The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-09

Judged his age at 30 or thereabouts.
''You startled me-" he said, in mat
ter-of-tact tone. turning his eyes upon
me, as he lifted his glass again and
emptied it; chow did you find your
way in?"
"By the front door," said wonder
ing at his unconcern.
He nodded his head slowly.
"Ah, yes; ! forgot to lock it. You
came to steal l suppose?"
II came because I'd lost my way.
I've been travelling this God-forsaken
moor since dusk
with your boots in your hand?' he
put in, quietly.
81 took them off out of respect to
the yellow dog you keep"
He lies in natural attitude,
| eh?"
"You don't tell me he was stuff
ed?'
The old mans eyes beamed with
contemptuous pity.
You are indifferently sharp, my
dear sir, for a housebreaker.
Come in. Set down those
| convicting boots, and don't
drip pools of water in the very door
way, of all places If l must enter
tain burglar. prefer him tidy"
He walked to the fire, picked up q
poker and knocked the Goals into
blaze; this done, he turned round on
me, with the poker still in his hand.
The serenest gravity sat on his large,
hale features.
"Why have I done this?" he asked.
II suppose to get possession OF the
poker"
"Quite right. May 1 enquire your
next move?"
Why" said 1 feeling in my tail
pocket, II carry pistol"
(Which l suppose to be damp?"
"By no means. carry it, as you
see, in an oil-cloth case"
He stopped and laid the poker care
fully in the fender.
THAT is d stronger card than pos
sess. / might urge that by pulling the
trigger you would certainly alarm the
house and the neighborhood, and put
n halter round your neck. AS for the
inmates of this house, it will refresh
you to hsar that there are none.
have lived here for two years with
butler and female cook, both of whom
| dismissed yesterday at a minutes
notice for conduct which / will not
shock your ears by explicitly naming.
Suffice it to say l carried them OFF
yesterday to my parish church, two
miles away, married them, and dis
missed them in the vestry without
characters"
Sir" answered, II have held a
pistol at one or two heads in my
time, but never one stuffed with
nobler indiscretion. Your chilvalry
does not, indeed disarm me, but
prompts me to desire more of your
acquaintance. have found gentle
man and must sup with him before
make terms"
The address seemed to please him.
He shuftled across the room to a side
board and produced plate OF bis
cults, another of almonds and dried
raisins, = glass and two decanters.
Sherry and Maderia,' he said;
"there also cold pie in the larder,
if you care for it."
"A biscuit will serve" I replied Ito
tell the truth, I'm more for the buck
ct than the manger, rs the Grooms
say; and, by your leave, the brandy
you were tasting just now. is more to
my mind than wine"
There is no water handy"
''There is penty out OF doors to
last me with this bottle"
pulled over chair, laid my pistol
on the table and held out the glass
for him to fill. Having done so he
helped himself 10 a glass and chair,
and sat own facing me.
Il was talking Just now OF my late
butler, he began. with It sip at his
brandy. HAS it struck you that,
when confronted by more delinquency,
am apt to let my Indignation get the
better OF me?"
"Not at ALL" l answered heartily,
retillIng my glass.
1t appeared that another reply |
waad have pleased him better
III m! | was hoping that perhaps l
had visited his offence too strongly.
AS n clergyman. you see, | was bound
to be severe; but upon my word, sir,
since he went | have felt like man
who has lost limb"
Look here" | broke in, "you want |
a Lutler?"
"Oh, you really grasp that fact, do
YOU he retor:ed.
And you wish to get rid of me as
soon as may be-"
Il hope there is no impoliteness in
comp!imenting you on your discern
ment'
'Your two wishes" said I, "may be
reconciled. Let me cease to be your
burglar, and let me continue here as
your butter"
He leaned back. spreading out the
fingers OF each hand as if the tables
edge was. a harpsichord and he
stretching octaves upon it.
believe me-" | went on, "you
might do worse. have been q denny |
OF Magdalen College, Oxford, in my
lime, and retain some Greek and |
Latin. I'll undertake to read the
Fathers with an accent that shall !
not offend you. My knowledge OF
wine is none the worse for having