HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1896-06-26, Page 2a}.
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r *PAF WING} . & t TIMES, ►S, tti.TNE 26, 1896.
CRAI'TJm X.
Many years ergo two sten were talking
together one morning in the private room
of a bank in the west of England. The
senior partner of the house, a white-
haired, sa estelool<ing :inancier, was cau-
tioning his companion, wito evidently had
their business enterprise very much at
heart
adventurouseart,Those was something eager and
in the younger aan s aLp-
pe ai'auee, in spite of the look that be-
trayed d ilio country squire and lawyer
that he was. Tho bank, personified by
the elder num, wasan akingau investment
quite t t0 taltart from its, usual steady cus-
toms, to joie tho squii:o who was putting
aod bit 1t of money i to a venttrrte b
seat. This h\Vooey S to be forwarded to
the port of Bristol to 110 shipped, and the
two capitalists had received news from
tbo captain of the waste that he was
sailing Hunch sooner tion had been his
first intention. The difficulty was to
find a proper resseng4r at such short
notice, anti tate sgttiret who was some-
th c
in=ofa
1 vet 1
g F,z n
a lace come n � c rle c
that he had fallen iu u nt xpeetedly with a
horse dealer, a very Ilwlest man, fearless
and a good rider, whom' he had known
for many years, and wIxoi fortunately, was
on his way to Bristol the next day but
one. t:
"The
onlydefect
he has is in
being a
stronger (
l $ r to the toads hcreaahouts; I mean
between hero and Bristol, " said the
squire. "But Rogers, you say, eau go
with hili, and knowsthe way well.
Weymouth has an English tongue in his
;head, but with se much 'gold to carry a
man is sometimestake gleet! 'to tL short
cut, or a diftereut turn, eepeeiaily in these
drays where there is so notch tramping
and :thievery. You never know whom
you fall in with on the read. I must say
I never liked the looks of,Rogers-"
The :.quire turned gi(ickly from the
window where he stood avith hands deep
in his pockets, looking mit in the street,
and saw Rogers himself, Who had come,
soft -footed its a eat, from ,the outer roost
to stand. behind the scnioi, partner. The
squire stared at hint nngifly.
"I knocked, sir," said Rogers, defer-
entially
should hope so," answered the
squire with coldness, But the clerk
seemed to take no offense, and departed
on tiptoe after handing some cheeks to
his chief. The old man flushed a little
and was disturbed. Itrgers was his daily
companion and made himself quite in-
dispensable. To the squire he was only
a subordinate, and apt to be prestuning
and curious.
"I don't like him. in Spite of all you
say," tho squire grumbled to the senior
partner a moment after the door was
softly closed.
"Well, perhaps not as a companion,"
agreed the old gentleman with a smile.
"I thought he looked crafty and sncakish
myself at first sight, but he has been per-
fectly faithful and steady these six or
eight years now. rind I long ago gave up
suslteeting Rogers. He. 'is curious, per-
haps, but harulless, harmless,"
"
"He'll wait forever for his chance. but
he'll take it when he gets it," mid the
squire. "Ti a is if I know anything of
human nature. I wish we had our honey
all in notes insieatti of so mueit gold, but
we cannot risk the eliance of our chang-
ing the notes in Bristol before the Mary
and Bell sets sail. And any n:nn Wey-
'mouth can hold his own, 1'11 warrant
hila. I hope Ite'il be prompt about start-
ing. He has as much as told m0 that it
teas not all business that keeps hint here;
he is paying attention to a young woman
whom he hopes to marry. But Ice's a
mart of his word. 'Vis a good bit of work
for him and ,noi.ey est ilyi cartel, as you
inti say,sin 1 ,o-
y CC 1C was
u 11,=
to
Bristol e eI StOl R
}
day hater.rate."
. at any rntc.
The squire took his; riding stick and
glove); from the table and bade hie old
t rienti. good morning. They shook hands
;heartily and had to cheerful word or two
!about their business and its probable
sucrees•
";rets that they start` at six o'clock
Sunday morning, or even earlier," the
younger man turned back to say. "The
goads are heavy nlrettlPy with so much
rain, and If I don't mistake the signs
!there':: more coating. They can't get to
'Bristol at best before, night. I don't
know what sort of a n ttiut Rogers will
get. he'll soon worry a1!'good horse out of
its wits, I shouhi 2: bast'. Tell hint thea
rends r::on is set upon tailing early."
