The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-03-18

i ed Mr.. Choop, with a grim smile. Ere
my boy, if you want to see bit of fur
and like to go with Timothy and me, 20
are welcome
AS the clock struck twelve, we foun
ourselves at Fulwood station : Mr.. CbooT
Timothy and myself, after making fe,
inquiries of the Station aster. Mr.Chool
sent Timothy in one direction, while b
and took another. Mr.. Choop put eau
tious questions to several individuals, bu
witout gaining any decisive inform alton
Neither was Timothy-whcn We met hin
able to furnish any satisfactory intelli
gence. Mr.. Choop considered for few
moments; 1t must be as I have suspected
all along said he at last. We shall 6nd
them at the Ten Tramps. Step out lads
best leg foremost
We left the village at rapid pace
and still keeping on the high road, goI
into a barren moorland country. Fields
hedgerows and trees, were gradually lef
behind; until at length we were shut in or
every side by swelling billocks of moor
which were sWopt away as far as the eye
could reach, and bound the horizon with
their sinuous, graceful lines. Following
the guidance of Mr.. Choop, We quilted
the highroad after time, and came to a
halt under the lee of a higher hillock
than common. Mr.. Choop taking off bis
hat, clambered up the hill. and took a
stealthy survey over its summit. He
then beckoned me to follow. Peeping o.
yer I found that We were on the summit
of a ridge of country, from which the road
swept down into a small valley, in the
middle of which and close to the high
road stood small, square house.
"The Ten Tramps. dare wager that
Jim Riley and his wife are in that house,
said Mr.. Choop. 1t is a notorious gath
ering place for all the rogues in the dis
trict'
Mr.. Choop descended, and he and Tim
othy held secret council for some minutes.
Then Timothy opened small bundle
brought all the way from Newstone--and
proceeded with much gravity to induct
himself into a wagoner's blue smock frock
plentifully braided and buttoned, after
the fashion in which wagoners delig ght.-
He next turned up the bottoms Of his fus-
tain trowsers. SO as to bring into more
prominent view bis laced-up boots; then
he gave his hat push back and bis hair
pull forward, and set off at a swinging
pace in the direction of the Ten Tramps,
whistling the Plough boy as be goes
Mr.. Choop and | passed the next half
hour together, smoking cigars and dis
cussiDg various matters, with glance O.
yer the hillock every two or three min
uses in the direction Of the inn.
why not wait till night | asked Mr..
Choop, when you could approach the inn
without being seen!'
Because, after dark, we should be pret.
ty sure of finding half a-do dozen rough GUS
toners there, who would make the mat
ter awkward
'Tben why not take half-a-dozen men
with you, so as to avoid the risk =
'What credit would there be in that I
When Timothy and l fail, it will be time
enough to talk about calling in other as
sistance. There he is!'
Timothy was lounging against the
door post, smoking his long clay pipe
While we were watching him, he took off
bis hat, AID scratched bis head vigorous
ly; second time and third time.
'All rightr said Mr.. Choop. That
was the signal. Lend me your cap, Fred
and you take my bat; I don't want Riley
to recognize me till get into the house.
Having made the transfer we set off,
Mr.. Choop walking with an assumed
limp.
Timothy was still smoking bis pipe at
the door when We reached the inn.
'Foine day, master.
very fine, my man, replied Mr.. Choop,
What sort oflap have you got here =
'Ob, toidyish You'll foind the land
lord somewhere inside. All the women
folk seemed to be gone out somewhere.
Two glasses Of your best ale, landlord, ,
exclaimed Mr.. Choop to curly red headed
man with a villainous countenance, who
came forward, scowling suspiciously. The
landlords back was hardly turned be-
fore quick whisper was exchanged be-
tween Timothy and Mr. Choop. We
were lighting our cigars when the land
lord returned with the ale. He showed
us into small room, and we left the
countryman still smoking at the door
He seemed to be thirsty soul, this coun
tryman, for he called for glass after glass
rapidly as If full determined on getting
drunk in the shortest possible time. lie
drank so much that the landlords big jug
was at last exhausted, and he lighted a
candle to 60 down into the cellar to draw
more ale. Hardly had the landlord
reached the bottom Of the cellar steps be-
fore the door was quietly locked behind
him.
Mr. Choop's apathy vanished in mo-
ment. His eyes flashed, his teeth glis-
tened, he look dangerous. Go you into
the garden he whispered to me, 'and
take Jour stand below the window on the
left. IF Jim Riley jumps out-though |