The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-04-19

/
"Isn't there another house near here?"
/ asked.
"Come to mine," replied my COM
panion. 81 have got quiet little pub
lie of my own a little way off to the
right, not much further on; and /
should have to leave you when we
came TO the turning. But why not
sleep at my place? 1t will be dark be.
fore you get into Newmarket. I'll war
rant, you will be just as comfortable as
in any house in the town. I'll give you
the best of liquor and good bed, and
you can walk into Newmarket, which
is not above four miles over the Heath,
the first thing, in the morning."
We must have been hours in that
. wqysde inn, for what he said about
night coming on was true enough; 1t
was getting dusk already. 80 | thought
the best thing was TO do as he said /;
and, instead of parting at the cross
roads, turned up with him, and half
an hours walk brought us to his house
1t did not seem much of place, and
the situation was very lonely.
"You don't do laundering business,
mate, spect ?" said L.
"No,' he replied, "and don't want
to. 1 have my regular customers, and
go in for snugness."
son, see, horse watchers and that" !"
"That's it; and have had fighting
man in training here before now
TWICE.
"Aye, you are not over-anxious to at
tract the notice of police, eh?"
"That's about it,' he replied.
The only person in the ground.hoo
room of the cottage, for it was nothing
more, was slattern, who at once drew
us q pot of beer; but, after bit, steps
were heard on The ricketty staircase, and
then q couple of men, who were yawn-
| ing and stretching, made their appear
ance. 1t was not taking one in either
case; but did not think much of that
| at first, for no man looks his best when
he has been sleeping with his clothes
on, and rouses out with never touch of
| damp towel or comb. However, when
another came in at the door, with short
cropped hair, broken nose, bull-terrier
jaw, but without that good tempered
look which pugilist often has, 1 began
to suspect that / had got into bad COM
pany for the beer l had drunk did not
prevent my noticing ard rejecting,
through it made my head heavy and
my throat husky. III had been gentle.
man, with gold watch and pocket
full of money, I should probably have
taken alarm, made some excuse to 60
outside, and given them the slip; but
as it was not likely that they would
! harm poor stableman out of employ.
ment, did not much mind being in
their society one evening, whatever
ti,ey might be, and Joined the general
talk in friendly, unsuspecting manner.
The slattern fried some eggs and ba.
cou, and We all had supper together
after which the landlord brought stone
jar Cf gin out of a cupDoard-for l ex-
pect he had no special license; and
when had put glass or so of grog on
the top of the beer, forgot the bad i'm.
preston my companions had at first
made upon me, and voted the landlord
who sang songs as well as he told
stories-one of the best fellows alive.
After awhile q discussion arose.
have no notion what about in the first
instance; but somehow or another ]
fancied that my ability TO pay for my
share of the liquor was called into ques
ton and to prove it I showed my two
sovereigns and silver; directly after
which / remembered my suspicious
and called myselfa a fool-not out loud,
ofcourse, but inwardly.
"Now," said ! to myself, "if they are
the men 1 take them for, they will pro
pose some game presently; for they viii
not be easy till they have pouched the
two bits of gold L was ass enough tc
show them"
Well, sure enough, after a little talk
about something quite different, one o
them pulled out pack of cards, and pro
posed that we should play. But was
not to be caught that way. Affected
pretty considerably as 1 wa by The
liquor 1 had swallowed, / pretended t.
be still more so, and swore thickly tina
it was toy early to begin to play cards
we must have another song; and so be
gan singing myself at the top of N!
voice. After which ] fell forward OF
the table with my face on my arms; anC
when they reused me up l declared
felt i'll, and would go to bed. stuck t
that resolution, say what they might
got candle end from the slattern, anC
went up stairs, stumbling good dea
more than need have done.
Ny bedroom had not tempting lool
to any one who was squea mish, beini
neither clean nor tidy; and the trunk
bed had not been made since some on
had lain down upon it, so that the patch
work cOunterpane was all tumdled an
creased. However, | was not sobe
enough to be particular. The walls {
the rooms seemed spinning round in
most uncomfortable manner, and half
dozen water mills appeared to be {
work inside my head; so undressed an
turned in as fast as l could and presen
: ly went off sound.
How long l slept do not know, M
, yet why i woke up as l did-with
: splitting headache, indeed, but quite s.
Der. At first l did not know where
; was; but gradually the events of the da
) came bhck to my memory, and wol
T dered how could have made such a fo
| of myself as TO get drinking with Sc
r of vagabOnds l knew nothing of excel
@ from their own showing, and that di
e not make them out over respectable.
!, listened 10 hear whether they were sti
!; keeping it up; but all was quite sti
- and then prepared to turn out, for
IS was so light that all the objects in Il
d room could be easily distinguished. b
l. IT proved to be moonlight and not da
l. break So after taking a null at d