i
"He'll wait a tide fot' hie motley," said
the senior partner with a=surnn' e, tapping
tete arm of his chair. "Ice's a prompt
ratan, is Renderson, mtld,alt oxeellert ship
master, but eighteen Inputted pounds is as
good runt to miss; kir'y luck t (spends on
getting it, you Isesatf rti:l, I'll 2(111
Roge:'r. Take a Watis'1of �ita10111a I102000you ,:A1; will you join 1 e, sir, 'tis toward
,
noon . a
As night was felling wo mounted
mea-
rien?c . s a telc1 willli)tll from1'e:1
1
1 t(T
Stirrup.' ."
we
hely
,L a1 ,, a deep,
Worn e"tuttry Ione, They were in the
north part of t13e(•"Crit, of:'"tuareet, ter
the grater,: of the ; ere:•jla. il'Lt• tulip itself,
deserted enough thou ; tight, was 0 great
thoroughfare for those;' whet came front
alio south.and west 1 ere SS over into
*Wales. 13this fora:.( noes:.! :treanl of
travel 11714 the we:t0i11.21 of the weather it
lead been worn like a s•3 ift stream's ratan.
tteT. asap lurlm • t* • ': • 1 (f Yl.s• r,soars*.
pee (< the .• . t , to -2, ,, :(0) Ify
At the 1.1.:41 ;1, ;21 .'§;• . 1t I(e
ilaspected 10 ere a , ,.. 14 ii.,irl:ekot herr.
ing down. The other man rodestaaahhet
and stern in his saddle, and took 1 c
notice of anything but his Itureo and the
slippery road.
As they came, riding northward side
by side, to the top of a little hill, Rogers,
who wore a stranele pale axed eraavon
look, MVO a sigh of re iof, and his horse,
which limped and her the marks of hav-
ing bre • i -
g n 012 his knees, whinnied as if in
sympathy, Tho wide, ?gray Severn spread
lie
fore c u them; 7
1'n
tha1
]-1 I
headlands t3 } sloped
gently away on rho *fight, and Loll oil'
like a cliff on the left; below the lance
was (a
-(
d
by long
10
of
dyke e
which
fenced the sea from nu • ;tib rind meadows
that stretched away 10( ill the coast, Over
the wide water drifte cT to clouds v I ods of fog
andand
rain, (Elul 111 the 'c�uttlicest a (toll red
gleam of fading winte e sunset lightened
but little the cold and etormy, color of the
sky. High above th5e Severn, at the
road's 014 stood t1 gr(lun of lute buildings
perched on the llead1ignt1 together, like a
convent it
11 22
R ta i
or lace
of Y.
n �..taLry defense.
Atitill 1
travelers '
elms rol)f/ into the yard of
tho old Miner. Eagle inn in the twilight,
the ` inn
itself
and ;ill its stable, and
outhouses seemed deserted. Theo was a
)taro and empty look everywhere. Ther
sunset just struck a list whip of rain at
the two tired even, a22tl Weymouth called
impatiently to the ltotle', and tlieu got
Stiitiy to the ground 1
a tl ,
bran
1 ((1 his e
cold stretched hin 1 P dint
himself:as he stead balding
his ]torso's bridle. Tau creature dropped
his hemi low and steamed in the cool air.
'There were two windows in the inn
itself, dimly lighted, °!as if by firelight,
ani in t
1 taut th ' •
cI t1' iuc
lo� '
v in the la3xllvarcl
corner it ealneile flicisered faintly. Tho
whole place seemed (111II and unfriendly
with its stony walls pant roofs. Rogers
grumbled with a plaintive whine, his
companion shouted again with a strong,
honest voice, and presently a stable floor
was flung open and two men etene out. 1
Inside, the light of an early tenter')
beamed comfortably,; and the horses 1
timed their tic's that way, as if eager for
their supper and warm bedding. There j
was no sound from within of stamping
hoofs or ery of erowded and biting horses.
Tito business Wag evi(lisnt]y at lowest ebb. I
"Rub thein clown well and give them
'
good feed as soon as ybein dare; full oats
and scant pity. We must be on our
way again two hours front this at toast,
we lost the road and sfiere in haste at any
rate ," said Weymouth. "I'll cone out, •
:and look after them in an hour, Mind,
they're not in the rind," he raided.
"Come, get down," he added, in a colder
tone to his fellow•traveler, who through
weariness Or uncertainty, still sat his
horse like a drooping statue, "Strike
the mud off you ; here, I'll help you, then,"
as the elan gave a groan and then tried to
dismount, "After the first wrench you've
all right. Conte you're none the worse
for your cropper into clay and nun}!
TW()1(0t•NTEO 1it:,a7• \(t;1';at,
Queer inn they keep bets" he said an-
grily as they crossed the yard toward the
door13 l •]
itho our r. I ••
>; the i . (kl);lt
uta
pointed then). They ()pia hear a woman's
voice inside before it Was opened.
