The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-10-23

aReally, my ancient hostess grows quite
attentive" thought Mr.. Fairburn, as he
retired for the night into the little lean-to
at the back of the hut, and willingly COM
piled with her injunctions regarding the
outer portions of his attire. The sheet
which covered his impromptu couch was
of the coarsest, but fragrant of lavender
and thyme, and if the straw mattress was
hard it was also scrupulously clean. So as
the weary wanderer sank into dreamless
repose, his last conscious thought was to
the effect that his unpleasant adventure
had after all led to a very tolerable con-
clusion.
Had Mr.. Fairburn suddenly opened his
eyes some three hours later he might have
felt less confident on the subject. Close
over him there tleant tall, powerful built
man, with the look of haunted animal
in his small sharp eyes, and the firm lines
of desperate resolve imprinted on every
feature. Slowly and noislessly the door
had been opened, admitting few faint red
rays from the dying embers in the outer
apartment, and with the dexterity acquired
by long practice in evil ways the intruder
1 CROPPED his way forward.
i Near the pallet he paused to cast look
of keenest scrutiny on the sleeper, while
I his fingers closed more firmly on the short
iron bar he carried.
Satisfied that the occupant Of the bed
was indeed unconscious OF his presence,
the man proceeded to the corner where
Aleck had placed his gun, and noiselessly
seized the weapon, which he conveyed with
the same caution to the outer room. Then
he returned and felt about with fingers
which seemed almost to have eyes in their
tips, until he discovered the cartridge belt
Aleck had worn on the preceding day
This was removed in the same stealthy
fashion; and then came the last and most
delicate stage of the operations.
With the iron bar firmly grasped in his
right hand, the left hand of the nocturnal
visitor was by imperceptible degrees slip
ped under the hard pillow, and as slowly
withdrawn, together with the watch and
pocket-book deposited there for safety
Just then there was slight movement on
the sleeper's part, and as quick as thought
the heavy bar was raised above his head.
Fortunately for Mr.. Fairburn his slumbers
were deep and sound that night, and though
the eyelids quivered they did not unclose,
Silently the bar sank again, and in few
moments the door was closed as quietly
as it had opened, and Aleck was again..alone.
When he awoke next morning the sun
was shining brightly through the single
pane of greenish glass which lighted the
sleeping apartment. As ablutions were
evidently, owing to force of circumstances,
out of the question for the present, almost
the first act of his toilet was to call aloud
to his entertainer for the outer garments of
which she had SO Hospitality taken charge
the previous night. No answer was re-
turned to his appeal, however, and Mr..
Fairburn called still louder. Still silence
and he got impatient
81 say, guidwife, where are you? Don't
you hear me call? I-want-my-clothes. "
Il But not even an echo answered.
"Confound that old idiot She's gone
off for water or something, and forgotten
all about my things. l must just go and
get them myself, 1 suppose
So wrapping himself in the faded patch
work quilt which had adorned his couch
hMr. Fairburn flung open the door of the
other room and proceeded on a'tour of IN
vestigation.
What was his surprise when crouched in
the self same corner from which she had
been extricated the previous evening, her
hands clasped in mute entreaty, and agony
of terror depicted on her wrinkled face, he
found his missing hostess
'Poor old thing She's evidently a lit
tie wrong in the head, said the young laird
to himself. II must try and humor her q
bit"
But at the first soothing words he at
tempted the frightened creature crawled
forward and clasped his knees convulsively.
"Vor the love O. heaven daunt ZEE harm
a pure old widder 'ooman what want be
long out O her graveanyhow, an I'll tell ZEE
the gospel truth, 20 zure as death l wull !!
eThere, there, guidwife. I'm not going
to hurt you or anybody else. Get up, there's
a good creature, and get me my coat and
trousers, that's all L want, Don't look SO
scared; you didn't take me for ghost
walking in broad daylight, did you ?"
"You'm zure you want hurt me wan
tell 'ee arl? l be in my seventy-vour an
vrail as bird. be p
II won't say what | shan't do if you
keep me standing here much longer
Where on earth have you put my clothes
You haven't burnt them by accident, have
you p
"Oh, wat wull ZEE zay when l tell 'ee?''
And Betty Townson fell to sobbing vic
lently, while still clinging to her guests
knees. Mr.. Fairburn fairly stamped witt
vexation.
aConfound it all What on earth am
to do with this old lunatic? They'll have
sent out search party from Combe by now
and it may be up here as likely as not. A
pretty figure 1 should cut if Miss Madg'
should put her head in the door just now
By the way, wonder what time it reall.
is"
;. And freeing himself with difficulty from
the unwelcome embrace, Mr.. Fairburr
strobe hastily toward the inner room, tn
impromptu dressing-gown floating out be
hind his manly form. In another minut
he returned with an angry light in his blu
eyes. !,
! 'Then there really has been some devil
try or other going on in the night, you oil
beldame! You've good cause to be fright
ened-my watch, and my money, and m.
, gun all gone Tell me this instant wher
they are, or I'll shake the truth out of you
old body y
Notwithstanding his angry words, Alec
lifted the sobbing old woman gently enoug
from the floor, and placed her in her wood
en- armchair.
} ssBut first of all tell me where | shal
find my clothes. lean do nothing withou
them, for certain.
"Oh, zir l-daun't ZEE be SO wrath vi
| me!-they'm gone, tool"
"Gone gone where2" gasped the victim
"He'ye took 'em, yer honor-Blacl
i Jan-an' the watch, an the gun, an arl
But want 'ee have they things he'th lei
3 yor ZEE too wear instead? I've a got 'en
, arl safe here yor ZEE.