The morning call., 1890-07-22

meY
ITS an awkward thing, George and yet, talk
ing OF servants reminds ne there is my man Ton
suffering Tom we call him."
"Oh yes-he's just the chap. never once
thought Of him. lie IS fool, and, what Is more,
"WeIl, YOU aIe welcome to have him for an
hour OF two 10 make a sketch. You need not let
him know what IFS Tor"
"Of course not. Can l take him with me
"No. he is OUTPUT 1 will send him."
"VeIy well; gOod-by. ALI my arrangements
are made now, and ! shall work away at the
painting IN good style"
II hope you viii. By-the-by, George"
"WnaI?'
II to you some time ago"
'Ou yes-I'll send II back"
DO 50; Tom can bring H."
The amateur painter took his leave, and his
friend sat down and laughed heartily at the idea
OF Toms face being used for the clowns.
Soon aileTwaid Tom returned. He came
straight INTO his masters room 10 deliver a mes
sage. He suffered leaIfuily, but more from
habit than any actual impeachment In his speech.
"Ifii-if y-y-yOu p-p-pl-"
IAN flgLt, IOm. You delivered The letter, l
suppose
very WELL There was NO answer. I sup
poser"
"Y-y-yes -
GIVE il me- then"
Tom prod uced n letter, which his master read
with a sunny smile on his countenance.
by lie way" lie SAID, you know where my
friend. George Russell lives? Well, want you
To take this letter TO bin. Should lie ask you 10
walt or 10 SIT while lie makes sketch you can
90 SO, you understand. Mind you show youi self
smart"
IVY"
There be of You are going TO say Yes
only you VIII be half an hour over il. Be OF ~
Tom took his departure; and. before setting
out on his Grand look gleat pains Ia making
himself look presen'aDle for, he it known,
Suffering Tom looked with an eye Of love upon
Maria, George RuSselPs mad-Uf-ail-woIk.
In a sholt lime he arrived and rang lie bell.
Maria appeared, looking very Charming iu-
deed, with her clean cotton dress aud white lace
cap and cheuy-coiored ribbons. She smiled
roguisbly upon Tom, and asking him chow lie
was invited him 10 come in.
YOU'RE pretty well?"
"Y-y-y-yes. Is your master at hOme?"
There was this peculiarly IN TOMS Impede
ment in speecll-it was only the hrst WORD he
stanmered over. When that was uttered, the
others burst forth with rapidly that made up
for the siOHnesS al lie Dist. Ii was literally an
Z" No." answered Maria, "mastel's not In now,
but expect hun shortly AIe you 10 waltz"
"Tien YOU may as well come into the kitchen
with ne, Tom, and We'll have a little chat TIL he
returns"
Tom was, Of course, beyond measure delighted
with this little arrangement, aud lie followed
Maria with great alacrliy.
He was soon seated at bis ease by the fiieside,
ana then Maria, like true daughter ui Eve, be-
master,
"I-fLPye-Tve brought him a letter."
From your master, L suppose? Do you know
"N-n-uo-oAcourse notr' replied Tom. amazed
at the question.
1" d ont you, really? Where is the letter? Do
let me look al IT, IUm-there's good fellow ~
Tom could not refuse, so the letter was pro-
duced.
Maria turned it over and over, but could gain
no clue TO ITS contents.
BOTHER these adhesive envelopes !" she SAID,
at last, after vain attempt to peep In. They
are regular NUISANCE. l remember the lime
when letters used 10 be wafered. All there
was DO trouble with them. Don't you ever read
your masters letters, TOm?"
:" N oil
o" What a simple fellow you are! Why I read
all my masters lellers-at least all that eau
put my hands upUni'
Dd-d-dO you though?"
do. Aud co you mean 10 tell me tbOt you
would deliver that Letter to master without know
ing what II Is abOui%'
" C-c-cceTtainlyi"
&" Then you ale not so sharp as I took you TO
be! You wouldn't catch me doing anything OF
the kind, can tell you'll should be frightened
to deatuI"
F-i-i-frlghtened TO deaih!"
