Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-12-18
CHAPTER VIII.
THE WOLF IN SHEEP $ oLorH1Ne


porter at the Old Hummuns hotel, as Johl
Needham, having rung the door-beIl, er
tered the ball
The trains alter their times on Sum ay,
said Needham, ''and had to walk severa
miles before 1 could get cab"
Yes sir, that's the worst of Suada,
travelling"
Bar closads" asked Needham, sitting i,
TIE porter's chair.
Yes, sir; but they leaves me out SON
whisky and brandy and soda; which wi
| you take. STRIP
soda AMI brandy"
| Eyes, sir"
The porter foraged about in mysterious
corner and produced the liquor Needham
drank ii off at drauyht.
81 was very thirsty" he said; team YOU
give me another2'
Eyes, sir"
And rair of slippers?
| There they are, SIR" said the porter.
| placing bootjack and a pair of slippers at
the guests feet, and then proceeding to
open another bottle of soda
Neelham dragged off his boot with some
difficulty, and the porter assisted him to put
on the slippers
''Any cigars?n
eyes, sir"
'Never mind; think have one."
He pulled out Joseph Norburys cigar
case, took out cigar and laii the case on
the shelf of the bar window 1T was a
rather showily embroidered Casa present
from his sister, He hoped the porter would
recognize it.
The porter gave him light and then
handed him the case.
"A pretty thing, is it not?' said Needham.
THAT'S jus5 what was a.thinking, sir. f"
"A present from my sister,"
eyes, sir, and it's very becoming, snowy,
but not gaudy, as they says
Needham drank his second brandy with
only very small quantity of soda, and
then asked for candle.
Taking it from thu porter he hesitated,
and then said: II always forget my num-
Der; will you not show me the wayg'
''Oh yes, sir, with pleasure: let me see
now, what is the number; sitting and bed
room, amt itg'
Needham did not answer; he was busy re-
lighting his cigar.
'You come in Thursday nights Midland,
of course; ] remember the overcoat. Of
course, Mr.. Norbury, No. Is, seeing you in
evening dress didn't strike me, and you
speaks little different; got cold that's
what you We got, sir; walkin' in the wet,
stupid OF me to forget, and prides myself
In my memory for customers, you goes to
Liverpool tomorrow morning. of course,
henroot for America, beg your pardon sir,
I'm sure"
Don't mention it." sail Needham, fol-
lowing the porter, who led the way up two
flights of stairs and along a winding pas.
sage, to what seemed to be the back part of
the house,
Then pausing, the porter turned the
handle of the door.
Locked, sir
There's the key" said Needham; us it
unusual to lock ones doorg'
Yes, sir; if gentlemen have any valu-
ables they generally leaves 'em at the
bar"
The porter unlocked the door; Needham
followed him into the room
Have you no more candlesg'
'Oh yes, sir; there's two ON the dressing
table,
Light them"
"Yes, SIR"
ANY mores"
Candles sir?"
Yes"
There's two on the sitting room mantel."
He opened another door, and went into
the sitting room.
Light them"
eyes, sir"
Il have some writing to do before going
to bed"
Yes, sir, what time will you be called.
sirY' >''
My train goes at ten, thinkg'
"Euston for Iverpools Yes, SIR"
"Call me at seven"
eyes, sir"
DO you get The Observer heren
THE what, sirs"
1.-The Observer newspaper"
The Sunday paper? Yes, SIR"
snail want sonnet thing to read in the
train There's five shillings; get me all
the different papers you can that come out
on Sundays. Let me have them when I
am called. Shall you call me"
Eyes, sir. Igoes off at eight"
That's all right"
"Thankee. sir Good night, sir"
"At last!" Needham exclaimed finging
himself upon couch, "at last!
He spoke no more, nor spoke for a long
time, but fell into a profound sleep-slept
as quietly as an innocent, good man is sun
posed to sleep. He was physically tagged
and worn out, and nature would no LONGER
be denied.
The candles were nearly burned out when
he awoke. He rubbed his eyes and looked
around him. Then he got up and shivered.
The sunlight was struggling through the
Witty brown blinds. He walked across the
room, drew the blind aside, ana peerei
out
Eyes, have been to Sleep" he said; cit
is no dream, ! have done it all-alll What
energy! And l thought l could only lie
down and die What crimel thought
had waded in it already to my very lipsp
He looked at his watch.
-Four o'clock-morning They used to
talk of Covent Garden as sight to see at
four o. CLOCK, the country folk-Coyent
Garden and Billingsgater'
He drew up the blind, and, standing back
from the window, contem plated the scene.
But it is Sunday, he said, "and all is
quiet-awfully quiet, as if every body had
gone to Hampstead Heath to see the work
of CAIN"
Tnen, turning his hack upon the window,
he said: Il must go to work; first recon
hotter, then action"
He put out the candles and made care
full survey of the two rooms and tbe lur-
gage.
Have any trunks that are not here. I
wonder--one perhaps too large to drag up-
stairss Have placed any valuables in the
bar safes If I have, why did I lock the
door and put the key in my pocketp
He opened large leather portmanteau:
the key was in the lock.
Ready packed-need not disturb that
"a dispatch box" he remarked, turning
to travelling case upon chest of drawers:
very like my own, and with my initials on
the lid! Strangel Have l really some !
work to do in the world yet that the :
other couldn't dos Or is this only smooth.
ing my way to perditions But a truce to
phiilosophizing! Nc more theoriz1ng. John
II mean Josaph-we must be practical
now-and cunning, devilish cunning.n
He turned over the papers.
CAB. Mr.. John Needham's Ietters of ;,,-