The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-11

put upon my person nearly all that was
in it. and would willingly leave the rest
DIS a present 10 my landlord. After some
contention Carried on by the doctor in
order to test my spirit, perhaps), we soon
found ourselves connecting plan Of
escape.
The doctor made it point that
should tempt nothing till the extreme
cold relaxed. as my system had got a
shake. The Thursons, he said, had
doubtless already altered their vow to
be quit Of me next day; they would GER
tainly not let me go with my bill unpaid.
and to seize my cash and turn me out
they would hardly venture. But he
would give orders for my confinement TO
the house; and on tAe first favorable
night. leaving behind me so many pounds
for the debt. and an additional one for
the doubt. / was to take French-leave
OF the Thursons
AS the doctor was not sure about the
condition Of the boat. aud frost and snow
pass quickly off in Shetland. he called in
young Gillanders the houSekeepers son.
who served as groom, gardener. and fish
erman. The lad was made privy to the
enterprise. and he informed us that as
he had been at the cod the day before
the boat happened TO be in the creek
sail. oars and all.
See to it, Peter" said his master
and remember where you were born
AS to the disposal of the boat at Ler-
wick l had definite instructions.
All things arranged. what with the
tOddy and the infection Of my enthusi-
asm, the doctor positively eXulted in the
prospect of my outwitting the thieves
after ALL When we parted, the storm
was over. but the snow cracked under
foot, so deadly was the frost
1 thought 1 would have persisted that
night in bed, though / put on one thinG
after another till l was lying more than
half-dressed under the blankets. Do
xx-1,. I frrl,f lr.t 20
my body. and the morning was we'll adj
vanced before / got wink of sleep.
When 1 awoke il might have been late
or early for all that the darkness told.
and l might have fallen asleep again
but for a great coming-and-goin at the
front door. / lit my candle; 1t was 10
o'clock by my watch: and inasmuch as,
from the time of my recovery, L had
usually taken my meals with the
Thursons. and 1t had been my land
lady's habit to call me to breakfast
about 7:30, I concluded that this would
be bad day for me if they got their
will. There was one thing l could not
do without and that was a fire. The
kitchen was filled with the neighbors;
but. after hesitating once and again in
the passage, / pushed the door open a
few inches and asked Mrs. Thurson 70
speak to me for a minute. The talking
ceased: Mrs. Thurson came out, and,
lingering with her apron, followed me to
my room.
Am l to get nae fire, nae breakfast p"
Yen get what We pay for"
l tossed her a couple of shillings.
Having gone outside to wait till things
were ready, | noticed three or four men
hanging about the house. They stamped.
and swung their arms across their
chests, to keep themselves warm. The
company in the kitchen began TO drop
off. but no one spoke to me. Harwick
passed. Inkster passed: they merely ac-
knowledged my existence in the usual
solemn manner of the Shetlanders. /
could make nothing of all this, except
that It BODIED no good to me; but l was
soon to know as much as made me long
for the doctors arrival on the scene
As my landlady was taking away the
last Of the breakfast things, she paused
at the door. and said
About your debt. sir. had your
mind last night and plenty OF: and if
it's the same the day. there'll be a short
packin and lang hurl for you afore ye
lie i'm blankets"
So they were prepared to seize my
money and have me trepanned in the
carriers cart, and the lOungeTs were for
sentry
If the doctor would only come!
In spite of all my anxieties. however,
7 fell asleep over the fire. and. with in
tervals of doing, slept for two hours.
Twice at least I was visited; at one time
I heard my landlady's voice i'm the room
at another. conscious of a creaking of
the door, knew just as if I had seen
him that the man-cat had popped in his
head When / woke up. the room was
almost dark. owing to heavy snow
shower. / had only 10 look through the
window 10 lose all expectation of the
Doctors coming. Was 1 TO remain at
the mercy Of my enemies? I tore my
hair: | struck the pocket where my
money was. and squared my shoulders
and set my teeth, mentally vowing re-
| sistance TO the death; | threw myself
on the bench. all but weeping: I walked
up and down like a Gagged beast. But
all that was over In a minute The
| spies, ! reflected should now be gone to
| their fresides; at all events. the at
| mosphere thick. I determined to
| slip over the window, and make q dash
| along the beach for the doctors house.
put on my great coat and muffler, and
| was hastily securing such Of my be
| longings as lay to my hand when there
was a knocking at the door, The rogues
| had doubtless been listening 10 nv
movements. Thrusting my bonnet into
my pocket. I pumped into my chair NV
landlady entered, with her husband be-
| hind her.
I've seem ready for Journey" she be-
| gan. well, there's the door Try and
| win to your freen. Maybe there's nae
| honest men room the corner TO catch the
| thief
l me NOHlNdn was 100 CleNer Tor once.
| / OWNED in moment that the watch
| was gone.
Journey It's the cauld." said 7
/ bending closer over the fire. and pretend
| ing TO shiver. 1 had meant to feign a
| broken spirit, and as much more as was
needed TO put them off their guard: but
| taking exactly the opposite course by
a reckless impulse. 1 added: III TAX
| aft ma coat when / hear ma murderers
at the door"
| The pair exchanged looks. After a
| pause, the wife went into the kitchen,
| and the other spoke:
| What kind O. talk is that man?
| There'll be nae murderin' in this hoose.
| I'll no alloo it,"
I'VE draw the line at assault an rob-
| berry ?-not even there" / muttered TO
myself, II forgot l was to be flung into
| a wagon"
| While 1 was speaking 1 took up the
| poker, weighed il in my hands, and laid
it across my knees.
Mrs. Thurson returned. bringing me a
! great bowl of mutton broth and some
| rye scenes. But from her speedy re-
/ treat, / suspected that her purpose in
| this hospitality was TO gain time to COM
/ municate with the hamlet. I fell-to with
excuse. Presently the cottage door
| listenig intently / should not have heard
| it, the talebearer went out with such
| caution My heart beat violently. and
| the blood mounted to my face. Thurson
/ sat on.
IF you and l are to haze a crack" 1
| said "come over to the fire"
| He took his old place on the bench.