The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-01-30

tie or two in others, and then caught up
a. long mahogany bex-frem the side
board cupboard.
==.s6li, for goodness sake, sir, don't say
as you're going to
That's al. l. think!n said, breath
lessly Don't sit up If I'm late"
The next minute, without hearing
Mrs. Dinton's reply, l went out in the
frosty night thinking of the task / had
in hand, and the possibilities.
No" ! said. 81 must not attempt
an operation without assistance. 1t
would be too great responsibility.
Better have left the case at home"
l laughed at my too-great eagerness
in few minutes, but at the moment of
starting, if that letter had said:# Bring
every appliance in your surgery i be-
lieye / should have obeyed.
l had mile and half to go, passing
two or three farm-houses before l
reached the park with it's fine avenue
of oaks; and just before / reached the
last house, with it's ruddy lights stain
ing the pure snow, | could see other
lights down in hollow to my left, and
skaters glided here and there.
F.. l almost ran the rest of the way, and
kept expecting to see the Illuminated
windows of the old Elizabethan Hall;
but all was dark STILL and-~When
reached the place l was saluted by the
yybaying of a dog, and man came out of
yard to my right with lantern, while
beyond him | could see the lights in the
stables.
s'Who's there?"
"I.-Mr RUSSELL" Isaid 'sWill you
show me the way up to the house,"
'sYes, sir; but there's no one there, sir.
Mr.. Bennett and old Sam are in the
stables"
what, is he there?" / said.
s,Yes, sir, and mighty bad"
''Be quick, then. How did the acct
dent occur?"
s'Well, sir, that's what / can't make
out" said the old bailiff, whom ! now
recognized, as heiled me toward the sta
BILE. mo business to ha' slipped up as
he did, for, it's only three days since he
was 'roughed."
"What?" l said, as we entered the
stable where group of people were
standing in front of a stall. 1
Had him well-roughed," said the
bailiff.
My good menu | exclaimed; "has
not Lord John broken his leg?h
"Yes, sir, worse luck, and only fetch
ing load of wood; and a fine taking his
Lordship will be in, and the young
ladies, too, when they come down, for
he's fine old favorite o theirs Mortopb
says there's nothing for him but: the
pale5axe, and Their the kennel after
we've took off his skim
Here said, unbuttoning my coat
and taking the letter from my breast. .
The old bailiff opened and read the
letter by the light of the lantern.
''Some ones been having game with
you, sir hocussing of YOU"
! stamped my foot and made a snatch
at the letter, white with rage and dis
appointment.
(which call 1t shame, sir. It's
because we allus call the old horse Lord
John
Give me my letter and let me CO.,
stop a moment, SIR said the. old
man, taking out letter which he read
aloud:
+ Wen mind and shut the gates after we've
done skating, and we shall be on OF the ice by
eleven"
''Yes, thought SO, sir. One of Mr..
Mark Winsey's games. Look"
l snatched the two letters and com
pared them. There was no doubt about
it. | had been hoaxed by. the practical
joker OF the place.
"If had him here, nIssaid, fiercely,
81 d. horsewhip him."
And serve him right, too, sir. It's
too bad to gentleman; and it's like
him as called wolf in the fable. P'r'aps
some day he'll want help and it mayn't
GOMEZ
well. Master Bart" said rough
voice, '.the sooner the better, Say" :
''Oh, don't say that, Mr., Norton
cried woman. Poor old Lord Johnm
well, It's bad job, Mrs. Bennett,
but the sooner he's put ontof his misery
the BETTER -
I'm fraid so, Mr.. Morton. Poor old
chap, then!"
The baililf went into the stall where
sa good-looking cob was standing on
three legs and the poor brute turned its
head round and uttered pitiful whin-
nying sound, while Hooked on.
III youil fetch the pole-axe. Master
Bart, I'll sron do IT, satd the harsh
viewed man,