The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-28
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED,

1
That's a queer old chap" said Redwood
more for the sake of making talk than for
any other reason. IAN old French fellow.
! don't suppose be speaks hundred words
OF English, and as IL happens there's no.
body in UpnOr that can change a word with
him except myself. I'm no great shakes Of
| frenchman, but I've got a sentence or two,
you know and l think the old boy likes 70
hear his native language new and then"
They were level with the old man min
ute later.
s'Bong jour, Andre" cried Redwood.
"Commong VOC portey voc, ee mating"
'Bien, monsieur, tres biea." the old man
answered.
That's right" said Redwood. al fat
totong. ehr'
The old man gave an inarticulate grunt Of
assent, and Redwood ami Sam Potter pur-
sued their way together.
"it pleases him." remarked the yeoman
complacently, Ito come across a bit of his
own tongue now and then. That's about all
l can give him, but you can see it brisks him
up Bit"
Sam answered that he dared TO say it did,
| and walked on thoughtfully until Redwo
ushered him into the house. Potter sat
down. and set his hat upon the table. He
drew out his pipe, a huge plug of tobacco,
and a clasp knife.
You don't mind, mateyY" he asked.
mot bit,h George answered. I'm have
a smoke myself.
81 suppose" said Sam, shredding his to-
baccO coarsely and rubbing it between his
palms, II suppose you knew my uncle"
II knew him." Redwood answered, las
well as l knew anybody"
II suppose" Potter began again, las no.
body could be likely 70 come down mere and
make inquiries without your hearing Of itp'
Redwood shook his head. And you never
heard about my little missisln
Never. / heard OF you, of course; but
never even knew that you were married"
81 got married in Melbourne in AUS
tralia," said Potter. He had packed his
pipe by this time and now striking a lucifer
match on the leg of his trousers, he pulled
away for half minute in silence. Then
turning in his chair he asked suddenly
ibid you ever hear Of a Mr.. John Hethers
idge Of these partsp
1--WE were boys together" Redwood an
swered him. "Schoolmates. It's seven
years to-day since saw the last Of him.
Poor old jack He was lost in the bush and
died there"
Pm - if he did" Potter said, slowly
and weightly. look here, that man was
no more lost in the bush than was, or you
was or the babe unborn was"
"Why. look at this" cried Redwood,
snatching the paper from the table and
had ready to his wife that morning ''Read
that"
Potter read it tracing the lines with a
clumsy forehnger.
20, know all about that" said Potter.
81 met him In Melbourne when the news
was stale. He'd been dead SIX weeks when
l came across him. l met him Ia bis own
house. he give me a smack at the back of
the head, matey, as laid me there for dead
I in rho al
of it. Off and on my minds mythered
with it now, and l suppose it always will
be-"
"But why, should Jack Hetheridge have
wanted to do you an injuryp asked Red
wood.
"That's more than can tell you, matey,"
Potter replied. "The only thing know is,
he done it,"
"How did you know him?" Redwood
asked. what brought you in his houseP'
81 don't remember, )" was the unexpected
answer. There's heaps OF things can't re-
member"
He passed his hand across his brow again,
rubbing it heavily as il by the mere ply
steal pressure he hoped to straighten the in-
ward tangle.
mo" he said, hoplelessly, ''I can't re-
member"
He looked at Redwood with an eye alto
kObucE NdCdnt, anu 1oOluhu ttdT6u LnhV
he had made acquaintance with mad
man. He had had no experience OF that
genus, and he thought it reasonable to try
and argue Potter out of what seemed an
obvious hallucination.
"You say" he began, "that you saw
Hetheridge six weeks after he was reported
| dead m
Eyes, said Potter, that's the TRUTH
ibid you think it was his ghostp
mo. IL was him RIGHT an0uOh Ghosts
can't hit chap and put him into hospital
| for twelve months. The back of my head
was all dashed In like, matey."
What motive could he havew
20. he had motive enough. You make
| your mind easy about that, matey."
well, what was it!'
my head goes wrong" said Potter. az
| get it sometimes all as clear as daylight and
then it goes away again. There's only one
| thing as | don't forget. never forget as it
was Mr.. John Hetheridgs that done it. ]
shall find him some day, and when l find
him shall have his lfe."
All this was, Of course, TO Red WOO DIS
mind the merest madness. There was nc
| reason for giving the poor mans story SC
much as a moments credence 1t was doubt.
| full If he were even the man he supposed
| himself TO be. To fancy he was Reynolds
heir and nephew might easily be as dreamy
and unreal as the. rest. Redwood sat think
/ ing thus, putting his pipe in silence, and had
begun to consider how it would be easiest
politely to dismiss his curious guest when
Potter struck the table with a heavy hand.
"Pve got it, ne said almost passionately.
at was all about Bob Martins little CELL.
Bob was my pal, and it was my right &c
take charge of his little CELL when he got
murdered. Now, put that to any honest
man, if it wasn't a pals right more than a
strangers TO take charge of a matey's kid
when he got murderedg"
Had Redwood known the story he would
have followed Potter easily, but as it was
the mans speech sounded like the meresi
gibberish.
81 said to him, look here / says, 'it's
this way matey, I've come in for my prop.
erty, and me and my missis is goin' to Eng.
land by the ship as sails tonight. | shall
find my matey's child / told him, If il
costs me every penny in the world. You
mind that | says, | shall find her witherso.
ever she may be- With that | turns nv
back on him aud he knocks my brains out.
remember it now" be concluded, las well al
if IL was yesterday"
Redwood was unaffectedly sorry for the
poor fellow, but little disposed to give Gre
denoe to any of his fancies.
II suppose" he said, after thinking for
awhile, that you came through Londonp
YES" replied Potter.
well, did You call on your late Unoles
lawyerp'
Potter shook his head.
VI suppose you know who he isln
Its slipped my mind somehow. / dom
remember
| -