Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-22
CHAPTER VII.


III was exactly u O'Clock by the ginning /
.imepiece in the hall Just the hour for such
a task, | felt with sort of sbivpr. as Sir
John came down IN the nantry, whore had
candles ready. and a small crovv,sr used for
onanine rackiugr cases and a screw driver
Everybody seems quiet ,ltst,,iTs. Burdon.n
saws Sir John. $50 let s yet to work at once.
But hiIInr inst mt ont n lamn.n
NO, Sir John" / said. Il often smell that .
now; but I've never been able TO make out !
what it is"
.Humpbl Stranca" he SAYS. and then we |
went STRAIGHT 10 the ceIlar the great haize
door at the tor, Of the kitchen srans being |
shut. and directly after we were standing on |
the damp saN,lust with the bins OF vine all
round
at. hasn't been touched nppareDtlv. and
theresseeus tn l,. no need bul | Sbpuld like
to see if it is all right. But we shall never
get through there, Burden" be saws, looking
at the bricked up wall across the way To the
inner cellar
IL don't know, ! said, taking off my coat
and rolling up my sleeves, 70 ind that though
tha HIGHEST nrise hs,d been maid for that
hricl-lavinr the cnsst of a fellow who had
the iot, hal rsad hardly a hit of sand and
hu Al linn N hnF 81
tr;,l. ar,I Ia,,arnd II o,,+ oil the otbers came
away one at a time quite clear of the mortar.
Never mind saws Sir John, "Out of
evil comes good m try that sherry, too,
Rurdou. and we'Il nut some fresh in its place.
Rut if that's left twenty wears we shall never
live To taste it ehF'
shook nv head sadlv rs I worked AWAY
in that arch. eosilv REACHING the top bricks
which were onIv six feet fror, the sawdust.
and as is often the rosa what had seemed a
torr;ble ;oh ,ro,ad r., ha ca aasv that two
hours afterwards whom Sir John had made
me pen bottle of the bricked up sherry
and fill two Of the cellar glasses for ms to
ate dron oninre tbarc ware oil the bricks
in n rougb milo on ono side and the sherrv
was in a hin and the emntv bottles stacked
| in a corner.
| nMaybe a little foul air in the place" saws
| Sir John: land we'll riveit a biz of time to
get out. That's very fine glass of sherry,
| my man. he SAYS, taking good long sip,
| .syvell matured Hal Ire like tho old cuns
and salvers turned into Iiuuid eoldn
INV service and resnects IN nv dear old
masterm said, rs stood before him where
he sat on the pile of bricks, looking all COW
cred with mortar and sawdust on his black
dress clothes, and me ten times worse and
one hand bleeding ms took n taste of tina
finest sherry ever drank in my life. which
is saving a deal, for Sir John would have
| good wine
"Tbonk Won Rurdon y no s,vs in rstba- n
husky wav ..Master and man all these years.
but it's getting near the end now, when all
men will be the same. beg your pardon,
Burdon-my good old felIow-I called You a
fool. Shake hands,
AS YOU have called me many time, nv
dear old MASTER said, as we stood there
Joined in n strong grip. "Rut [ know Won.
sir.n said, smiling with the tears standing
thick in nv eves-''yes, know YOU. sir. and
| don't mind"
We neither Of us smoke. for it seemed MS II
we both felt afraid lest the other should see
how weak he was But at last he saws: FIJI
I'D the glasses again. Burden Working as
we have been, a good glass of wine will moi
hurt either you or me-"
| did as he said We drank the deliciou.
fine old stuff slowly and solemnly; and then
after had put the bottle and glasses aside
| snuffed the candles,
"There," he says ''the place will he sweetel
now. Wen just have glance at the OLE
chests, and then We must build up the emptl
bottles again. Tomorrow I'll order in SOM
more wine--tor my son"
He said that last SO Solemnly that looke'
up at him rs he stood there with the ligh
SHINING III MS eyes.