The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-08-01

from ne whom he had aaid the last
words. He had never once looked
tairly At me since l first spoke to
him.
Was it his hand that had struck tho
blow 7
I had only sixpence in my pocket,
but I took it out and followed him.
1t it had been a 6ve.pound note, I
should have done the same in the state
I was in then.
"Would pot Of beer help you to IN
derstand me" I said, and offered
him the sixpence.
"a pot amt no great things, ,'he an
swered, taking the sixpence doubtful.
ly.
ut may lead to something BETTER"
I said.
His eyes began to twinkle, and he
came close to me. Oh, how my legs
trembled !-how my head swan!
"This is all iu friendly way, is it {"
he asked in a whisper.
I nodded my head. At that mo.
ment, I could not have spok en- for
worlds.
"Friendly, Of course" he went on to
himself, "or there would have been a
policeman in it. She told you, sup
pose, that wasn't the man 7'
l nodded my head again. It was all
I could do to k eep myself standing up.
right.
II suppose it's case Of threatening
to have him up, and make him settle
it quietly for pound or two? How
much for me if you lay hold?"
"Half" I began to be afraid that
he would suspect something if I was
still silent The wretch's eyes twink.
led again, and he came yet closer.
~ drove him to the Red Lion, cor
ner Of Dodd Street and Rudgely Street.
The house was shut up, but he was let
in at the Jug.and.B ottls door, like .
man who was kn own to ths landlord.
That's as much as I can tell you, and
I'm right. He was the last fare took
up at night. The next morning master
gave me the sack. Said I cribbed his
fares. I wish I had p
I gathered from this that the crook
backed man had been cab.driver.
"Why don't you speak," he asked
suspiciously. "Has she been telling
you pack of lies about me? What
did she say when she came home 7"
"What ought she to have said 7"
"She ought to have said my fare was
drunk, and she came in the way, rs he
was going to get into the cab. That's
what she ought to have said to begin
WITH"
"But, after 20
"Well, after, my fare by way Of
larklng with her, puts out his leg for to
trip her up, and she stumbles and
catches at me for to save herself, and
tears off one Of the limp ends Of my
rotten old tie. 'What do you mean by
that, you brute,' says SIZE turning round
as soon as she was steady on her legs,
again, to my fare. Says my fare to hor
Il means to teach you to keep civil
tongue ii: your head And he ups
with his fist and What's come to
you, now ? What are you looking at
me like that, for ? How do you think
man Of my size was to take her part,
against man big enough to have eaten
me up7 Look as much as you like, in
my place you would have done what
done-drew off when be shook his fist
at you, and swore he'd be the death Of
you if you didn't start your horse ia
no time"
I saw he was working himself in.
to a rage but could not, if my life
had depended on it, have stood nea,
him, or looked at him any longer. ]
just managed to stammer out that had
been out walking long way, and that,
not being used to much exercise, I tel'
faint and giddy with fatigue. He on
ly changed from angry to sulky, when
I made that excuse. 1 got little far
ther away from him, and then added
that if he would be at the News en-.
trance the next evening, I should have
something more to say and give him.
he grumbled few suspicious words il
answer, about doubling whether h'
should trust me to come back. For
tunately, At that moment, = policeman
p.,sod on the opposite side Of the way
he skunk down the News Immediately
and I was free to make my esc.2e.
bow l got home I can't say, exoep
that I ran the greater part Of the way
Sally opened the door, and asked ifany
thing Was the matter the moment she
saw my face. I answered, "Nothing
nothiug!" She stopped me as 1 VA
going into my room, and said,
"Smooth your hair bit, ana put
your collar straight. There's . gen.
tlemao in waiting for YOU"
MY heart gave one great bound u
knew who it was in an instant, and
rushed into the room like a mad
woman.
"Oh, Robert Robert p
All my heart went out to him in
those two little words.
"Good God, Anne! has anything
happened? Are you ill?"