The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-03

WHICH lay 0OWn SlQe alley. freS- ently the light from its windows loomed like beacon ahead. I pushed open the door and entered. The small bar was full of people newly come from the court, and discussing the trial in all it's bearings. In the babel heard dozen different opin- ions given in as many seconds, and learnt enough, too, to make me con- tent with the jury I had had. But the warmth of the place was pleasant, and elbowed my way forward to the counter.
 There was woman standing by the door as entered, who looked curi- ously at me for moment, then turned to nudge man at her side, and whis- per. The whisper grew as l pressed forward, and before could reach the counter a hand was laid on my shoulder from behind. turned.
 "Well?" said 1.
 It was heavy looking drover that had touched me.
 "Are you the chap as was tried to- day for the murder of Merchant Tod?" he asked.
 "Well?" said again, but could see the crowd falling back, as if l was a leper, at his question.
 "Well? Faint well then, as I reckon, to be making so free with re- spectable people,"
 There was a murmur of assent from the gaping mouths turned towards me. The landlord came forward from behind the bar.
 q was acquitted," I urged defi- antly.
 "Ac-quittedw p said he, with big scorn in the syllables. "Hear i'm now-'acquittedr Landlord, is this a respectable house?"
 The landlord gave his verdict.
 "H'out yer goes, blame yer impu- dence!"
 looked round, but their faces were all dead against me.
 "H'out yer, goesP' repeated the landlord. "And think yerself lucky it ain't worse," added the drover.
 With no further defence skunk out into the night once more.
 A small crowd of children (heaven knows whence or how they gathered) followed me up the court and out into the street. Their numbers swelled as I went on and some began to hoot and pelt me; but when I gained the top of the hill, and lonelier district turned and struck among them with my stick. It did my heart good to hear their screams.
 After that l was let alone, and tramped forward past the scattered houses towards the open country and the moors. Up here there was scarcely any fog, but could see it by the ris- ing moon, hanging like a shroud over the town below. The next town was near twelve miles off, but do not re- member that thought of getting SC far. 1 could not have thought at all in fact, or I should hardly have taken the high-road upon which the jew eler had been stopped and murdered
 There was shrewd wind blowing and shivered all over; but the cold at my heart was worse, and my hate for the man who had set it there grew with every step. I thought of the four months and more which parted the two lives of Gabriel Foot, and what 1 should make of the new one. l had my chance again-a chance gained for me beyond hope by that counsel but for whom l should be sleeping tonight in the condemned cell chance, and good chance, but for that same cursed lawyer. Ugh how cold it was, and how I hated him for it!
 There was little white- washed cot tage on the edge of the moorland just af- ter the hedgerows ceased-the last house before the barren heath began, stand ing full three hundred yards from any other dwelling. Its front faced the road, and at the back an outhouse and wretched garden jutted out on the waste land. There was light in each of its windows to- night, and as passed down the road heard the dis nal music of flute.
 Perhaps it was this that logged my thoughts and woke them up to my present pass. At any rate, had not gone more than twenty yards before I turned and made for the door. The people might give me nights lodg- ing in the outhouse at any rate, they would not refuse a crust to stay the fast which had not broken since the morning. I tapped gently with my knuckles on the door, and listened.
 l waited five minutes, and no one answered. The flute still continued its melancholy tune it was evidently in the hands of learner, for the air Ca dispiriting one at the best) kept breaking off suddenly and repeating itself. But the performer had pa- } tience and the sound never ceased for more than two seconds at time. Be- : sides this nothing was to be heard.