The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-05-28
caused Il shudder to run through nv

lhcfe, hanS the coat up III the pas
sage, and it will dry in time for the morn
ing, when You resume your journey
That will do, Mark; you can get your
supper in the kitchen, and after that
have shake-down. Tell the old woman
to keep plenty of hot water for our grog. :"
"Ah, Ill see to all that for YOU, sir;
the old woman is laid up with the rheu-
matiz, and gone to bed. 1t was lucky
was out, for you had got out of your
road, and few minutes would have seen
You. horse, trap and all ut the bottom of
the lime quarry
Quick ns it was done | saw signifi-
cant glance pass between Mark and the
captain.
"A fatal place for you, Mr. Bagshaw;
had you gone over it, nothing could
but never mind the lime quarry, here you
are safe and sound, and SO for supper. i
need not say how happy l am to see
you"
"Well, upon my word, captain, am
obliged to you; anyport III storm, they
say, and i must own that this port is II
very snug and cosy one"
"Glad you like it: make it your own
as long rs You like; but come, you must
be sharp set; there's a cold fowl, and
some cold sirloin, and the etceteras, for
don't kcepa large larder Mt the retreat. ;"
We sat down ut the table, and / must
say, that in spite of all the suspicious of
danger | had felt, l made an excellent
supper, and, somehow or other, the curl
ous feelings / had experienced seemed to
leavemc
Hope you have enjoyed a good sup
per" lie said
"Most excellent" ] replied.
The next moment he had removed the
things on Il sideboard, and, placing the
decanters on the table, rang the bell.
A short delay took place, and he was
about to ring n second time, when the
loor was suddenly opened, and the man,
Jack Straw, appeared, carrying jug of
hot water.
He was dressed half-gardner and half
hostlcr fashion, and appeared as if he
had been lying asleep on the straw from
the quantity Of it that hung to his shock
head of hair.
The captain, at sight of him, started
up.
"What the devil brings You here? ,"
he said, angrily, snatching the water
from him SO hastily that n quantity of it
went over him.
II didn't want to come. Mark sent
l." was the reply.
And as the captain was busily en-
ployed wiping the hot water of his
clothes, saw the singular being shake
his head at me i'll Il most mOurnful man
ncr, and draw his hand across his throat.
The next moment the captain seized
him by the shoulders, and thrust him
from the room.
Il suppose that skulking fellow,
Mark, is enjoying himself, and is too idle
to wait upon me, and SO sent that dirty
fellow up" and he proceeded to brew
some Grog.
was glad he was thus employed, for
must cOnfesSs the singular action Of the
man SO startled me that, had he adj
dressed me, | should have found difficult
ty i'll answering him; az it was, the mix
ing of the grog gave time to recover my
self.
Now. then, We can enjoy ourselves,
spite of the wind and the weather. Try
a cigar, and let old grim care be days
march behind you"
and, taking cigar, began to smoke.
"Ha, ha, he laughed loudly; "of all
things to send that fellow to wait upon
us. He is a singular being, isn't he"
Very" | said.
, / thought of his singular action.
Have you had him long?" l said
carelessly.
"No; few months. He is half an
idiot, but yet handy-looks after the
horse and the garden; but he has a great
fault"
"Indeed!"
eyes; he is SO mischievous that ]
never trust him out Of my sight-it
wouldn't he safe"
"That Is singular"
"Not at all; but truce to this.
suppose You'll start early in the morn
ing. Can't ! persuade you to stop over
tomorrow"
"No; the business / am upon will moi
allow Of it; III fact, have Il good mind
to start off again tonight, for l think
the storm is abating."
at may have abated, but yet you will
not leave to-night?"
He spoke i'll such determined tone
that made me put down my cigar ano
stare ut him.
Twill not lcave?" ] said. 81 don't
understand your meaning, Captain VIII
liams."
Ha, ha, it is understood very easily
/ do not think, as IL commercial gentle
man, that as you have had shelter ant
the hospitality of this roof you would
Immediately your turn was served, de
sert me; that is all meant, my friend.
"Oh, well, there is some argument il
that; but the urgency of my business
really demands it, ! said.
"Ah, money as usual-the deuce take
the money. However, it troubles ne
but little; my income is sufficient for nj
my wants, and i envy no man. l carr,
Just enough about with me, while | sup
pose, ut times, you carry thousands.
"He said this with the slightest EN-
phasis on the word thousands; but tn,
next moment it flashed across me-th'
noise ] had heard the night before; theI
the next moment came the face of Jacl
Straw, and the peculiar action he mad
! when i'll the room.
The next instant was upon my guard
God help me! My suspicious ant
feelings we've at the moment awful.
If had come prepared to act, / shoul'
, have been willing to stake my life i'll tn,
affair; but ] felt should have heavy odd
to contend against, and little hope q
bringing my foe to justice after all.
almost repented the character | had as
; sumed, for once, instead of hunting out
laws was being hunted by them
: Willingly would l have gotten out of tn
scrapc."
, at shall go hard if don't beat yo
Mt your own weapons" said to myself
"Carry what-ha, la, ha.-thousands
no, no, not such fiat as that; and, j
r proof of it, if you were to charge III
| much for my entertainment, / couldn
pay you until l got to the next town."
! never saw II man fix his eyes wit
such intensity as he fixed his eyes upo
@ me; and from that moment / read Ia
/ game and my own.
"The stakes here" / said to mysel
are life and death. We shall see wi
+ will win.
81 see," l said, "that you don't kno
Il how we chaps do it; bank, bank, N
: friend, that's the game.
!, at so" he said; "well, then, no
k was it you told me that the old man wi
is misslng-Old Punctuality / think yc
d called him-had large sum upon him
a "Oh, that is soon am wered, he w
d travelling through small places whe
d they had no banks; but in my case,
3 make it rule to put all the cash, that
if it is large sum, i'll the bank"
IS Little did / suspect that / had be,
ID watched all that day, and had not be-
ID seen going into the bank. Ofcourse II