Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-02
CHAPTER XII.
MR.. BLAKE'S GOOD NEWS.

MIR. BLAKE s GOOD NEWS.
In the afternoon, after lunch had been
eaten, there came ring at the back
door. and Mr.. Montagu Blake was an
nounced. There had been a little con-
tretemps or misadventIIre. 1t was Mr..
Blake's habit when he called at Croker 8
Hall to ride his horse into the yard.
there to give him up to Haycnotes, and
make his way in by the back entrance.
TN this occasion Hayonotes had been
considerably disturbed in his work, and
was discussing the sad condition of Mr.
Baggett with Thornybush over the gate
of the kitchen-garden. Consequently,
Mr.. Blake had taken his own horse into
the stable, and As he was about to lead
the beast up to the stall, had been
stopped and confused by Sergeant Bag
gets protruding wooden leg.
.Alloa! what's up now?" said a
voice. addressing Mr.. Blake from under
the straw. '.Do you go down, old chap.
and get us three penn orth of cream o.
the valley from the Cock
Then MIR. Blake had been aware that
his prior visitor was not in condition
to be of much use to him, and tied up
his horse, in another stall. But, on
entering the house. Mr.. Blake an
nounced the fact of there being a
stranger in the stables, and suggested
that the legged gentleman had been
looking at somebody taking glass of
gin, Then Mrs. Baggett burst out into
loud screech of agony. THE nasty
drunken beast! he ought to be locked
up into the darkest hole they've gotin
all Arlesford."
''But who is the gentleman" said
Mr.. Blake. 4tfG NkGfft
"My husband, sir! i won't deny
him. He is the cross as l have to carry,
and precious heavy he is. You must
have heard of Sergeant Baggett- the
most sdrunkenest beastliest, idlest
scoundrel as ever the Queen had in the
army. and the most difficultest for q
woman to put up with in the way of a
husband. Let woman be ever so de-
cent, he'd drink her gowns and her pet
ticoats, down to her very underclothing.
Howlwould You like, sir, to have to
take up with such a beast as that.
after living all your life AS comfortable
as any lady in the land? Wouldn't that
be a come-down, Mr.. Blake? And then
to have your box locked up, and be told
that the key of your bedroom door is
in the masters pocket" Thus Mrs.
Baggett continued to bewail her des-
tiny.
Mr.. Blake having got rid of the wom-
an. and beLhinking himself of the disa-
greeable incidents to which a gentle
man with larger establishment than
his own might Ee, liable, made his way
into the sitting-rooni, where he found
Mary Lawrie alone; and having apollo
giZed for the manner of his intrusion,
and having said something intendedso
be jocose as to the legs of the warrior in
the stable, at once asked a question as
to john Gordon.
'tMr. Gordon?' said Mary. 'Hewas
here this morning with Mr.. Whittle-
staff, but know nothing of him since"
He hasn't gone. back to London?'
81 don't know where he has gone.
He slept in Arlesford last night, but l
know nothing of him since"
'.He sent his bag by the boy at the
inn to the railway Station when he came
up here. l. found his bag there, but
heard nothing of him, They told me
at the inn that he was to come up here.
AND 1 thoughtI should either find him
here or meet him on the road"
ado you want to find him especil-
ly?"
"Well, yes.''
..Do you know Mr.. GordonT'
''Well. yes; do. That is to say, he
dined with me last night. We were st
Oxford together, and Yesterday even
ing we got talking abo,itour adventures
since"
.tHe told you that he had been at the
diamond-fields?
.sOb, yes; j know all about the dia-
mond- fields. But Mr.. Hall particulars
" wants to see him up at the Park. "
Chr. Hall was the squire with four
daughters who lived at Little Aries
ford. mir. Hall says that he knew
his father many years ago, and sent
ms out toelook efor him i shalAtbe
wretcsled II he goes away without con-
ing to Little Arlesford House. He cah't
go bsek to London before four O'Clock.
because there is no train. You know
nothing about his movements"
: Nothing at ALL For some years