New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-03

ne nave Diu Oh fre az once, for this fog OF yours
mas CHILLED my very marrow"
Widow Irownson began new consultations,
which her visitor summardly cut short.
Just teu me Where you keep your wood, or
peat or Whatever " Is, and Pll soon have a blaze
myself IL YOU really are too scared TO set about
1t for me, guidwife.p
The threat seemed at once TO collect the old
lady's scattered wits and she hurriedly hobbed
from the room, muttern9 as she went
Hem that masterful hem Just naythur 10
bold nor to bind Lit I'm take 1t on's own head
II harm cometh Of It,
After O short absence the widow returned with
an abundant supply of neats, and with trembling
fingers fastened TO build UP a fire, whose glowing
heat soon restored the circulation to the Young
mans chilled frame Then with an ,alacrity
much In contrast to her previous reluctance, she
proceeded TO place on the table a Coarse loaf and
Q piece OF cold bacon and also to prepare some
TEA, the heat or which In some degree COMPENSATED
Tor us v1lanOus flavor While the self-invited
guest was busy doing more than justice TO the
scanty meal. his hostess abented herself but pres
entity reappeared with n strange air of mingled
fear ana perplexity about her
i've made zee up a bed in there. zir." she
sslu IN tremhiing voice, pointing to en- inner
apartment. "Yer honor'u Wind IL clane tho
maybe 1t ba'nt 20 zoft as you m used 10 Law on.
VIII zee DO PLACED to go in now cir. and give me
on yer wei things to dry ere by The fire, ready
wife p I'll '~'''- Jul Wv" O'0' --'''
NAY. I sleepeth allus in the PRESIDED, yam
der. Then III gle yer honor a end o. candle
now, an ven gle NE out the wat cloze wantee ?
the morn
"Really my ancient hostess grows quite atten-
i've. thought MIR. Falrbllrn. as he retired for the
nght into the little leantO at the back of the hut
and willingly complied with her iniunctions re-
earuing the outer portions of his attire The
sheet which covered bis imprOmptu couch was
or the coa1sest. but fragrant OF lavender and
THYME and If the straw mattress was hard it was
also scrupulously clean. So as the weary wan
dcrer sank into dreamless repose his last con.
70 nIn hot &c rfanG
nnt adventure had after all led to a very toler-
able conclusion
Had Mr.. Farburn suddenly orened his eyes
some three hours later he might have felt less
confident on the subject Close over him there
leant tall rOwerfuly-built man. with the look
OF hunted animal in his small sharp ewes. and
every feature. Slowly and nOscessly the door
had bcen Opened, admitting q few faint red rays
from the dying emhers in the outer APARTMENT.
and with the deyteritv acquired by long practice
IN Owl wavs the intruder CROPPED his way forward
Near the rallet he rauSed to cast look Of keen
cst scrutiny on the sleeper. while his fingers closed
more firm " on the short iron bar he carried.
Satisfied that the Occurant of the bed was in
deed unconscious of his presence, the man pro-
cecded to the corner where Alecll had placed his
gun. and noseessly 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 10 have eyes in their
tvs until he discovered the cartridge belt AeCI
had worn on the preceding day This was re-
moved 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 imUerceptible degrees slipped under the hard
pillow, and slowly withdrawn. together with
the watch and pocket-bOOk deposited there for
safety. just then there slight NOV ement
on the sleeper's part. and as quick thought the
heavy bar was raised above his head Fort
unatelv for Mr. Fairburn his sumbels were deep
and sound that NIGHT and though the eyeds
quivercd they did not unclOse Silently the bar
sank again. and in a few moments the door was
closed as quietly as it had opened, and AlcclI was
again alone.
When he awole next morning the sun was
shining brightly through the Single pane Of green
ish glass which lighted his sleening apartment:
As additions were cvilentv OWiny to force Of
circumstances ont Of the question for the present.
almost the first act Of his toilet 10 call aloud
10 his entertainer for the outer ents Of which
She had 50 hosritably taken charge the previous
ni-ht No answer was returned 10 his apl cal,
however and Mr. Fairburn called still louder
Still silence. and he got inpatient
Il saw. guidVife, where are you9 Don't you
hear mo call ? I-want-my-cOthos ~
But not even an echo answered
"Confound that old idiot She's gone Oft for
water something. ana forgotten all about my
things. | must just 90 and get them myself,
So wrapping himself in the faded patchwork
orr1t which had adorned his couch Mr. Fairburn
flung oIcn the door OF tie other room ana pro-
Crc'ci a tour OF invest alton
What was his surprise when crouched in the
sell corner from which She had been eX-
treated the previous evening. her hands cl8s ed
in mute cntreofy. am an agony Of terror depicted
on her wrinlded face. he found his missing
hostess
Poor old thing, she's evidently little
wrong in tho head. said the yOung laird TO him
sclf 81 must try AMI humor her n bit
Put at the fist soothing words 10 attcmrted
the fri hcnod creature crawled forward end
Casred his knees convulsiNcly
"Nor the love % heaven daunt zee harm a pure
old wilder CONAN what want be lon- out o. her
grave how. an III ten &c the gospel truth,
20 zire as death | wull
There there. cuidwife I'm not Going to hurt
you or anybody else Get up there's a good Great
IRE AMI -et me ny coat ami trousers; that's all
/ want. Don't look scared YOU didn't take
me for a ghost walking in broad daylight did
"You'm zuro you want hurt me wan tell zee
arl? be in my zeyenty-vour, an yIal as a
II won't say what I 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 4?
"Oh. wat wun zee gay when / tell zee p
And Betty 1rownsOn fell 10 sobbng violently,
while still clin-ing 10 her guests knees. Mir.
Fairburn fairly STAMPED with veXatIon
"COnfound it all : What earth am | 10 do
with this old lunatic They'll have sent out a
search Iarty from COOmbe by now, and 1t may
he up here as likely as not pretty figure |
should cut if Miss Madse should Put her head in
the door Just now! BY the way wonder what
time II really is
All lifttu- nlulStl WIFI fliLttUN IDn lnt
unwelcome embrace. Mr. Fairhurn strobe hastily
toward the inner room, the impFoLa ptu dressing
gown floating out behind his manly form In
another minute he returned With an angry light
in his blue ewes.
Then there really has been some deyilty
or other GONG on In the night. YOU old beldame :
You've GOOD cause 20 be frightened-my watch,
and my money and my gun all gone Tell me
this instant where they ere, or Pl Shake the
truth out OF your old body y
Notwithstanding his angry words, Aleck lifted
the sobbing old woman gently enough from the
floor and placed her in her wooden armchair.
But first Of all tell me where | shall find my
clothes. | can do nothing without them, for
certain
"Oh zir '-daun't zee be 70 wrath VII me =
thcy'm gone. too -
"Gone gone where p essped the victim
"He've took EN-. yer h0nor-Baci0 Jan-an'
the watch an the gun. an arl But want ec
have they things beth left vOr zee to wear in
stead I've got em arl safe here vor ZEE.
And drawing from within the pIesS bcdstead
bundle OF clothing. the widow displayed before
he he'd of "A