The National tribune., 1881-12-24

laughing on the other side OF your mouth, L
reckon"
"Come, march," said l. "Put on your boots.'
He got up as wild beast rises from his lair,
and slouched before me into the hall.
Though he looked exceedingly wicked, I felt
grateful to him for going so peaceably, and was
moved to compassion.
"Were you really in want that you came here?"
l said. care you hungry?"
"Not now" he answered with leer.
Ofcourse he was intimating that he had supped
at my expense and at the time | thought it frank
of him to acknowledge it. If | had known then,
as learnt afterwards that he had eaten grouse
and a half, and the whole contents of a large jar
of Devonshire cream which we had just received
as a present | should have thought it mere
impudence | did think it rather impudent
when he said as he stood at the front door, which
l had opened for his exit
"Won't you give me halfa-crown, sir, to put
me in an honest way of business" But, never
theless thinking it better to part good friends
gave him what he asked for. He spit upon the
coin g for luck" as he was good enough to ex
plain, and also perhaps as substitute for thanks,
since he omitted to give me any, and slouched
down the gravel sweep and out Of the gate.
1t was three o'clock the mist had begun to
clear and the moon and stars were shining.
sort of holy calm began to pervade me- felt
that had done good action and also got rid of
a very dan; Individual, and that it was high
time that sd go to bed in peace with all
men, My uItg )wever, who had been reused
by the serv..n,s was the tip-tOe of expectation
to hear all that had taken place, and of course l
had IN oil bor 7 describp6 earl, thri11inu jncj-
dent with such dramatic force that she averred
that nothing would ever induce her in my alb
sence to sleep in the house again. This was per-
haps but the just punishment for a trtle of exag-
geration in the narrative with which had here
and there INDUCED myself, but it was very
fortunate. Now and then find myself detained
in town, after dining at the club, by circum-
stances over which l have no control (such
rubber at whist which will sometimes stretch like
india rubber and hitherto 1 had only had to
telegraph in the afternoon to express my regret
that there was a possibility OF my nOn-return.
Here an end to all this, unless could re-
assure her. 1 therefore began to dwell upon the
unlikelihood of second burglar ever visiting the
house. which compared with that famous hole
made by a cannon-ball, said to be place Of Sc
curity from cannon-balls for evermore.
"Ob, don't tell me-" cried my wife, with just
trace of impatient irritation in her voice. "Hark!
goodness gracious, what is that coming along the
road?"
She thought it was a burgler on horseback
whereas, if I may SO express it, it was the very
contrary-namey, the horse patrol
KNOCK at the window; call him in | insist
upon your seeing him." she exclaimed | had no
alternative since she said insist" (as any mar
ried N ~ aaaTs. nd J, but to accede to her
wishes vent and told the patrol what
had hi r--a#
"How long ago was the fellow here sir?" be
enquired.
More than an hour 1t is quite out of the
question you can overtake him. And besides, l
really think he is repentant, and means for the
future TO lead an honest life"
"You do, do you?" said the patrol in that sort
of compassionate tone of voice in which the Wis
itor of lunatic asylum addresses an inmate
warranted harmless. well as | am here I'll
just go over the house and make sure there is no
more Of them. 1T is not impossible, you see, he
may have left pal behind him.
There was only one pair Of boots" said | con-
tidently; "of that ! am certain"
Nevertheless, as felt it would be a satisfac-
ton to my wife, l acceded to his request. He
tied his horse to the scraper, and came in with his
lantern, and looked about him There was no.
body in the front hall, Of course, for I had Just
come through it; IN the drawing room nobody,
IN the vestibule nobody-but on the table where
they had stood before stood pair of gigantic
navvys boots.
What dye think of that" whispered the
patrol, pointing to one of them
They're the same" | answered in hushed
amusement, they're the very same. I could
swear to them among a thousand. What can it
mean"
Well, 1t means that the gentleman who was
going to lead new lfe,n he answered drily, has
thought better Of it and has come back again"
And SO he had. We found him lying in the
very same place under the dresser, awaiting, |
suppose, events
80 lor, is that you, Mr.. Policeman" he said
complainlngly. Then, It's all up
1t he had had to deal with me alone, he expected
perhaps to have got another halfcrOwn ont OF me.
But the great probability was he had doubtless
argued, that all suspicion of burglars, for that
night at least would have died out, and that he |
would have had the undisputed range of the
house 1t was bold game, but one in which
helped to tasten strong strap to his wrist,