The Washington times., 1894-08-19

berford whenever they wanted to disport
themselves on the river with rod and line. the
consequence being, as l have before men,
toned, that the Birdmore fishing was the
means of bringing considerable amount Of
money into the town, especially to Its Inn
keepers, and Slumberiord was proportion
ately grateful in consequence. John Scragg
then was the person who was appointed to
look after the river that held the fish that
were caught by the men who flshed in the
fishery Sir Charles let. He was short,
sturdy specimen of an Englishman between
fifty and sixty. honest as the day, and as
plain and blunt in his speech as he was in ap-
pearance.
There was not an atom of the courtier. in
fact, in his composition. as the renters of the
fisheries were very soon aware. He was just
as civil to plain Mr.. Jones or Mr.. Smith as he
was to Lord Highflyer or the Honorable Mr..
Dawdlo, of the Guards-more SO, indeed, If
he was a good fisherman. Like the dogs and
the children, John took dislike to Mr.. Hig-
ginbotham the very first time he saw him,
and though he was constantly meeting that
gentleman by the river side, it was rs much
as ever he could do to allow himself to be
civil to him.
And yet. for the life of him. he couldn't tell
why. When he was asked by the agent on the
estate. to whom he was unbosoming himself
on the subject, what his reason was for dis
DtlltNtuS Ill eO very udIlliCso u opeCiulCu VI
humanity, to all appearance, his reply, with a
comical shake of his wooden old head, was:
81 dunno, no more than yersel', sir. There's
summat wrong about the mon and l Gamma
tell what it is." And that was oil John could
ever be brought to say on the subject
Well, about II 80 or As one dark night In
January, John was returning home, after
taking his usual walk round to see that the
coast was clear of depredators in the shape Of
salmon poachers and eel prodders, when,
casting his eye in the direction of the big
house. as he called Sir Charles marion.
which lay on the other side OF the river, just
opposite to where he was, he was surprised
to see light twinklinS from the drawing
room window. The family were all away in
London and Mrs. Summers. the house.
keeper, and her niece were the only people
sleeping in the house, as he very well knew,
and they would not be very likely to DO in the
drawing-room at that hour of the night. he
felt very certain, and experienced In conse-
quence very strong inclination to go and
find out who the intruder was.
The recent burglaries in the neighborhood
made the plucky old fellow moro keen than
ever.
He felt in the velve.een coat that he wore
winter and summer.
Hurrah! The key Of the gates Of the bridge
that crossed the river to the pleasure grounds
was In ono Of the side pockets, SO he would
not have to go to his cottage for it, and no
time would consequently be lost. He had
half a mind though to go and fetch his built
dog Crib, who was his dumb companion on
his night excursions, but on this occasion, by
chance, had been left behind.
On second thought. however, he decided
not to-not only would valuable time be lost,
but the dog might be in the way.
Accordingly, he crossed the bridge and
tramped along across tho grass toward the