The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-07

8NAAA~N&sA AA9W hAkk&4 80UAA O& t480&s 1&H had been standing untouched any time these two years, and Harold had noticed them more than once when journeying between Saltwater and Barrowchff Moth. ing could well iook uaose aess!sse and forlcrn. They were SO many bare walls of bare brick, rooted in with bare slates. and that was all; wlndowless and door less they stood, open to all the win is that blew.
 When Dare reached this lonely spot he came to stand. For full two minutes he stood without moving, hsteninS en. tirely. For any sound of human life that be could hear he might have been the last man lett alive in the world. SAtished that he had nothing to fear on the score of being seen or heard, he crossed the patch of weedcovered ground and entered one of the unfinished houses. Here he halted and struck a match, with which he lighted a small bull's-eye lantern which he produced from his bag. Throw ing the rays of the lantern before h,m, so as to save himself from stumbling over any obstacle which might chance to be in his path, he passed forward in,o one of the back rooms, where be felt tha, he would be still sa!er from the observation of any chance passer-by. Then opening his bag again he brought forth from it's recesses black wiz and thick black makeup" when playing the character of Captain Hawtree in scene from Caste" at Wcnlock Towers. The wig he proceeded to draw on over his own closely cropped head of light hair, while the moustache was readily fixed in it's place by the aid of little spiri,-Eum His next proceeding was to substitute for the low-crowned fel, hat he had been wearing high. crowned opera hat which he had brought him, shut up in his bag Then having tied thick white mufilar round his neck, he felt that his disguise was complete.
 Leaving his bag in corner of the un- finished house, but taking his lantern with him after having turned on the dark slide, Harold Dare issued forth, and after listening intently for a few seconds he crossed the waste ground to the high road, and then set of at a rapid pace in the di. rection of Saltwater.
 Tbe mail.cau between Saltwater and Barrowcltf had been driven by one man for thirty years. His name was John Pe- gram, and he had now turned his sixtieth birthday. Johns jolly, rubicund visage was known to everybody, and everybody averred that he was no one's enemy but his own. It was universally believed however, that John could drive better when he was half seas over than when he was perfectly sober and as for his old bay mare, you had only to put her head in the direction you wanted her to go and she required no driving at all.
 John left the post-office at Saltwater with the mail-bags for London and the south between half-past nine and quar- ter to ten every night, so as to be in tune to catch the up mail at Barrowcl,ff' sta tion at Io;5o. Of this fact Harold D Ie was perfectly aware, he and Captain Wen lock having met the old man more than once when out on summer evenings for a late walk along the country roads, and it was of this knowledge that Dare had now determined to avail himself. He had timed his calculations with a view of en- countenng the mail-cart about half way between the village and the station, at a spot where, for a mile or more, the road ran between two high banks covered with thick hedgerows. He was aware th t John, out of pure good nature, or i, may be with an eye to an extra glass of grog, although 1t was contrary to his instruc- tons, sometimes gave lift on the cart to some belated friend or acquaintance whom he might chance to overtake on the road. and he could only hope most devotedly that tonight of ali nights the old driver might be alone
 As soon as Dare reached ,ha, part of the road where it began to dip between tue high banks he slackened his pace somewhat, and after every few yards thA At he advanced he stood sull for few sec onds to listen. He had advanced thus cautiously for about half a mile when his quick ears caught the faint sound of wheels in the distance lis heart gave great bound, and he was obliged to steady himself for few minutes agains, the trunk of tree. The sound could now be plainly heard coming toward him on the frost hardened road. At once be the directioa of BarrowcliH The vehicle whatever it might be, came nearer and nearer tIll in little while it was but a few yards behind him. Now or never was Lis chance.
 Haltiag suddenly and fiinging a quick backward glance into the darkness, he could just make out that it was indeed the mail cart, and that there was only one figure on the box.
 lth that you, John Psgwam p he call. ed out with a capital imitation of his cousins voice and lisp.
 "Ay, it s me, sure er ough. And who may you be!" came the answer, while the old mare. hearing voices, slAckened her pace of her own accord
 Don't you know me 2 Captain Wen. lock"
 e Blest if l knew you sir, it's so dark hereabouts. Woa, Talip, lass" The mare came to dead halt. "Can l do anything for you, Captaini"
 You can give me tiff as far as the station. if you like. The night Has sn