The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-10-29

"Its Dad tarnng business on an empty
stomach"
~ don't see how its to be helped, /" an.
swered Dick, doggedly.
Don't see how it's to be helped, you
curmudgeonr thundered the little man
fercely. "With the remains Of such q
feast on the table there must be more
where 1t came FROM"
"Upon my word" replied Richard
meekly, for he was getting frightened
again, there is not 0 bite In the house,
Don't lieI' roared the other; ''there IL
. cold ham in the pantry and Q demi-
john Of brandy in the closet"
"How do you know thatr Il was on
the tip Of Richards tongue to ask, but
be was too much amazed to speak.
"How do know ity' broke In the
stranger, as II reading his thoughts;
"why smell them; 20 bring them out"
Richard would have demurred, but
bis guest made movement which con.
vinced him delay might be dangerous.
and the required articles were produced.
Without changing his seat the little man
drew up to the table and began to eat
And how he did eati A chunk of ham
big enough for . shark bait was stuck
on the point Of . carving knife and
thrust down his throat with the audacity
Of sword swallower. Another and an
other followed, till nothing remained
but the bone, which he crushed with his
teeth and lien sucked the marrow.
"Now for punchF he cried.
There Is no hot water" !" Richard ven
tured TO say.
"Water-who asked for water9 Bring
me lemon, some sugar and kettle"
The kettle was placed on the fire. The
stranger filed It with brandy, adding
lemon and sugar to suit his taste. As the
liquor boiled over 1t caught fire, setting
the whole in . blaze. Richard jumped
up to take 1t OF; the stranger caught his
arm and flung him back as II he had
been child instead Of Q substantial citi-
zen Of fourteen stone.
"What are you about" he exclaimed.
THE punch is doing well enough"
81 was only afraid the house might be
burnt"
Bother the house" replied the little
man; there's no danger"
"Your health, DickI" Of length he
said, and raising the kettle all blazing TO
his lips he drank like Q dromedary.
And now, Dick, IT'S your turn" he
Daid, after . long breath. "You must
rink my health now."
Richard drew back.
DRINK shouted the stranger, hold
M out the vessel
Poor Dick took single gulp he left
the skin Of his mouth on the brim Of the
kettle, his throat was scorched a. with
liquid Gre and his hair was singed BY the
blaze
"And now to business" said the
stranger, resuming his seat and leaving
Dick to sit or stand as he chose "You
knew John Walter, believe"
"Ye-yes," stammered Richard. Il
once knew . person Of that name"
"You and he went to California to
gether."
Richard acknowledged the fact.
"You made money and he didn't"
81 believe was the more fortunate Of
the two"
"You and he started to return togeth-
or, and he died At San Francisco" Rich
ard bowed.
"His wife and child are now desti-
tute," the stranger persisted
~ can't help that"
"Of course not It was his boy you
gave the good Sdvice to today. hope
the young scamp will profit by It."
The scene with the little beggar Rich
ard was sure had been witnessed by no
one How the stranger had found 1t out
was past comprehension.
You're quite sure John Walter died
pOor?" the stranger went on.
"Oh, quite" said Richard; ~ paid his
funeral expenses myself"
That's lie," retorted the little man,
they were paid by the public It's an
other lie that he died poor. He had
S20, 900 with him. which you stole"
~ deny itF' Richard fairly screamed.
land defy you to prove II.
"Prove I'll What effronteryi Why. I
saw you do I'll"
"It's false There was nobody pres
eat"
BE careful, Dick, or you'll commit
yourself. saw you do another thing"
Richard shrank shivering in . chair.
but said nothing.
"John Walter would have survived
bis illness, but you put poison in his
medicine"
A sudden fury took possession Of Rich
ard Whinstone when he saw the secret
Of his life in another's keeping. The
carving knife lay within his reach He
seized 1t, and springing on the stranger
with desperate plunge, sought to bury
the blade in his heart, but It glanced Is
from plate armor, and in an instant the
little man was on his feet
"Oh, hoI that's your game, Il IL"
And with trip that sent his heels
spinning in the air Richard was thrown
headlong with q force that shook the
house to its foundation. The clubfoot
was planted on his stomach-and what
horribly ugly foot It vast It was cleft
like the hoof Of an OK and seemed 10
weigh . ton.
"Then you are the
"Pray, keep q civil tongue in your
head, and come along" said the little
man.
Richard tainted.
When he came to himself day was
breaking. The old housekeeper, who
had found him groaning and sprawling
on the floor, had, with much difficulty,
shaken him into consciousness. She a.
sisted him 10 bed; but Richard never
was himself again. The surfeit Of pig
had brought on q fever, Of which he