Yes. should. Do you know, Tom, take in
Spare Moments every week-that lets you Know
what the worlds like. But speaking OF let
teTs, what do you think L once read2"
" I-i-iin-"
"No-ln an Old book OF masters. You'll never
guess, so I'll tell you. Once Cd time there was
very Nlcheu WOMAN, WHO Dd0 leTllDl6 secret,
and man found IL out. Well, In order TO get
rid OF Ibis man, she wrote letter and told this
man 10 deliver ii. Ii was addressed to one OF
her aCcOmpiices In viHauy-aud what do you
think the letter conIained?"
ILL don't know"
"Wby words to this effect: The bearer OF
this letter knows our secret. Need tell you
what to do with hlm?'"
These terrible words took away Toms powers
OF SPEECH altogether.
And do you know, Tom, this man-llke you,
20
thinking what the Contents might be. When the
person II was addressed TO read II, he took the
unfortunate mau To lonely place and killed
biml'
"Kk-k-kiiled hlm?" said Tom, with shout,
springlug To his feet.
"Yes-and buried him atterward. Now take
that TO Heart, I ON. Who knows what that iel-
ter is about? Have you been offending your
master? Or DO you think he may have found you
out IN something you ought not 10 be doing. ell,
Tom2'
But Tom could not speak,
From some cause-perhaps guilty conscience
his face turned positively while
"Who KNOWS Pr continued Maria, with addi-
tional impresslVeness- II may contain some
thing dreadful. Perhaps he has told master 10
horsewhip YOU l sincerely hope us nothing
worse"
Tom fought madly with the air. in frantic
eDdeav0r 10 SPEAK.
"o,o-o-O-open ii, Martial" he gasped out, at
length.
IL dare not-masier will kuow!"
"N-n-n-never mind hm-open itl'
X,
mind. Here goes"
So saying. Maria went to a drawer and pro-
duced knife. She Inserted the blade carefully
between The edges OF the envelope, and presently
succeeded In drawing out one OF the Corners
without IN any way disturbing the seal.
Tom watched her with GREATNESS eagerness
and admiration.
Maria Then drew out the letter, and read the
following awful words:
Dear George: According to promise. send Tom
to You Take his head His body you may use or
aS I will ar1l L gui
But. at any rate, don't forget to send the skull
want 1t particularly. Yours, etc, FRANK.
Maria uttered eIcing shrek. and fell back
ward into chair with such force that it is a
wonder she did not uverturn IL.
Toms eyes seemed starting from their oibits,
and bis teeth chartered together with excessive
fright.
He, too sank back upon a chair, and there the
pair sat, regarding each other with speechless
dismay
"T-t-t-take my head?" cried Tom at last.
pressing his hands 10 both sides OF it, as though
by that means he could keep II on his shoulders.
this is dreadful! Whatever shall We dol on,
"W.wh-wh. what's that ?" cried Tom, starting
up as though electrified.
Raj, Tat, tat, tat, ta-fat.
Some one was knocking at the front door,
"Its master, Toni He's come home! know
his kn0cki On, whatever shall we d0?"
"F-fI-iasren hun oul p roared Tom
"w-w-while make MY escape My head Is as
good as taken already %
I'D his extreme IIlgnt ne nearly forgot all about
his stammering.
Giles got a latchkey," cried Maria, "and
he'll let himself in If lie door is not opened dt
once r
Tom did not speak. but rushed TO the front
door with the intention OF fastening IL.
Maria followed. She was 50 frightened she
felt she could not stay alone.
But Tom reached the door Just moment too
lale The door opened, and in walked the artist.
Inc WHO thought seized upon Tom that he
would escape, but George shut the door and
STOOD Win us back to II, gazing upon Tom with
Finding himself baffled in this quarter, Tom
rushed into tile paIlor. with the Intention of
Jumping through the window into the street,
rear had deprived him Of what little sense he
possessed.
George followed him, thinking the fellow had