, 1883-10-06

And off we went, turned into the
high road, and sped at quick trot
through the gathering twilight in
the direction of WOrthington.
1t was dark when we reached the
outskirts Of the little town, and the
lights, not very brilliant if tried by
mOdern standards, sparkled cheer
fully enough in the windows. Past
the blacksmith's forge with the
great bellows roaring and the sparks
flying with the glowing cinders past
the butchers, with a goodly display
of some Of our best beef; past the
groeer's, where the half dozen child
-en, ,y'aO were flattening their noses
.Sg,za-.iShe panes, turned to look at
us and 50 Gathering over the uneven
cobbles Of the pavement, to the sad
dlers shop. The proprietor himself,
staid and portly person, conscious
Of the importance which attaches to
his position in Il country town, came
out and nodded greeting.
"a cold night, Mr.. TOm," says he,
with a shiver, as the wind took his
apron. ''Pm not quite ready for
you. Your father didn't come in
yesterday, so l thought you would
MT want the saddle till next week. "
81 want it for Saturday." SAID l,
leaning sidewise out of the trap
"The hounds are at the coppice, and
the little mare and l are going. Can
you do it for me if put up ?"
The saddler thoughtfor moment.
"Ay, can do that for you," he
said, at length. "Win you call in
between eight and nine and it shall
be ready for you"
Iagreed, shook up the mare, and,
a few yards further down, turned in
through the narrow gate way of the
Angel into the dim, deserted inn
yard. From simple half-Open door
way came a stream Of light. A fig
ure issued forth in answer to my
summons.
"GOOd evening, Mr.. Tom," said
this person, approaching and patting
the mares neck.
"Hallo, Jack ! is thatyo ?" said l,
as drew the rein5 through my fin
gers and alighted, recognizing, as |
did so, Mr.. Jack Plover, to whom
was instrusted the important duty
Of conveying the Queens mail bags
from Worthington to the railway
town.
"You'll have to wrap up warm to-
night.
cay! bitter cold, that it is" an
swefsd Jack, undoing the traces.
"But law bless me Pm used to it..
II only I'd got as good a thing be-
tween my shafts as you have here,
I'd think nothing Of a seventeen
mile drive, do assure you sir ?"
"Your old pony isn't to be des-
pissed, either" said ], holding up the
shaft while Jack drew the mare out.
"a new pair Of forelcgs and sound
bellows would improve him, but eX-
cept for that"
"Well, he isn't quite Newmarket
or Doncaster, l do confess" said
Jack, leading the mare in through
the open doorway and putting her in
vacant stall. "But he's good
enough for his work. l start early
and we take it easy. You won't
have the collar off, sir ~
"No," l said. 81 am off again in
an hour or so. Will you have a
drink, Jack ?"
We crossed the yard, passed
through a swing door, and found
ourselves in the warm, cheerful bar,
where the bright light made us wink
after the darkness outside, and the
huge fire sent leaping, ruddy glare
on the red curtains, and a reflection
that danced merrily on the trim rows
Of bottles and glasses. The armaid,
buxOm and fresh-colored, smiled a
welcome, and rewarded my compli-
ments on her pink ribbons and the
roses in her cheeks by a "Go long
with you," and a couple Of glasses Of
steaming whisky and water.
There was only one other occupant
of the bar, stranger to me. He
was a man apparently verging on
forty, buttoned up in a shabby great
coat and his hat so slouched over
his eyes that his features were hard
to be discerned. To the salutation
which / gave him on entering he
made no reply, but, with arms fold
ed, gazed fixedly on the floor.
"My service, sir" says Jack, rails
ing the tumbler to his lips and tax
ing off the contents at a draught
''Thats the stuff to keep the cold
out Although this is a bit too early.
| ought to have waited until eight
O'Clock, just before started"
"You can have another then, II
you like" said l, with a laugh.
"Nay, sir" reconstructed Jack.
81 didn't mean that. Is the clock
right, miss ?" he inquired of the bar
maid. "Then 1 must be going about
my work." he added, receiving an
answer in the affirmative. "GOOd
night, sir, and thank you kindly"
And Jack Plover, who was a sport
ing looking figure with his queens
livery and clean shaven face, touched
his hat politely and passed through
the swing door.
The man with the slOuched hat
looked up as he left, and, addressing
nobody in particular, inquired in a
harsh, rough voice, with a queer
burr in 1t: