The Washington critic., 1888-04-14

pistol, loaded it (they hal given me
back both the powder and pistol
found on me when ! was takcn), and
laid il beside my plate. This done,
went on with my suppcr-it was an
excellent cold capon--and all the
time the flute upstairs kept toot-toot-
ing without stopping, except to change
the tune. IL gave me Hearts Of
Oak" "Why. Soldiers, Why" Like
Hermit Poor and Come Lassies and
Lads" before had fairly cleared the
dish.
"And now," thought I, 'I have
had good supper; but there arc
still three things to be done. In the
first place, / want drink, in the
second, / want bed, and in the
third, | want to thank this kind
person, whoever he is, for his hospi-
tality. I'm not going TO begin life No.
with housebreaking."
rose, slipped the pistol into my
tail pocket, and followed the sound
up the ram. shackle stairs. My foot
steps made such racket on those old
timbers rs fairly to frighten me, but
they never disturbed the flute-player.
lie had harked back again to Like
Hermit Poor" by this time, and the
dolofulness of it was fit to make the
dead cry out, but he went whining
on until reached the head of the
stairs and struck rousing knock on
the door.
The playing stopped "Come in,"
said CHEEKY voice; but IL gave me no
cheerfulness. Instead of that il sent
all the comfort of my supper clean out
Of me, as | opened the door and saw
him sitting there.
There he was, the man who had
saved my neck that day and whom |
most hated in the world, sitting
before u snug fire with his flute on
his knee, glass of port wine at his
elbow, and looking so comfortable
with that knowing light in his gray
eye that ! could have killed him
where he sat.
ooh, it's you, Is it?' he said, Just
the very least bit surprised, and no
more. Come in"
/ stood in the doorway hesitating.
Don't stay letting In that mon
strous draught, man; but sit down.
You'll find the bottle on the table and
glass on the shelf"
/ poured out n glassful and drank
il off. The stuff was rare Il can
remember its trick on the tongue to
this day., but somehow it did not
drive the cold out of my heart. |
| took another glass and sat slipping il
and staring from the fire to my COM
ponion. ~t'so
He had taken up the flute again
and was blowing few notes out of.it,
thoughtfully enough. He was a
small, squarely- built man, with a
sharp, ruddy face like a frozen pippin,
heavy gray eyebrows and mouth
like trap when it was not pursed up
for that everlasting flute. AS he sat
there with his wig off, the crown of
his bald head was fringed with an
obstinate-looking patch of hair, the
color of a badgers. My amazement
at finding him there at this hour. and
alone, was lost in my hatred of the
man as 1 saw the depths of compla
cent knowledge in his face. / felt
thatI must kill him sooner or later
and the sooner the better.
Presently he laid down his flute
again and spoke: ~ scarcely expected
you"
l grunted something in answer.
But / might have known some.
thing was up If I'd only paid atten
ton to my flute. 1t and are not in
harmony tonight. 1t doesn't like
the secrets I've been blowing into it
it has heard lot of queer things in
its time, but it's an innocent-minded
flute for all thai, and Pm afraid
what j told it tonight is q point be
yond what it's prepared to CO."
81 take it it knows deal toe
much" growled I.
| He looked at me sharply for an IN
| Like Hermit Poor" reached down a
couple of clay pipes from the shelf
filled one for himself and gravely
handed the other with the tobacco
to me.
Beyond whatit is prepared to go,'
he echoed quietly, sinking back in his
chair and putting at the pipe. 'It's a
nice point we have been discussing to
gether, my flute and I, and won't
say but that I've got the worst of it
BY the way, what do you mean to dc
now that you have a fresh start?"
Now I have not tasted tobacco for
over four months, and its effect now
upon my wits was surprising. i
seemed to oil my thoughts until they
flowed without hitch, and saw my
plan of action marked out quite
plainly before me.
"Do you want to know the first steI
of all ?" / asked.
ITO be sure; the first step at any
rate determines the direction"
"Well, then" said I, very steadily
staring him in the face, "the first steJ
of all Is that am going to kill you
"H'm," said he, after n bit, and
declare that not so much as an eye
lash of the man shook, 81 thought al
much. guessed that when yol
came into the room. And wha
next?"
"Time enough to think of 'wha
next, / answered; for though
was set upon blowing his brains out
/ longed for him to blaze out into ,
passion and warm up my blood TO
the job.
Pardon me-" he said, as cody az
might be, "that would be the very
worst time to think of it. For jus
consider; in the first place you will b,
committed to your way of life, anC
secondly, if l know anything abou
you, You would be far too flurried TO
any thought worth the name"
There was twinkle of frosty hu
NOR in his eyes as he said this, and il
the silence which followed | could
hear him chuckling to himself
and, tasting the words over again Al
though they were good wine, sa
lingering my pistol and waiting fol
him to speak again. When he did 81