The Dillon tribune., 1885-10-10
CHAPTER II.

stay there whether welcome or unwelcome.
CHAPTER II.
Tho door through which had burst like q
battering-ram opened straight into sort of
kitchen, so although entered in q most un-
dignided way, in fact on my hands and
knees, was well established in the center
Of the room before the man and woman
emerged from behind the door. where my
successful assault had thrown them !
stood up and faced them. They were q
couple of ordinary, respectfully attired
country people, The man, sturdy, strong
built, bu|l-aeckel rascal, stood scowling at
me, and I concluded making up his mind as
to what course to pursue.
my good people," said, ''you are be-
having in the most unheard-of manner.
Can't you understand that I mean to pay
you we'll for any trouble I give you2 But
whether you like it or not, here I stay to-
night To turn me out would be sheer muir
der"
So saying pulled of my overcoat and
began shaking the snow out Of my whiskers.
Idare say my determined attitude, my re-
spectable. as well as my muscular appear
ance, impressed my unwilling hosts. Any
way, they gave in without more ado. While
the woman shut the door, through which the
suowflakes were whirling, the man said sui
s.Well, youth have to spend the night on
chair. We've no beds here for strangers.
Specially those as amt wanted"
"very we'll, my friend. Having settled
the matter you may as we'll make yourself
pleasant Go and put my horse under cover,
and give him feed Of some sort-make q
mash II you can"
After giving the woman quick glance, as
of warning, my scowling hest lit horn Ian
tern ami went on the errani I suggested. I
gladly sank into chair and warmed myself
before q cheerful fire. The prospect of spend
ing the night amid such discomfort was not
alluriug, but had, at least, roof over my
head.
Az a rule, the more churlish the nature
the moro avaricious it il found to be. Ny
promise of liberal remuneration was after
all not without It's effect upon the strange
couple whose refusal to afford mo refuge had
sonearly endangered my life. They conde-
seconded to get me some tea and rough food.
After had disposed Of all that tho man
produced . bottle Of gin. We Allied our
glasses and then, with the aid Of my pipe,
settled down to make tho best OF night
spent In hard wooden char.
! had come across strange people In my
travels, but have NO hesitation in saying
that my host was the sullensst, sulkiest,
most boorish specimen OF human nature
had a. yet met with. In spite Of his recent
ill-treatment Of me, was ready to establish
matters on friendly footing, and made
several attempts to draw him into converse
ton. Tho hrut, would only answer in mon
osyllables or often not answer at all So
gave up talking as lad job and sat in ST.
lenoe, smoking and looking into the fire,
thinking a good deal, it may be, Of some
one should have met that morning at Lily
mere, had the wretched snow but kept of.
The long clock-that cumbrous eight-day
machine which inevitably occupies one
corner of every cot:ager's kitchen-struck
nine. The woman rose and left US. l CON-
oluded abe was going to bed. II SO I en-
We'd her. Her husband showed no signs Of
retiring. He still sat over the fire, opposite
me. by this time was dreadfully tired
every bone in my body ached. The hard
chair which, an hour or two ago. seemed all
I could desire, now scarcely came up to my
ideas Of the comfort was justly entitled to
claim. My sulky companion had been
LIQUOR he had poured into himself might
have rendered his frame of mind mora pleas
ant and amenable to reason.
my good fellow said, ''your chairs
are excellent ones Of the kind, but deucedly
uncomfortable. I ann horribly tired. Ii
the resources of your establishment can't
furnish bed for me to sleep in, couldn't you
find mattress or something to lay down
before the fire:'
''You've got all you'll get Tonight" b.
answered, knocking the ashes out Of his
pipe.
''Oh, but sayr
$50 do say. Isay this: If you don't like
it you can leave it. We didn't ask you te
come"
"You Internal beast,"I muttered-and
meant it. tool declare, had l not been so
utterly worn out. would have had tina,
bullet-headed ruffian up for few rounds Of
his own kitchen floor, and tried to knock
him into more amiable frame of n,.nd
'Never mind" said. but remember
civility costs nothing, and often gets re-
wartled. Howeve~, If you wish to retire t,
your own couch, don't let your native pc
likeness stand in your way. Pray dom,
hesitate ON my account. Leave plenty 81
fuel, and ! shall manage until the morning ,
''Where you stay, stay" he answered