The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-06
A PHANTOM BRIDE.
by the Author Of "TnE IcE CAR
NIvAL.p
CHATTER III.
DICKS TREAsURE-TROvE.

blinds, until finally II baihed in sea of
golden glory the snug breakfast-room
at One Hundred and Thirty-three,
where Dick Carlisle and his friends sat
round a Widespread table drawn close
to the blazing lire.
"By yove, a rum go, indeedln quoth
young Dudelle, raising n steaming cup
of coffee to his lips, having first settled
his eye-glass with elaborate care, as
though this precaution were necessary
TO the real enjoyment of the flavor Of
genuine Mocha. Lets have her in,
vote. and hear what she has to say for
herself. Curtis, what say your"
~ re-echO the sentiments OF my no
BILE friend returned the man addressed
MS Curtis. intent ut that moment ON the
dissection of cold fowl, with view
to the judicious removal of the most
succulent morsel to his own plate.
Lets have her in, by all means, and
sharp's the word, for in another
twenty minutes or so | must be off,"
Thus admonished, Dick carefully
wiped his blonde moustache upon his
serviette, and turned to the page-boy in
attendance.
jenkins, ask Mrs Davids IL she'll
kindly bring the little girl upstairs at
once. want some talk with them
both before start
~ eS. sir-thankee, SIT"
And jenkins disappeared, his multi
tudinous buttons cleaning in the sun,
ms he turned the angle Of the table,
like flash of-electro-plate,n Dudelle
observed grimly, as he passed his cup
for "a dash more cream"
a moment later Mrs. Davids ap-
peared upo the scene, pushing Greta
before her much as though the girl had
been young calf which IL was the
hOusekeeper's duty to "shush" in safe
ty to place of shelter without the aid,
on this occasion, of the usual invalua-
BILE stick. She was, therefore, fain to
content herself by "prodding" the child
at intervals between the shoulder
blades with the bony knuckles of her
right hand, until she came to full
stop upon the threshold. and gave her
gents collectively CHEEKY morning
salutation.
"Ah, here you are then, youngster,"
began Dick, inspecting his protegee with
some curiosity in the morning sunlight.
"Well, how did you sleepy"
Rect enow-savin' black bot.les."
returned the child, gaping, .wide-eyed
and open-mouthed, round the luxuri-
ously-furnished room, and then at its
occupants individually and collect
lively.
a
roar of laughter at this unexpected sal
ly, while Mrs. Davids explained, with
natural indignation, that 9TH young
rubbish had had the impotence to be
afraid on O solitary BEETLE or two-as
though any London kitching could be
expected to be free o. SIGH, lettin' alone
that wi'out doubt there was deal
queeier livestock customers located Il
miss's bedroom (savin' the mark!) as q
rule
swell, but now tell u.s." said Dick,
when the hurst of merriment had sub
sided, and the child. with one finger in
her mouth, stood staring stolidly at
him, "what were you really up to last
night. before the bobby found you?
'ou were in the Strand, seemingly, at
eight o'clock, and here in Piccadilly at
half-past one. What were you about
meanwhile? Where had you come
| from? Where were you off tor In
short, what was your little gamer"
II wur wi Margot. She druvs hor-
gin an plays tambooreen, an klects
the 'pence-when we gifts any,"
Mrs. Davids. at this juncture, de-
posed in an undertone to the existence
of the said instrument of warfare,
which, she babe leave to observe, gave
"a certing c0lorin' of truth" to the
child's story, which otherwise, no
doubt, wur moostinglings lies
Not necessarily, Mrs. Davids," re-
torted Dick with unwonted severity.
And now" turning again to the child,
who's MargotY Your mother, sup
pose?"
"Noa-mi mithers dead. She loan'd
me t Margot fore she died, three year
or more ago"
And where were you going last eve
ningl"
"Dunno; a Chrismassin' sulnwhere."
"And whats become of Margot?"
The child shook her head and paused
moment indecisively before reply
ing:
"DunnO; specs she's off ag'in. She
she stopt, spent like, n bit furder up
tn sthreet, an IL jist cut an run.
i wur that tired" she supplemented
falteringly, as though conscious that
some apology or explanation of this in
dependent course Of action on her part
would forthwith be demanded, IAN l.
wanted T. luke a. mi thrippenny- bit,
an'-.an' Margot were doonreet bad T.
me, beside!n
swell done little onel" rejoined Du-
dele, laughing heartily. I'm plain
English then, having determined to
give the enemy the slip, you deserted
when occasion served"
The child nodded her head, with so
knowing and confidential an air, that
the three young men laughed again in
chorus, whilst the housekeeper silently
shook her head, and Opined in magiste-
rial tones that little gurls as did 80
nivver coined to much good, as miss 'ud
mabbee, do well to bear in mind!"
you suppose, then, that Margot con-
tinued her journey without you, ehp''
proceeded Dick, resuming "the cross
examination of the prisoner at the
bar" as Curtis observed TO Dudelle
soto pOce.
Eyes, sir; I hided."
Here Greta nodded with something
of triumphant air.
"And if the bobby hadn't stumbled
across you, what should you have done
when you woke this morning. ehp--and
found the sun shining, and no breakfast
readyp Ali you'd have forthwith dis
appeared into the nearest bakers prob
ably. and had jolly blow out on the
strength Of that threepenny-piece,
shouldn't wonder. Would you have
spent 1t allp or kept the small change
with an eye to dinnerY" Dick ques'
toned sapiently.
II should ha' KEEP it all-the "Trip
penny, as 1t wurY" returned Greta with
decision; IAN begun an singed my
way back T. Iyy-lane, till I'd gottn'd
coPERe at = had novo,,, c,ornsssa nra.,,.
and Curtis approvingly. And then
little one, what when you reached Ivy
lane?'
But Greta stared silently, and witt
sullen disdain, at the propouDder o.
: this query for one long moment; theI
turned ewes of mute Interrogation