As the mistress flung it open wide and.
stood on the thresholcll the bade her guests
good evening in a eivll tone, but insisted
smnewhat Ostentatfonsly that she desired
no guests that night,. (ho had ceased to
keep the tavern sil at the travel had all
One, or been stolen vlen-a1t•(ty to the lower
ferry. She had 801110 people already
whom she must melee a shift to care for,
ole. Welalt folk who hal) been put into
the only room that could be used. She
was giving up her :lease to leave the
place --
"We only ask for supper and a fire, 'tis
batt to rest our horses.'' said Weymouth,
boldly making his way into tho inner
kitchen where the firelight looked cheer-
ful. Rogers followed ruefully, limping
and holding his shoulder as if he were
badly hurt. When he sank into the
corner of the settee his head dropped back
a8 if he were ill, 1)11d his eyes shut as 1f
their sight swaant '(with c!itldines t. wile h
distress of weariness and squalor of Mild
tan(i wet could. not bet appeal to the be-
holder.
Weymouth Arica. 1'f( '
0( i 1 nA1
tI is circrte•
h .1137+
her Tike the horse he had just left (10)1
regarded Ids eompanfoll With pitte and
surprise. "Then he gave himself another
Streteh, 11,11(1 y:1w111c1 0v,n1f00,t40, e.uc1
t:tkilr;» uff hie shalt Moak spread it ('100-
21111)' teen a bench. 'There was iL stein
1( atter wallet, at his .eilio which he ma
shore and put 1)y the ri•):ak 0t 210) fire•
s:ict:•, handling it es lightly 11.8 he coul(1,
but not r011r(iaalil/ ; the fart of its weight,
he that such a bread -shouldered marl as
himself was glad to get rid of it. As he
'turned agraht he sale that the landlady bad
stopped her work emong pans and crooks
ss sus (a t,ta 12m1 Watt watching hdm ahares
ly, but Rogers groaned as if lit his sleep Brit eltel)s ant h' cry inztl c a t a, le l i tbut
, t«ud Weymouth repented his t•o)ltelnpt
and harsh words en the way. Ilia fellov-
messetlgor lout been oiik'ious in his pre-
tanse of knowing; every turn of the Pearl
that would bring thein quiet: and safe !
to Bristol, but he had taken the worst of
his mistake with so brad a fall, if the
color of his faro w000 any sign, and 1t
grew plain that Weymouth must somehow 1
or other Mut the rest, of the wily to Bristol
alone. In his heart he f!inc'hcd for a nu, •
lmoni, knowing what he carried and that
Ito leas tL stranger; yet for some reason he
had all the day distrusted the smiling ,
clerk and 1115 bland 1(13(1 (10111)10 manlier,
Hutt wisiletl more than once that lite were
ricliztg with a better Haan.
"Get 1)11' some brandy," said Weymouth •
to the hamila(ly, "and as glass for hint .
when he wakes, i good stiff lass,
, When he wakes, you '1) V, he'll Hoe 1 all
that be tan drink, 't )'(L$ aL hares nide for so
, poor a horseman, '11 leave 111331 here
to -night; neither he or Ids horse ran go
1 further. I must be o 1 arty way by ten or
as 80011 as 1137 Horse i fit and has had his
1 feet.,"
"O11, no, poor lad!' exclaimed the Wo- •
1 man, but there was , mottling disturbed •
1 and dissatisfied in he tone. "He'll get to ;
no •i:
m
,,
I3 titer tonight," out 1 she h s1(
added,t
n4R she
trotted off with more willingness than she
1 had shown before an( carne back with a
1 tingle choosy-Iookill • glass ass n
t� t v aL trey.
2t� a
L
a 11 1
' Weymouth 1 ()lit thanked -p
1 # 71. 1
11 ]fir end u 1 tool:
}
t t his
i
,
i 1 1i
bend l an 1
1 a ( coffered it main with much gel -
1 lantry; but she shool\;ller bead, not des•
1 ploasod, and went btt�'k to ]ter work,
'Then the guest cast- another glance at
his folio«-travc,ler. wale just at that 2110 -
mo It stirred and groaned again, unensiiy.
Weymouth lent tom_id 11in1, and shook
1111,1 gently,
i10 c
Idle s
h( glass t .201•
ti his lips.
P
Thedrowsy man wet quick to know tho
welcome odor, incl ch ink the brandy down
with eagerness, open ng his oyes wide and
making a queer fatco as he finished,
''What's this?" silt i he,
" 'Tis brandy," st •d Weymouth, laugh-
ing boyishly, ' `Soy ou've forgotten how
it tastes since noon!
" "T1waas not )1 i'( 17 11
,'
1
! exclaimed
t
]o
3
woman
co3t)ing baa( • from her cupboard
angrily. "'You 111 ght have ehoked a
sleeping Hurn!" .she •ailed at Weymouth,
and elen('hed her fts like to fury,
"Sleep then," she stud to Rogers, who
Ianghe(1 a little and gazed at her stupidly
but much sterticd.t "What's the od(1s.
