Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-12

am hoping that there is only wee while to
wait till may see you again; and am
feared that something may come between
us yet. But nothing can change me-"
She put the letter in her pocket. There
was a new light on her face, making it look
gentler and happier that it had ever done
before. Ay, she did believe him-she had
believed all along that he had been betray-
ed in some way, although she could not
guess how. But Dick Baxter was clever
man and he would find it out
When Dick reappeared from Cargills cab
in there was peculiar Smirk on his wizen-
ed face, and nodding to Annie complacent-
ly he muttered-
"Just as 1 thought, just as 1 thought"
sWhat is as YOU thought" she inquired
eagerly.
''Give me minute or twa," he answered,
seating himself before the joint of corned
beef which had been placed for him. He
took dram first and then ate heartily. His
reflections were much aided by this pro-
ceeding, and when he had finished he pro-
duced large wel-worn pocket-book from
the midst of a curious collection of needles,
hanks of thread, fishing hooks and odd but
tons, and selected scrap of paper which
had been cut from some newspaper.
II dinna want to gle you ony false hopes,
missy, but if l be ma far wrang, Bob Ross
will soon be put right"
"You have found out how it was done"
81 jaloused it as soon as Bob let me ken
what had happened. You see what comes
O. reading the papers. 1 would hae been
like the lave O. you, maybe, if l hadna read
that"
He handed her the scrap of paper. TWAS
the report of common enough police case;
a man enticed into a house, drugged, rob-
bed, and turned out into the street in state
of apparent drunken stupefaction.
"This is what he has done!' she cried eX-
citedly.
"Bide minute, missy. You hae heap to
answer for; if it hadna been for you, the
gowk would never hae thought O. sic daft
like thing. Hows'ever, we want to clear
Bob. You say naething about this, no even
to your father, and I'll satisfee him that he
was mista'en. Whan do you start%'
Tomorrow morning"
'Weel, as soon IS hae told Jeems what
his mother wants, Pll gang hame again by
train the-day. But would like you to tell
me ane or twa things first
The "ane or twa things" included the
whole of her conversation with Cargill about
Ross, and the information she had gathered
from the men separately that not one had
observed the slightest sign of anything be-
ing wrong with the pilot until they found
him lying by the wheel.
Its just wonderful how you thought
about seeking out a. that, said Dick admir-
/ ingly; 'but you were aye clever lass,
missy. | Gamma understand how the cap
tain should be sac readyto think ill O Bob" "
''Cargill made him believe that he had
been drinking before"
''Aweel, that'll a. be set right afore lang.
You and me maun keep calm sough for a
wee while. Just you keep on as you hae
been doing-keep frien's VII him and may
be We'll get mair QUITO him."
When Cargill returned he was annoyed
exceedingly to find his bugbear, Dick Bax-
ter, waiting for him, and almost started in.
to rage when he heard the well-known
salutaton, ''Weel, Jeems, how's a. VII you
the-day?"
He would have turned away at once from
this pest, but he was detained by the next
words.
''Your mother sent to you ance errand.
She wouldna believe in the post or the tele-
graph; the matter was sac particular that
naething would serve her but maun come
VII her message"
''What is it she wants now%' was the surly
and impatient query.
''She doesna want you to break your trip;
but she commands you to gang straight to
her the minute you land. She bade me say
that you would hurt yourself mair than you
can fancy, if you didna do her bidding"
Every well'
You'll come the minute you land"'
"Of course, since she isso particular about
it,"
''I'll tell her to expect you, for Pm gaun
back by train the-day."
That evening in the cleaning, work ovel
and all quiet in the harbor, Captain Duncan
was sitting on deck smoking. Annie was
walking up and down, occasionally haltins
beside him. During one of these halts, he
said abruptly
"Annie, L want you to be kind to Jeems
Cargill."
This was the first time he had referred t(
evening in the cottage.
What for in especial, father?"
He puffed slowly, and looked over the
bulwark into the clear blue water which
was plashing gently against the sides of thu
Mermaid. He was perplexed; what especia
reason was there for asking her to be kline
gard for the man, and but for his forum,
would have little to say to him.
''It's this way, Annie; you see he's MAJ
that has great notion O. you; he's weel-to
do in the world; there's naebody has ony
particular i'll to say against him; and h,
asked me to put in word for him wiz you
said would and Pm doing it. You nigh
do hantle waur than agree to be Mistres.
Cargill."
She laid her hand on his shoulder; sh,
could feel the awkwardness with which h,
spoke. At another time she would have re
lieved him by laughing at the whole affair
At present she had too many anxious
thoughts weighing upon her for laughter tt
find vent.
Il told you my mind about this, father
when you mentioned it before. am of tn,
same mind yet, and l will never change"
She felt glow of pleasure in thus echo
ing her lovers words.
'Aweel, aweel, Pm ma gaun to force you
will. l was meaning you for another MAJ
a. the while; but hae done what promis
ed and nae mair need be said. You woult
hae loupit blitherly enough at-but that's a
by and nae mair need be said"
To 4l1