The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-20


not venture upon this, because the flower
bed. which alone intervened between the
path and the window, would afford but
comparative slight concealment, and h.
felt q wholesome dread Of being de-
tected BY man like Boncourt in the
character of spy. So he remained
where he was, reluctantly contenting
himself for the nonce with seeing with
out overhearing what was going on. Ihe
lad, who had accompanied the man SO
far as the house, was no longer to be
seen.
The spy was not long in having his e.
pionage we'll rewarded, as he thought.
The men he was watching were evil
IDENTIFY engaged in most earnest conver:
cation. Presently Boncourt leaned toward
the other WIN nis hand significantly OUT
stretched and his lips moving eagerly, aa
though making an earnest request. HIS
companion, however, was seen to dra"
back, shaking his lead and butt ttoning
his coat up over his breast in manne'
quite as significant of refusal. Pres.
emily. though, he seemed gradually to
yield to persistent arguments or appeals.
He slowly thrust his hand into his
bosom and drew forth what appeared to
be thin, fat packet, wrapped in oilskin,
out of which he carefully produced
folded document.
At this instant Wormer's sense OF tri.
umph at what he deemed the completa
corro oboration of his theory was over
mastering. He trembled with excite
ment.
The paper-the missing paperi" he
mentally calculated. This is the critl-
cal moment; I must hear as we'll as see.
But it was, in reality, the critical mo.
ment whose significance he was destined
to lose.
As, bent almost double, he crossed the
intersecting path with the intention OF
creeping nearer to the window-ledgs, 8
warning hiss, like that Of snake, caused
him to fling startled. horizontal glance
forward, and that which it encountered
caused him to recoil, still stoopingly,
into his former position under the shrub
berry.
1t Was Jasper Marlowes companion.
the little lad who had seemingly sprcut.
ed out of the fiower-bed with wonderful
abruptness. A leveled revolver glisten-
ed IN the little fellows right hand, wh:la
with the other he motioned the spy to re.
tire before him, with O stern solemnity Of
manner which, at another place and time
wonld have been quite laughable in one
so light and small.
1t WAS thoroughly eficacious at this
moment, however, for the cunning Of MI
Wormer was not of the sort that is oc.
casionally associated with iron nerve
The spy no longer saw into the lighted
window; he had eyes just then for moth
ing but the leve,ed weapon thAt covered
him, the small hand that motioned him
back, and the boyish but threatening
glance that ordered his retreat.
Slowly he backed down the shrubbery.
bordered walk. with the lad as slowly
and steadily following, until the house
was far behind and he had backed
through the gate, altogether oct OF the
grounds.
Here tho boy lowered his weapon
closed the gate as barrier between
them, and leaned rather contemporary
over the paling. while eying the disconl.
fitted spy with look of disdain. -
well, my little peeping Tom, said he
squirting q jet Of tobacco-juice from his
mouth, and accompanying his words
with an unreportable imprecation OF the
chain shotted variety, in ali oddly mat
ter-of-fact, veteran way, . are you salts.
fed with the Californian style ol
bounce?"
Wormer had not yet recovered from his
surprise and notifications: and he re-
NAMED there for q moment, regarding
the little fellow with puzzled air.
He had not greatly erred in speaking OF
the lad as nondescript, for such was the
case, 30 for as his acquaintance with
juvenile precocity and depravity went
The boy was ragged, stunted in stature
wizen-faced, keen-eyed, and swift-mo'
sioned, and in these respects did not diff.
fer in appearance from any number OF
street boys and Partisan gamins that had
come under Wormer:s observation.
But there we're to be added to these
characteristics o man-hke GOODNESS and
independence of mien, o completeness Of
sophistication, and O mature, self-pos-
sessed audaeity, evinced not only in his
tobacco-chewin and profanity, but also
in his slightest gesture, which rendered
him something of lusns nature TO the
average British understanding,
Come, be of with you, sneakie, or I'll
cough gunpowder!" continued the con-
denSed desperate, with another oath,
And Just let me catch yer spyin' on my
pard again, if you're perticklary tired o!
breath. that's all! It's the bulls eye every
time with me, and Tn: chain lightning on
the hair.trigger. You hear me"
Wormer burst into laugh of affected
contempt, shrugged his shoulders, and.
turning upon his heel, arode Oft down
the road.
He, however, only made a detour. and
again approached the spot from which
he had first obtained his view of the
rooms interior.
But this time be found the curtain oil
the lighted window lowered, while there
seated in the intervening fower-bed was
the formidable small boy with his reyol
yer lying aero SIS his knees.
Then the SPY concluded that his discov.
cries had been sufficient, and he went
home to make the most of them.
CHAPTER XIV.
When Jasper Mar.owe, as we shall
hereafter allude to the returned wanderer,
WAS ashcrcd into the presence of Bon.
court, the latter stepped forward, and
cordially pressed his hand.
so we meet again socially after all
these years." said he. sit down, pray.
We can talk here without being dis
turbed."
NO danger of that from any qnarter.
said Jasper, after responding to ths
greeting in kind and accepting the prof.
fered seat. My faithful little companion
is posted outside directly under the win.
dow, and he has instructions from me-.
"Ah! the odd lad by whom you com.
municated with me this mornirg2 Where
did you pick him up:"
Several years ago on the other side OF
the world, where I suppose they would
call him az embryo hoodlum, for lack q
better n,me. He has been my COM
panion ever SINE, though I would gladl!