The Penn's Grove record., 1884-11-15

swered Mr.. Gosling amused. Besides,
before | could get the POstmaster-G GEN
erals leave for the delay the bag would
be in the mail-cart, and the mail-cart
gone TO the district office"
"What need is there for all that
beastly hurry about letters - exclaimed
Harold, in disgust. "Come, Pm vast
ing my time here /; you might have told
me so before"
''Wait a moment-Ill give you a
crumb of comfort" replied the orna-
mental clerk. Lord Huxmouth is out
| of town for the Whitsun holidays. The
letter you are chewing Will be delivered
in Grosvenor Square about five, and
either lie there till his return or else be
sent down TO his place in Eastshire by
one of the servants travelling down
with other letters tonight 50 you will
be in plenty of time il you go down
into Eastshlre yourself and try to in
| tercept the letter there, or else make
your peace with old HuX before 1t ar
rives."
"What sort of a fellow is old Hux ?'
asked Harold Pleasby %wretchedly.
'Crusty as a loaf, dull as a Dutch
man, and hard as nails" replied the or
namental clerk sententiOusy
"Well that's promising" answered
Harold and if it had not been for his
uncle he would have given up the
chase. But he thought with concern of
the pickle he was preparing for his
worthy relative, and resolved that at
all hazards he must perSeYere. So half
an hour later he was pacing the pave.
ment in Grosvenor Square, waiting for
the postman to arrive. lie was dusty,
thirsty, and tired. What a weary vigil
it seemed in the heat Of a June day
and when at last the postman came,
what a time he took to distribute his
lettersI He stopped at every door,
hammering his double knocks, and at
sorle houses he rang as well, because of
letters that were insuficiently prepaid.
This caused repeated delays and conse-
quent exasperations to Harold, who
saw how the day was shortening, and
reelected with fury OF the prospect of
having to spend a night with this treu-
BILE still hanging over his head. But
when the postman reached No. 80, the
Oxonian saw the letter In bis hand, and
this gave him a moment'scOurage. The
postman ran up the steps, shot his let
tiers into the door-slip, gave his knock,
and went off the next minute Harold
| piled the knocker in his turn, and the
door was opened by an old woman, who,
without being spoken to, feebly said :
"Nobody's at home, SIR
"When will Lord Huxmouth return
to town ?" asked Harold,
Eyes, sir" responded the old wo-
man with a onrfSu StT 81, bgrJ - hoar-
ing, sir"
"She's deaf as "a post" muttered
Harold ''but SO much the better for
my purpose - and suddenly tottering
against the wall, he dropped his um-
brella, uttered a moan, and let himself
glide, seated, on to the marble floor of
the hall. 1t had occurred to him that
If he simulated a f%aintiug-tit, the old
woman would run off to fetch assistance
and he should be left alone with the
~letter-box. Happy thought and happy
result !.
The woman hustled of, in effect,
screaming, and Harold was on his legs
IN a tTice, fumbling at the letter-box.
He found 1t locked. Scarcely had he
had time to throw himself on the floor
again, than a churl of a hall porter,
coming stealthily up the kitchen stairs,
emptied a pail OF water on to his face.
'Yah-ah," said he, 81 suspect it's m
of the swell mob come sneaking here
to see If there's anything to steal"
"Contound you, man, what do you
mean by that ?" gasped Harold, rising
half choked and thoroughly saturated
by the violent douche.
Now he off, my man p cried the
porter peremptorily, as he stood in a
defensive attitude with his bucket. 81
expect you're the chap that came and
stole masters ~overcoat last winter"
You rascal, you shall smart for
thisl" exclaimed Harold, raging at per-
ceivlng what a mess he was in.
"Yes, yes, l know what you're. at"
shouted the porter, undauuted. 81 saw
yer fooltng round that ietter-bOx just
now. If yer don't slope III call the
perlice."
Harold Pleasby, whoha the strength
of a ''bruiser," could not resist the
temptation of catching the faithful hall
porter by the scruff of the neck and
bundling him down the kitchen stairs,
with such force that he and his bucket
went gathering to the bottom. with the
noise OF an ironmonger's shop being
pitched down a shaft. But after this
exploit the Oxonian thought it prudent
to stampede. He made good his exit
into Duke Street, turned into a ready
made clothes shop which happened to
be handy, and bought himself an over
coat to his soaking garments.
After this, he took a cab and drove to
the Victoria Station.
He had been waiting about half an
hour In the refreshment-rOO of this
terminus, when he saw the sorrowful
inquire OF his late enemy, the hall-por-
ter, hobble IN to the platform, with a
bandage over his left eye, and his right
arm in a sling. The poor wretch car
ried a black bag under his other arm.
THAT rogue is gong down to Hux-
mouth with the letters. | shall still be
IN time II l travel down in the same
train with him ~ unused Harold /; and
he despatched a waiter to fetch him a
irst-class ticket.
Just as he was about TO leave the
buffet, however, he was seized with a
bright inspiration. Buying four eigh-
teen-penny tasks of brandy, he bestowed
them into his pocket. and walked lei
surely down the platform, ~concealing
his face with his handkerchief. Lord
Huxmouth's servant had got into an
empty second-class carriage, and sat
sulking there solitary. Harold waited
till the guards whistle had sounded,
then swung himself into the carriage
beside him. But he took cage not to
disclose his features till the train had
fairly started.
The porter's indignant shout of re-
cognition was drowned by the snortings
of the engine.
ii.
IL had beer a fine day IN Eastshire ;
and Lord Huxmouth, who vas resting
from his ministerial labors, had been
enjoying a happy afternoon. strolling
amongst his flower. beds and kitchen
garden, to see how his roses promised,
and whether there were any signs OF
coming melons. He could be as earnest
about his fruit and flowers as about the
members of the animal kingdom over
whom 1t was his province to rule con-
Jointly with others Of her Maiesty's