Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08
CHAPTER XXXIII.
GEORGES DIPLOMATIC ERRANp


George carried out his intention of going
to London. The morning following the day
when Dir. Quest had driven the auctioneer in
the dog cart to Honham, George might have
been seen an hour before it was light Dur.
chasing third class return ticket to Liver.
pool street Arriving there in safety, he
partook Of second breakfast, Tor it was IL
O'Clock, and tho4 taking cab lie caused him.
self to be driven TO the end IF that street in
Pimlico where he had gone with the fair
"Edithia," and where Johnnie had made &C.
quaintance with his ash stick
Diminishing the cab, he made his way to the
house with the red pillars, but on arriving
was considerably taken aback, for the place
had every appearance of being deserted
There were no blinds to tho windows, and on
the steps were muddy foot marks and bits Of
rag and straw which seemed to be the litter
of recent removal Indeed, there on the
road were the broad wheel marks of the van
which had carted off the furniture. He stared
at the sight with dismay. The bird had APP
parcntly flown and left no address, and he
had had his trip for nothing.
He pressed upon the electric bell: that il,
he did this ultimately. George was not &C.
customed to electric bells, indeed he had
never seen one before and after attempting
III vain to pull it with his fingers-for 10
knew that it must be a bell because there was
the word itself written on it-he as a last re.
source condescended to try it with his teeth.
Ultimately, however, he discovered how u
use 1t, but without result. Either the battery
had been taken away, or it was out of gear
just rs he was wondering what TO do heXt la
made discovery-the door was slightly a jar.
He pushed it and it came open-reyealing
dirty hall, stripped Of every scrap Of furni.
turo Entering, he shut the door and wal1ed
up the stairs to the room whence he had fed
after thrashing Johnnie Here lie paused
and listened, for he thought he heard some.
body i'll the room; nor was he mistaken for
presently well remembered voice sGrlliel
out within:
"Who's slulking about outside therel" said
the voice "If its one of those baiiilis he'd
better hook it, for there's nothing left here"
Georges coultenance positively beamed at
the sound
"BailiTs, marms' he sung out through the
door; 'it amt no varminty bailifs, ats a
friend and just when you're wanting ona
seemingly. Can come inN
"Oh, yes, come in, whoever you are said
the voice, Accordingly lie opened the door
and entered, and this was what he saw The
room, like the rest of tho house, had been
stripped Of everything, with the solitary ex.
ceptlons of box and mattress, beside which
there We're an empty bottle aud dirty glass.
On the mattress sat the fair Edithia alias
Mrs. ID 'AuOigne alias the Tiger alias Mrs.
Quest and such a sight as she presented
George had never seen before. Her lerca
face bore traces of recent heavy drinking,
and was moreover dirty, haggard and dread.
ful to look upon; her hair was frouzy mat,
on some patches of which the golden dye had
faded, leaving it its natural hue of doubt.
full gray She had no collar on, and her linen
was open at the neck; on her feet were a
filthy pair Of white satin slippers, on her back
that same gorgeous pink satin tea gown
which Mr., Quest had observed on the occa.
sion Of his visit, now, however, soiled and
torn. Anything more squalid or more repul
sive than the whole picture cannot be inn.
agined, and though his stomach was pretty
strong, and in the course OF his life he had
seen many sight Of utter destitution, George
literally rcco!led from it.
whats the matter!' said the bag, sharp.
", land who tho dickens are youl All. |
know now; you are the chap who whackcd
Johnnie and she burst into u hoarse scream
of laughter at the recollection. 1T was
mean Of you, though, to hook it and leave
me. He pulled me, the devil, and | was
fined two pounds by the bcak.n
"Neau of him. marin, not me; but he was
q mean varmint altogether he was; to go
and pull a lady, too; l niver heard OF such
Thing. But, marin, if | might say So you
Geem 10 be i'll trouble here, and he took a
seat upon the deal box.
I'm trouble Ishould think l was in trouble