Betsy?" leo faltered' 118 if he know her
well, 1
"Betsy 2(10 none 0P your, Betsys," s'Lid
the rough-ulanner(jt• mistress of the
•
WITil .t
snit; LE et.rt• rh ,.,.,esING chase i
fi
hours!, sharply; thee, controllingherxelf, in
she caught up the eittpty glass, and her 211
tone claurged. ",Sorin' other (b•f111c would ! do
have done for him jr .et as well," she said, • fa
in a wheedlingwiltper, and, tettn'nieg
fc,her thplf, she 11 'ed
a second glass. all
Weymouth observed that It was fuller pl
than the first, and (•eel,te(( it amiably. lig
The cross-grained er31utere had meant to pr
nay hint a pretty ro3iipliment in pouting no
stint her best grog, ;vet he thanked her bel
(3
t11Iv with propel ., 1 t 7111 toast to ll"
P 1 < good (a
g
nn
fortunes as he raai,rd a he glass to his lips. tht
Ile was still stoning hdoro the fire; 11u
something crest rel Leo1 mina at that mo- sot
Hu'r't. elle woman. teas by her table . ox
wire r' she eonld err. `hint, and with his i
hand covering the gl:iss he tossed his bend tin
bark gayly and pretended to (Irick. hho 110
turned t.lvly with a queer out i
] sigh. liogcrs on,
had shut his eyes agar- n, and quick as ;a ' Ivo
Bash \\•eeynlouth tlu'("l the brand • behind
la
1,1111 into the ttslars,, ;CI;
1tlently too high for t1 safe drop to the
ground. Then lar laughc•tl; his U1111 plait
was best and moody voted with decency
oppose it; he could call for his horse prc's-
wttly and vide away. Yet if it were
known, tog he suspected, that he was m-
ating treasure, it would still take courage
to start out (alone o11 0 tired horse,
Ile sat down by the fire and looked,
about him. There was little remit= in
• the . place except the two old bells, olio
! with its close(} cirtaf318 of drier: stuff
and the other, e p0urly-posted m:L1:\shift
()f 0011121x1' o1 which Bogcrs lay. The old
Welsh woman breathed loud now and
I then, but Rogers slept as if he worn dead.
c Curse hint, " muttered Wey mouth, OHO
should have known his roads of lot (111
It)ust312011((10110,"
'1'1101'(, was a 101111 voice in thekitchen ;
the landlady colder he heard. note and then
ailing fretfully at some our, who was
not slow to answer batok, His thoughts,
like theme of a tired roan, went back to
the past and he scorned to himself curious -
1r indifferent to the perplexities of the
uesent; HO had just loft the woman he
1 ved, (111apIwixlted by her coldness, She
was youn;;er than he, they luta not
known melt other long, but after to separ-
ation of some months 110 had joined her
with the hope of marriage only to fled
that site had changed, that site pint ]line
1
011 and spoke doubtftlll
f
o tI
n y e
i future.
r(,
She had confessed that it teas Ito change
1t411g0
1u her own feelitlgs,but that she feared to
bringshame upon ]
l him, and the thought
of her lo11ely figure as they parted return -
1 to him like a vision. She had refused
) see him again ;this was two days before •
tel the. journey to Bristol must be quickly
ver so that he aright go bark to meed
it7t ]ter. It we wrong to hove parted
eerily ars lie ]lard (lone --if ever life was
u sear]. i • was n
1 t1 t 13 0
( w but th 31 T
, U
l
were
ays to conquer, He sterted to his feet
id went quickly toward the kitchen only
discover that tho door had bean fast-
lesel 0x1 rho outsfdr.
He coolly let thOJatcit fall and returned
his chair; beside it lovas the heavy
itch of notes and gOlcl ((and 110 slang it
• his
1'1Iisane
f fastened d tis
le belt
th steady iinge:�, The sudden wave of
gerness a brave man feels in the pres-
e0 of danger and net brief space while
e troubles of hie, own heart conte up-
tr1110St 120t11 passed quickly; there WAS
single nu0uent
when
\Veyluonflx romenl-
1rec1 that 110 ryas a ti'rd incl ilef0nselo8s
tun at rho mercy 02 ;lis fors. Then his
s most nobly passel; he must not only
ape to plead with IS izabeth Brent, but
was bound in honor to carry his 3v111101
Bristol to Capt. l+entiersol, 02 the ship
ary auul 13e11.
