Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-03-25

that yet remained before the first sum
mer visitor would make his appear
ancc. As for paying the rent-th,
prospect was an utterly hopeless one
and Mrs. Hammock had finally beer
obliged to intimate to her HUSBAND
that It was Mr.. Dilwood's intention e
put man in possession, ami that bank
ruptcy stared them in the face. Sc
Hammock went moodily about the lit
tie town, brooding over the dark pros
pect before him, and pulled his ragged
moustache more than ever, and only
Frightening up into forced merrimen,
when he found himself among knot Of
congenial souls in the bar-parlour ol
the Golden Anchor.
John English's departure from the
little station-house at Kingsthorpe had
been witnessed by unseen eyes and
twenty-four hours had not passed at.
er his arrival At Pevsey Bay, before
Breckenridge, under the friendly shade
OF evening, was quietly accommodating
the new territory. A few cautious in.
quiries at shops in the immediate neigh.
bourhood Of Hammock's, followed his
survey Of the premises, and then he
went home by the last train in high
spirits.
One consequence Of the chemist 4
visit to the little watering-place took
the shape OF lawyers letter, received
by Mrs. Hammock the following day,
in which she was told that unless
twelve out Of the eighteen months rent
due should be paid within three weeks,
further proceedings would at once be
taken. The secret Of this was that
Mr.. Dilwood was an old acquaintance
OF Breckenridge. and under some small
obligation to him, and word from the
chemist was sufficient to induce him TO
put on the screw" As the latter term.
ed 1t. in the form of an attorneys let.
ter. Next day, at dusk, Breckenridge
strolled into the little watering. place !;
and later on, when the usual circle me,
At the Golden -Anchor. there he was, an
anablc stranger. ready To stand treat
Tor anybody, and greatly interested in
All the news OF the place. He seemed
to take quite liking to the raiiish.
shabby-genteel Hammock and after a
time, when the company had thinned
somewhat, he contrived to seat himself
next to him. IIammock's moodiness
had melted By this time before the
genial influence OF the compounds pur-
veyed at the Golden Anchor, and the
chemist found him quite ready to drink
any quantity Of branday-and-watcr at
any one else's expense, and 10 declaim
ioquaclously on everything connected
with Pevscy Bay. his own private
affairs excepted. But /, was to his own
private affairs that the chemist wished
cate ca way. Brackenr;dge Adsesesiafa saM
n rougher method OF treatment must at
once be brought TO bear 80, at the
close Of the evening, they went out to-
pether, arm-in-arm. and, smoking their
cigars, wandered down to the jetty 10
have last Whit together before part
ing. Now was Brackenridges oppor-
tunity. Rather dull here in winter,
eh.' said the chemist.
.Awfnlly slow work. said Hammock
sententiously.
LET me see. | think have been
told that you keep boarding-house
or something Of that kind. Is It 50 "
.Why-yes- that house on the
Parade there. Ny wife manages the
business. One mus. live, you know
ehy"
"Just SO as we'll make living that
way as any other. Rents rather high
in these parts, suppose 7?
"why-hum-yes, rather high Tor
houses in good positions"
"Ah, we'll, the profits you make dur
ing the season will easily stand it.
Come, now. you contrive to net some
thing handsome every year, don't you Z
"Peopie don't do that sort OF thing
for nothing it amt likely. But really
we are getting to talk about matters
that
..Thcn, if the profits are so large,
said the chemist. interrupting his new
friend, show does it happen, Mr.. Ham
mock, that You are eighteen months in
arrear with your rent?
Hammock's cigar dropped from be-
tween his lips, and he fell back step
or two in sheer amaxement. ''How
the devil''-he began, and then ne
stopped.
.Mr. Dilwood is q friend Of mine,
said Breckenridge quietly; "he men'
toned to me the other day, as = matte
of business, that he was about To
YOU up, and that he had already
another tenant in view Of your no
Such little accidents will happen \
and then, you know"
Hammock was wiping his hot palm:
nervously with his handkerchief. The
idea of his approximate ruin had never
been brought 50 viyidly before him
and his craven heart shuddered at thu
prospect. He at length broke tn
silence with volley Of frightful oaths
to which the chemist listened with ex
emplary patience. When he had done
Breckenridge said quietly: "a bae
mess, certainly, for any fellow to be in
But there seems TO me one way o.
which you may squeeze out Of it,
Curse you what are you driving At
said the other sullenly.
Listen to me attentively," resumes
the chemist. There is gentlemal
staying at your house just now, MI
English by name !" and then he tool
Hammock by the button, and drew hin
closer, and whispered earnestly in hi
ear for ten minutes, at the end OF whic
time the two men walked back arm-in
arm towards the town. At the come
| ~ ~. Parade. thev stopped to bid eac