little che expression of Von Herder’s face changed, and in half a minute, to Dogdyke’s amazement, be was beaming on him with a smile absolutely amiable and admiring. The Count drew| a little quick sigh and dropped ao exclamation. 4 Well, well,* he said. 4 1 had thought you, in a quiet place like this, an easy man to frighten. It seems I am a fool, and that, my good Dogdyke, has not ofteo happened in my experience, 1 was mistaken in you. I thought I could bounce you, but I find it impossible. 1 mast submit, since there is nothing else for it. Ton may as well take your first thousand pounts at once, and you shall baf a cheque for the balance tomorrow.’ Tbeyoice of self.banter, in which be had begun the speech, sank into a tone of deliberative regret on the last words. Ha wound up with a foil.ehHtsd sigh of resignation, and

drew a pocket-book from bis breastpocket. * Now,’ said Dogdyke, ‘if you’ll allow me to say so, you’re talking fense.’

* It’s of little us* to talk anything else with you, Dogdyke,’ Von Herder answered, flashing a swift smile at him. ‘ Here,’ he continued, opening the pocket-luck, ‘ here is your first instalment in notes.’

Dogdyke, revolver in hand, advanced to secure ttie sum proffered biro. He laid thumb and fore finger on the folded bundle of notes, but the Count held tight. •' Not yet,* bo said. ‘ You haf this money to-d&y ; you haf my cheque for tbe remainder to-morrow ; but you don’t take it without an acknowledgment.’

*An acknowledgment !’ Dogdyke answered.

‘ Yes,’ the Count answered, ‘an acknowledgment. Wbat is to prevent you from coming back again next year ?’ ‘No fear of that, sir,’ Dogdyke answered.

‘ We vill, if you please,’ answered the Count, quite amiably and calmly, ‘.put it beyoud all doubt. You see 1 have come, my egcelleot Dogdyke, prepared for many contingencies. Here is a brand-new pocket-book purchased yesterday. Here is a etylograpbtc pen, also purchased yesterday. The pocket-book shall be used lor one purpose only—you shall make an entry into it.' ‘An entry!’ Dogdyke questioned. * To what effect, sir ?'

‘ You shall write : “I, the undersigned, confess to having received from the Count von Herder the sum of thirty thousand pouots, a fourth part of the proceeds of a fraud effected upon General Mallard, noon such-and-such a date.” Our memory is good for that, my tear Dogdyke, and you shall sign it with your own hand. Then, if ever you should make any threatening move against me, you will be fastening tbe handcuffs on your own wrists. Eh ?’ Dogdyke, with his weapon in one hand and the forefinger and thumb of the other still clasping the 1 bundle of bank-notes, deliberated moment. 1 (To be continued.)