Ise hater a foelfng that' he was watched.
at about the old L\Velsh woman? It
was by no 311ea118 t111CU1*nllon for travelers
to be eroweled togctbc` l in country inns,
but the landlady had been almost too
eager to forestall sus' iclon, Anel now
glancing across tho rao u he sate the cur-
2ai215 move. The lent tidy had toll hint
to can her if the poor ld creature spoke.
Weymouth left his stair again, lifted
the latch of the kitalte - door, and knock-
ed boldly when it wood not open. "Let
311e out!" /to called, grumbling and
growling, "Let Ino out I I waist more
brandy!" With sudden instinct he took
ou the behavior of a drunken man, "Let
her think I ant drugged if site pleases,"
he said to Iiimeelf, and knocked again,
scolding finely and asking for the braxldq
by turns, Ho could,heilr the voice of an-
other woman, as if hi protest, but pres-
ent17 the door opened'and tho landlady
appeared.
"You've had brandy ,enough now," she
told Ilial, roughly. ' locked tho door
because the latch is o and it files open
and keeps both fires 1i-smokin
g. Cease
your noise; I'll call you for your supper."
There were two rough looking »ren by
the fireside and a1 1"0111tan stood behind.
the settee whose oyes _plot his as if they
struck a flash of light. At the first sight
of her face ho stopped, for an instant ho
lost power of speech ; then -he went on
with his drunken play'anel staggcro,d to-
ward the lnfd(110 of the room,
0 111mx1 laughed, thelandlady scolded,
the slender iiguetibehind the settee
half hidden in its.' shadow. Eliza -
Brent, the won* ho loved and
n he had left so heavy hearted, for
o sake ho was hurrying to Bristol
hurrying back, tho woman he
glut of by Slight and day, here before
stonished . lc
cle eyes! 'How o1y iu the world
emit( sh 1
. era t,l•
1 e 1 :,0 f
all `3
t.1 into h
v at
1 fool<-
ke a den of thieves? How could he
age to got aL word with her?
s head dropped ' on his breast are
1's' Wright have done, he was growing
for want of road,, the o1cl woman's
or seemed 110 nearer ready than at
The two »ten were watching hien
chuckling together by t]le fire.
et )130 the brandy'!" he 01x110(1 atgain,
hey c•Intekled • melee. "Drinks all
1, you pretty p `tnre!" he ctmulnand-
e( to nlistt'ess o the house; and this
ti they laughed !yen louder, as well
tT might.
11 get 1t, 0tin ," said the younger
1n unexpeetedIy, "wlhich bottle
" She canto out into the fireligJttt
nee looking at Weymouth. but iter
'(0as very pa11e anti her oyes were shin -
He coul(1 almost have touched het as
1580(1.
1s there in the 111 )board at the in
the t:n1a71 bottltl if h0 n1' rtrilt
lt5t har6 It';
nuts tore fast ill the dou gh," grime)
e old wotuan, "`
b 113 all cvr(8rtte
c1' tone, and W�1
effort and unsteadiness, got to iris
Ind followed to the cit ab
} oartl )ro-
,1
g t; Ito wont. At that moment a
venal to yelp and whine before the
a coal load snapped tip ou his poor
and burnt its way to t11e skin. The
ar(l Waas at the far end of the) room.
INNOCENTLY DI,TI\G hitt mcDaY CLOTH S, te
t<
(rippled; an old at
wi' nee by her son o
bo getting a boat 1w
utised to mind Iter to
Ing the dike to see it
il• U' ;
13 '(C.
_110 5 ft1St 1V
r snore front here, (17
poor thing, and will neither trouble nor to
be trouble. '
(. I'(
o t
t 1kL ed her
tight an' I've stookedth a fi e. Yo utaan' cl
hir`iLl an+take a bit of rest" (persuasively) to
111 do what I can for ye here.
'Tete landlady's toile was peremptory as o'(
t'(ll
e aS
, ergn£iS V •
i 0 ]l0• '
P � bet •
, dati .i
to -
P gun lus
easy glances tut Rogers, .who seclned.to bo eta
falling together in a1 Heap in the settee e„
corner. Wryntouth hesitatted, bat when tit
t11e woman erassc(1 the 400111 11n(1 openle(1 1 pe
a door, ho got his companion to his feet a1
alld managed to shuffle nd drag him to be
the 1111101. r00m
alnd nt
7 inr an
rho l .
n .rarest ,,,
bed. Rogers waked on enough to pro- forte
test in a weak, strange ay,, anti then fell eso
of to sleep again, whx a his face grew be
very eel as if the drink and ]lot firo had to
put hint in a fever. Hero there was a ]1I
,host depressing chill •and cire(ariness.
\Veylnouth hastene(1 baael< to the kitchen R'h
for his cloak Band wallet; declaring Itiin-
self to need tI10 better fre without and
ready to insist upon tho;rights of a guest.
