Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-03-14

and the bed if il worn't for the hard tonnes
and the CROWN family, but it's a matther
of sivin-and-a-quarther the day, and only
the bit of Il bag wild Il tramp's wardrobe for
security, which amt worth tSe half of it.
VIII the gintleman pay?"
-.Help, the poor fellow in. l will pay you
the arrears said Norris, plying the
friendiess condition of his charge. The
latter had sunk into a state of collapse at
the appearance of his landlord. He scarce
" seemed to hear what was being said as
he leaned, weak and dizzy, against the
door-frame. Mr.. Maloney put his head into
the saloon.
"Tom, come here, will ye. Give us a
hand. This way. sir; ye shall see the lille
CANT Communications yer frind has wild me.
Is it dhrunk he is, the ~craythur-and him
niver to spind a nickel in me house for the
beer aither, the rogue!'
Norris fastened to explain as he followed
the two men who helped Millerup the stairs
between them, He gave n look at the
bleak and dismal room they entered, dimiy
shown by the sputtering tallow candle the
landlord had procured.
"This will never do" said he, decisively.
"The man must lave fire n care. Do the
best you can with this. Give him beef-tea,
plenty of it. and unless he improves speed
lily, l advise you to send for a doctor. /
shall call to see the sort of treatment you
| give him. he added, meaningly.
"Sure, yer honor, I'll do me BEST prom
ised Maloney, lovingly lingering the bill
| which Norris had placed in his hand. Yer
honor can't blame a man for lookin' after
his own. If yer honor's the friend he was
lookin' for, yen may be know why he's
kapin' shady, and the bit of boord noways
paws me for the risks l take, belize gettin'
o bad name to me house now. But III do
the best for him If yer honor says sou and
leaving the room the next moment he could
be heard shouting his instructions to some
invisible person below. In the interval of
his absence Norris went up to the bedside
to take leave of Miller.
"If you have any friend whom you can
call to your aid, you had better do SO. I
greatly fear that you are going to be i'll;
you will need care, watchfulness, long nurs-
ing, perhaps. By all means, send for your
friend. Give me his address and l will
write to him in your behalf"
A wistful, doubtful shade lowered over
the face of the man for a moment.
"I-thank yoI,' he said, hesitatingly.
"You-promised-to come again. If there
is need then, l will tell you. can't think
now"
With that Norris was forced to be con-
tented. A boy had appeared in response to
Maloney's summons, and the light fame of
the kindling he brought was curling up the
black chimney when the young man de-
parted.
The door Of the bar-room was ajar as he
passed through the hall below. The place
was full of hard-looking characters who
were smoking and drinking, while the clat-
ter of dishes came from an eating-room on
the other side. At the same instant the
man called Tom, who had helped in convey
ing Miller up the stairs, swung the door
open and backed out.
MIND you, if the cops git you agin, !
won't help you OUT he was saying in gut
tural, Disguised tones. 81 should think the
last time cost you steep enough, and even q
big NJ mayn't git you off again. What in
thunder brought you back, %anyhowH'
The answer did not reach Norris ear, but
he had one fleeing glimpse of the face OF
the mar who spoke it-a face that was ia.
miliar to him, which sent a thrill to his very
fnger-tips.
1t was the burglar with whom he had
fought his battle in the Chlider homo, who
had forfeited his bond, secured by funds
stolen from the express company, which,
being identified beyond doubt by the right
full owner, had been restored to him, and
Lne authorities were le1Cln q nuflOr ID E,ake
short work of Abraham Stone, should he
fall into their hands again.
Abraham Stone was here in Nike Ma
loney's place, and Norris, who had the
deepest personal interest in his ~recapture
had recognized him at a glance under the
thin disguise he wore. The latter, how
ever, realized that it would not do to raise
an alarm there. Si~ngle-handed, he would
have little chance in that resort Of thieves
and desperate men, as he correctly guessed
it to be. He passed quietly out, and, cross
ing the street, took up a position where he
could watch both entrances, undecided
what to do. Should he leave his post Il
summon the police, Stone might make his
escape.
Indeed, the two men came out into the
street, and remained standing in the ligh'
which streamed through the open doorway
A third figure was approaching, at which
Norris scarcely gave a glance, until he
paused beside the other two. Greetings were
exchanged, the newcomer shook hands witt
both, and then the three turned within
while all the thrill and eagerness brought
by his former discovery died out in the
heart of the watcher before the new reve
lation for the third man was Lyman
Childer.
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