The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-08-18


dog" and the window was Immediately
closed again.
began to feel nervous for the success
of my plan Soon the door was opened;
and with passing observation the female
servant of Mr. Wintock commenced assist
ing Mrs. Stokes with the first and largest
basket of linen. | waited till | saw them
enter the house and turn up long pass
age; then, hastily alighting from the cart,
| slipped in shortly after them.
CHAPTER IL.
AS l quietly glided across the entrance
lobby of Briteleigh Hall, in the wake Of
Mrs. Stokes and the housekeeper, l looked
about hurriedly for some place within
where l could conceal myself for a few
minutes The scullery door stood open.
There was no one within the room. |
stepped in and gently closed the door,
waited patiently, listening for the unload
ing of the remainder of the linen and the
departure of Mrs. Stokes. What she
thought of my sudden disappearance | am
unable to state She did not, however, to
my knowledge, express openly any mani
festation of surprise. Perhaps she feared
that if she did so, it might impGcate her in
some unpleasant affair, and therefore wisely
chose to be silent; or, more probably,
thought that I was, as she expressed it, "a
friend of the family" stealing upon them
unawares.
Watching my opportunity when the coast
seemed clear, l stealthily sailed forth and
made for the entrance hall and for the
principal staircase. Probably the dog had
not been unclaimed, for neither saw nor
heard anything of him. On reaching the
first landing [ observed door partly open.
The room was superbly furnished. "The
drawing room" said to myself Within,
in an easy-chair, sat gentleman consider
bly, past middle age, but tall and robust.
The first glance at his countenance revealed
compound of the repulsive and the cum
ming, mingling with deep traces of contin-
uous dissipation. He was reading news
paper. I hesitated a moment, and then
stepped boldly into the room. He looked
up with an impatient expression of surprise
and annoyance.
"Mr. Wintock, I presume p making a
low bow.
"What do you want here, fellow" he
replied, starting to his feet. Glow dare
you intrude into gentleman's mansion
and private apartment after this fashion p
every sorry to discommode you, sir, but
business is business, though it's sometimes
rather unpleasant [ am here on the part
of Mr.. Warley." And then [ briefly ex-
planned the nature of my commission, and
showed him my authority.
He got into a towering passion, and,
turning to the mantel-piece, rang the bell
violently. "You sneaking, pettifogging
bumbailiff, leave my house this instant
Here, Benefit r'-raising his voice-"Be-
netti, you rascal, | want you! Martha,
loose the dog"
Quietly walking to the door, | shut it,
turned the key, and set my back against it.
Mr.. Wintock seized the heavy drawing
room poker and advanced towards me.
ssYou scoundrel unlock that door, and
stand out of the way this instant, OF I'll
smash"
"Oh, if that's your game, governor, you
had better not try it on, | interrupted,
drawing one of my pocket companions and
Just showing him the muzzle; for my blood
began to warm. II don't want to do any
thing uncomfortable; but you know self
preservation is the first law of nature. Ii
you are going to knock hole in my era
mum, shall try and drill one in yours
Not perfectly legal act, perhaps, but GER
tainly expedient under the circumstances
Now, SIR | continued, 'it's no use your
getting into a passion with me, because
I'm only an agent, you see, and obliged to
do the bidding of my superiors. Besides
you will only make matters worse.
The first outbreak of passion over, he
calmed down little "Well, that's true,
he replied, Gas far as it goes. And how
on earth you contrived to get in l can't
imagine"
'All stratagems, sir, are fair in war, you
know"
"Did you get in-thrOugh one of my
people ?''
''No, sir; l did not"
"Hem p he muttered to himself; IL am
glad there are no traitors in the camp
They need not have been SO sharp with
me-, he continued, addressing me. line
money will be paid without fail in week
at the latest"
Extremely glad to hear it, indeed, SIR
1 sincerely hope it will. In that case, you
need not care about my troubling you ior
few days. l don't wish to interfere with
your family arrangements in any way, OF
to do anything inconsistent with my duty
Lodge me comfortably and feed me fairly,
and you'll scarcely know I'm here. I'm
used to this sort of thing, sir; you need not
mind me in the least, I can assure you
He had put down the poker, and was
leaning against the mantel-piece. Some
one tried the door, and then tapped. "Did
YOU ring, sir?" 1t was Marthas voice:
I unlocked the door and stepped behind
it.
Mr.. Wintock stepped across the room
and opened it. "Come again in quarter
Of an hour"