1 " 'Tis newly lighted • within, it burnt
1 out and 'teas just nulla tip now; 'twil.l
' soon be too 11131011 for you all' I'll 11ear
• compltaints the other way !" the IandIady
answered hilt, good-lumoredly. "You're
not in a Lannon inn, ivhatcvor you luny
think. Letave 1110 your cloak an' I'll dry
rand clean it. My own folks is coating in
1 to their supper. Mind that poor soul ye
brought, an' I'll clo my est here,"
At t13is 31103110/12 there eero loud voices
' in the yawl and 1Voylno , til stepped. quick-
Iy toward the door Lugs. of a1 traveler's
' curiosity "etop !" saai t:he wonlall ill
•111 ilnsole'IIt tone thabt 1131}(0 h1111 confront
.ler with wrath (111(1 amazement.
1 " ':Tis but some tea4lsters, sir," she
, said, her eyes fulling bef ie his unspoken
reprotach of her nlaunCra, 'and going back
j to the wheedling toile sh" had taken caari-
ser. "You're too heath , sir," silo ex
plaited humbly, "an• ' is wet withou
i anti blotting again. ou'ct best sta
s under cover while you 111
Tho inner room to 1i
re
/ on
• to
fa
sites stone (leaf ;all
lei elsh body as 11'tas lc:
a41t' darter. They'll
across 'arty , anti I pa
While they stopped a
frie i
nd
S the
3"
10 Ot
t�"
14511'0
ell 1
)Cri 7
P> s r 1�
•
Ly."
iicle Weymout
turned waas long and narrow tvitic bu
e narrow window at eac]1 end, Th
ward the courtyard ryas shuttered a
stenc(1 on the outside ane. so111e of th
aass was broken • while there wcro cob
1115 and (lust Hutt ha1(1 long been gather
g. The other window wits high abov
strop slv}ao of rho cliff and Iooke
13131 at the dyke and ehu meadows an
r oyer the gloomy water beyond.
The 1110031 was rising 1.1e11}21d the Ileav
st and, though daylikht was now coin
cteiy r one. there 11-'18 a strange dint
11 ]
ti3is tt
t phtec so that R'c*sluout7l cool
etent1y see where ho Va8, and ho scan
ct the shadowy cotrtltl with a growing
sof in his heart that ] e'(was a 1)risaner
dthath.
c ani•
1tt bo I
dta
g c:,ea r
g.
n
o rem
5
Hai.
2 1'a :,u •
tin t
l ,'e
< sc of entertaLin
sat, Olu•e or twice ft oat] 800m0d from
no look or gesture the they had been
,eeted. Rogers and le landlady had
dOuJltedly beta: ccs tl e fact that they
re not strangers to ea h other l;f ho
( bee,. a free elan 12ot1 al on ogle of his
n journeys, nothinlg t] rut 11101 1ttappened
uid have maule him lumensy, but ars the
11(lian of utile•• min's gold rte was
t
y
h
t
at
nd
0
0
cl Th
d and
ryas
Y both
- Winn
whos
c1 and
- thou
hi. as
4
ell 11
- anan
Hi
'loge
faint
sups
first.
and
"G
ami t
roma
. tl
1110
they
-mem
then?
not o
111, soul in pa- I faco
to another inn ing.
r. With a fresh . she pa
0 111211 he Could "7T
(1 clenched his hand,
ON aF Tu,1Y.
t 1 Iiia
CHAPTleiR II. ; bei
W071)10uth di(i net !leave hie place by ' tv
rut' anti more oil the alert. Clearly the
t thin;; 2101v Was to slaty quiet fora
of time, for his horsn's sake, end then
p101(11 haste incl ptisji oil. Ho W0ltld
risk himself Ina bit of fighting, even
3wftlu)ut Itis pistols 3vhie t hal been left in
the treadle, For tutoth1'r
roils hour at
least he. wultl1 pes't's
tienec, then 1181 his was
it'ss solitary and 1118111110
horse and the night /tofu.
find P es'el Ilfni t•ie
fist and hoof; it at the 14mtu ()11 tlltl bed; my ha
their r011tintt so fair not (tafi tilts 1Vay alight sed lir
perhaps be an accident,»but Weymouth moue
doubted More 1111111 ever the holiesty of as low
• 1130 lt•:,» lvhon,. Ire ha<I <lfstrusted tit first much
sight, (saes the clru; ted liquor tens the feet a
silx'estroeoIle f of mischief.
