Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-11-19

swered Mr.. Gosling amused. besides,
before could get the 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-In give you
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 EastshIre yourself and try to in
tercept the letter there, or else make
your peace with old Hux before 1t ar
rives.n
"What sort Of fellow is old Hux ?"
asked Harold PleaSby wretchedly.
''Crusty as loaf, dull as Dutch
man, and hard as nails" replied the or
namental clerk sententious.y.
''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 persevere. So half
an hour later he was pacing the pave
ment in Grosvenor Square, waiting for
the postman to arrive. He was dusty,
thirsty, and tired. What q weary vigil
it seemed in the heat Of June day
and when at last the postman came,
what a time he took to distribute his
letters He stopped at every door,
hammering his double knocks, and at
some houses he rang as well, because of
letters that were insufficiently prepaid.
This caused repeated delays and conse-
quent exasperations to Harold, who
saw how the day was shortening, and
reflected with fury on the prospect OF
having to spend night with this treu-
bic still hanging over his head. But
when the postman reached No. 80, the
OXonian saw the letter In his hand, and
this gave him 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 I' asked Harold.
"Yes, sir" responded the old wo-
man, with curtsy. "I'm hard o. hear
ing, SIR"
"She's deaf as a post" muttered
Harold; but 80 much the better for
my purpose - and suddenly tOttering
against the wall, he dropped his um-
brella, uttered moan, and let himself
glide, seated, on TO the marble floor of
| the hall. Ii had occurred to him that
/ if he simulated a fainting-it, 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 off, in effect,
screaming, and Harold was on his legs
IN a trice, 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 hall porter,
coming stealthily up the kitchen stairs,
emptied pail OF water on TO his face.
'Yah-ah," said he, ~ suspect it's one
of the swell mob come sneaking here
to see if there S anything to steal"
"Confound you, man, what do you
mean by that g' gasped Harold, rising
half choked and thoroughly saturated
by the violent douche.
Now he off, my man ~ 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,
celylng what mess he was in.
Eyes, yes, know what you're at, y
shouted the porter, undauuted. 81 saw
yer fooling round that letter-box just
now. If yer don't slope I'n call the
perlice."
Harold Pleasby, whohad 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 clattering to the bottom. with the
noise of an ironmonger's shop being
pitched down a shaft. But after thu
exploit the Oxonian thought 1t prudent
to stampede. He made good his exit
into Duke Street, turned into a ready
made clothes shop which happened t.
be handy, and bought himself an over
coat to cover his soaking garments
After this, he took cab and drove Il
the Victoria Station,
lie had been waiting about half an
hour In the refreshment-roOm OF thl
terminus, when he saw the SOrrowfu
figure of his late enemy, the hall-por
ter, hobble on to the platform, with |
bandage over his left eye, and his righ
arm in sling. The poor wretch car
ried black bag under his other arm.
THAT rogue is going 1own to Hux
mouth with the letters. / shall still b.
: in time if l travel down in the sam
, train with him ~ unused Harold; ant
he despatched waiter to fetch him /
first-class ticket.
|
buffet, however, he was seized with
bright inspiration. Buying four eigh
teen-penny TASKS of brandy, he bestowe,
them into his pocket. and walked lei
surely down the platform, concealin
: his face with his handkerchief. Lort
Huxmouth's servant had got into a
empty second-class carriage, and sa
sulking there solitary. Harold waite
till the guards whistle had sounded
then swung himself into the carriag
beside him. But he took care not t
disclose his features till the train ha
fairly started.
The porter's indignant shout of IT
cognition was drowned by the snOrting
of the engine.
1t had been fine day in Eastshire
, and Lord Huxmouth, who was restin
from his ministerial labors, had bee
! enjoying a happy afternoon. strollin