T Ic funnel hien- tcstin
self in a tight phlee, dog b
As he ]oohed dctval 200311 the whitlow' fire;
into the misty night the great dismal baud;
p111121 of the tervern ::theeled away into (1)31110
he fire, but stood thele buxom/idly drying
tis nluddv ('Iotius. The flea had naught
fagot 811d was c1Icc1ing and snapping
atc:ly; such tit 3, id shot up a strange
gleam at the side Wv14e11 nobody appeared
to melee, though it t1msn0 full in the faco
of the landlady 17nd showed her to bo
more Resew aatl lees rixeitcd, and present -
1y 8111'1;00,2)10 utrcxptieteelly talkative,
"I do feel proper de:graced to be found
sa Shiftless by you geretl(n)1cn," silo Flpalo-
gized to WeylImuth, whose face was in a
shadow. "Custom. Nee Door that th000
'(vas 110 counting on n )y1)otly from week's
end to week's
• i
1 ek 5 end. 111 \ 1
�(r..
C giving t1'
#, x n our
least' to go to Aa a rlc:a and 0111(1 that on
Monday we'd harbor strangers no more,
and 811100 then I've had five e'oillp:uties of
traveling folk lighting down, all crying
for the hest, and luring thankful for the
Worst before they gat -away.
"You'll wait 1111 hour for
70313, supper
at best," she misled;'t'1'd no eggs by me,11112 I'vercuturtit•l a1 J ; 1 none
tilt last I had for the/folks that was just
before •e, An' .
I 'Met got
5 t
but the one
room to show ye. ; t 10 c113n1n'y fell es
11e10nge to the thither, eid(' t1(1' house.
He'd. ought, 10 get it' bed," 1'l<+ci<tlll{ rat
a
r
the poo' cr(oked Tu ,•ked figure 011 the
settee 'i melte hold to soy 1 3,3101 t,,l.
•
hilt a g)ass'Il be
ee, " she added, in
'mouth, 11s if with
the ti allows (•f the dill
5nitiel< or emelt peeing
t(JWII1'cl the headland tall
(ler its ler. There wits
1.1 171,.•g
34114 anotherc r -
brought upon the hill
'r1,0 Wind %3'111+ still blot
gone down w1111 the sum
• 3ci!(1 than before.
Wcynlrntth left the 3v'
ancr. A it51
1t lin};
oat had crept up
(l Gnat anclun: 1111-
l1 lantern 1n the
il11) light being
toward the sun,
ing as if it had 1
allll
risen
less
thorn W118 half eL 1nint(tO of confusion end
loud laughter while tho two were stand-
ing stele by side at the cupboard door,
"I'm haat (drunk. I /Mud get 11131:17 2ro211
1 q
r, ,
this," -whispered 1, }x reit \Ve;.•lnoutb, but she stop-
..
nett eager w1,ispe, '"The net, the
net. 8ho criers, with strange insistence:
"Don't drink 1 the net and. the farther
window 0'
TWO 1101';11 1,0(1111\0 SIEX !1Y 'I'IIE. 1"111115IDE..
close behind them, 1812 Weymmouth. hold
tho bottle high in his luand anti stiq gereel
ptast /tor to the bedroom door, muttering
angrily, and Flint himself in. There was
a strong bolt inside iv)1ie11 he slid, and
pounded the door with his fist finny, Ho
could hear the 111011 1auglliltg by the iil'e,
a11(1 went back to his elbow 01181 •. Tho
wvallet of 11101)ey banged aagaainst the 11r131
of it as he sat dowel,
"You're what they're seeking," ho said
under his breath Fay he put his han(1, on
the leather bag, "Please Heavens we'IZ
h
kcc}) t0�otllur till Iva get tv Bristol," But
the presence, of the two men 111 the kiethon
waL• g *11
s i i 1 u
fit t4 t 011U I 1
t, u of h ` ,
3 i R1U
]nein
t5
no
hope of :a PetLceablc+ clepartnrA vel hoxso-
back. The 00rtaiuty of aL careful plot
a •aiust hie 1 v "
l; 1 1 as, impo. sibly to bo denier;
it 1V1Ls in tale very aair; ho Ives ono against
many, FLlld la stl'ange' ill this et1'ang(I aand
dismal harbor(go 0f thieves, Whether
they looked for the ordinary p31x80 of a
traveler, or haci been given news of that
tretasure Ile (tarried was a puzzle. In that
31101110112 aL col(1 (:hill of horror stole over
Weyntoultll's great frame; haci tiro woman
])o loved nlu011, tsllo ]lace sudidenly repuls-
ed hint with so little 1•eason or excuse,
beon the means of this danger and disas-
ter? Had she and Rogols-no it was iln-
1lossible-impossible! i?Ilo might be. she
waIS,.the victim of misfortunes, but in
her hon(+st eyes tall(1 heaart there was 330
Sibiu .
oa, it of
fille'h ;a
n � Pill +
a t. I
is •h •
tt istl
ea
a gay shrill tune they had both known
well the year before when they had seen
eac11 other first in Southampton. Please
Heaven there wore n1o3'e happy days to
come for Lizzie Brent• rand himself, 1Ie
began to whistle the song again i11 broken
snatches and the nlen laughed louder than
before in tale next, 00311,
CH AFTER III.
Weymouth 11,6w bethought binnsolf of
his two sleeping conlpaniun8, and especi-
ally of the lnysterious occupant of the
curtained bed. He leaned over and took
tho bottle from the 1tharth an(1 pretended
to taake a long drink. -He saw the cur-
tains move again 1unc1 felt that there were
oyes bohincl t11en,
Tho .louse wtas 310313' still, there was a
dull droning of wind in the, Chimney.
Weymouth snuaeked Iris lips and whistled
another bur of hie tuu10.
"I'll soon see who you aro lying there
ready to rob lee, or to open the door to. •
those 13•Ilo will," he saaid under his breath
as he reached. for the guttering candle
that stood on the mantel shelf. With the
bottle still in his other han(1 ho went to
Rogers and tried to wade hirer, insisting
that they must 8uo1 be starting, and loud-
ly offering the encollragelnont of morn
drink or lltore, pay, as if Ito wore possessed.
by aL besotted 'nail's generosity, Rogers
was in t1 stupor, not asleep, Wald presently
Weymouth ((rossedl the room to the other
bed; but one thing meanwhile had been
made plain. Tho ca11t110 had shone into
the dark corner of the ceiling and reveal-,
ed what his eyes haci anxiously sought for!
as he sat waiting with forced patience by,
tho fire. A wide board .tad been nailed
fron ono heavy beats to 111etller of the
ceiling. making a shelf into which some-
thing was crowded that drooped over
tno edge in unmistakable folds; to make
sure he reached to touch it and his hand
wwas entanigo(1 among the cords of a 110W:
net,
There was only 0110 tiring to do; a man!
did clot wis11 to frighten an old deaaf and'
crippled body, but a careful look would
do no harm, and, though his heart
thulilped for the first tinge, he-thrcw open
the curtains, There leas only a decent old
cap .with white borders, tied ti face turned
away into tho pillows, 1! or an instaant he
looked 1103011 (UnlpaSSionately and .with a
sense of relief, tlae next instant he stew at
tri '
0 iU0
t of til
0
bac. at11x
on T3
t o bead
Gt
� Ile
$r
•h
R 3C1r r
wcro strri,n of
b y disaarraangod, tT3o
Margo muddy riding boots of a Illan.
"Pont old granny 1" lie laughed aloud,
as if bo were unconscious of being besieg-
ed, and .were growing snore foolish and
comfortable every nlonent with his
drink. "A tittle grog won't do 'ee 110
harm, 1'11 rouse the old. mother n11' give
her a taaste o' gin. She looks a bit blue
a c4 .
n curd, Taa vld (Luywriy to bo 612 rho
road such weather." He brought the
bottle hastily front beside Rogers, and
bent dow11 ('lose to the rap, "Rise up
now, granny, an(t take a taste!" he Cwan-
seled her, persuuasively, "'Twill waren
'ee, det(r."
'There was a 221oment of hesitation, a12d
Weynnouth lifted the becappcil ilea(1 and
held the bottle) to tho lips. `i;no attr ,;,
Was too sudden and unexpected; the
watcher Watt, for 503110 10118011, 1102 ready,
to declare himself 00 to provoke et open
quarrel; the light was (lim, and with
much e11013111g and spilling the liquor
. went clown an unwilling throat, °
As tlto peaceful figure with its grand-
motherly ('tip recognized the bitter drain
and rose with fury, a straight blow (roue
'Weymouth's si82,
and two or three lues
that followed, laid the disarranged head-
gear heel: among the 1)11103x5, 1111(1 stun-
ncd its wearer into harmlessness, Thein
Weymouth palled the net from its shelf,
after dropping tho bottle he if it had fal-
len from a tipsy man's hand, and, cent-
ing tins stout tongs from the fireplace, ha
hurried to the window and oponed it soft -
1y. looked It c
) C1
far to brit; Ile
h'a�stily pushed out the loose arnlf1ls of
not and heard thein drop softly, then,
fastening to stout twist of the olu1 about
the bars Of the tongs and braeleg them
s the corder, he got out of the win-
1et h}illself down, lot go the win-
(Tu I,r: i 0101,1)1VIt '.1
1(low, tlntersy els- "Don't waster it, 'kou'ill 1;111 kiln if you ,
not see his give I,f311 more," yell the old woman'
rpetlon ; it was ev' 1;
0ugh in his mini; he r•
way 3" reestl:e in that d