The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-15

| How in the world could she have also
| fallen into what looked like q den of
thieves? How could he manage to get
word with her?
His head dropped on his breast as
| Rogers. might have done, he was grow
| ing faint for want of food. and the old
womans supper seemed no nearer
ready than at first. The two men were
| watching him and chuckiing together
| by the fire.
Get me the brandy he called again.
and they chuckled louder. Drinks
all round. you pretty picturer' he COM
manded the mistress of the house: and
this time they laughed even louder, as
well they might.
I'm get it, aunt" said the younger
woman Unexpectedly, (which bottle
them She came out into the freight,
not once looking at Weymouth. but her
face was very pale and her eyes were
shining. He could almost have touched
her as side passed.
"'Tis there in the cupboard at. the
right hand. the small bottle, if he must
have It; my hands are fast in the
dought," grumbled the old woman.
Half a glass'll be enough in all con-
science" she added, in Il lower tone,
and Weymouth. as If with much eifoyt
and unsteadness, got to his feet and
followed to the cupboard, protesting as
he went. At that woment a dogybegan
to yelp and whine before ther fire;
coal had snapped up on hisspoor back
and burnt its way to the sldn. The cup
board was at the far END of the room;
there was half minute of confusion
and loud laughter while the two were
standing side by side at the cupboard
door.
I'm not drunk must get away
from this" whispered Weymouth, but
she stopped /his eager whisper. "The
net, the petr' she cried, with strange
insistence
DON'T drink! the net and the farther
window
r'Dont waste it. You'll kill him If
you give him more" said the old wo-
man close behind them, but Weymouth
held the bottle high in his hand and
staggered past her to the bedroom door,
muttering angrily, and shut himself in.
There was strong bolt inside which he
slid, and pounded the door with his fist
finely. He could hear the men laugh
ing by the fire. and went back to his
elbow chair The wallet of money
banged against the arm of it as he sat
down.
you're what they're seeking" he
said under his breath as he put his
hand on the leather bag. please
Heaven we'll keep together till we get
to Bristol" but the presence of the two
men in the kitchen was significant
enought of their being no hope of a
peaceable departure on horseback. The
certainly of a careful plot against him
was impossible to be denied; 1t was in
the very air; he was one against many,
and a stranger in this strange and dis
NAL harborage of thieves. Whether
they looked for the ordinary purse of
traveller, or had been given news Of
that treasure he carried was puzzle.
In that moment a cold chill of horror
stole over Weymouth's great frame;
had the woman he loved much, who
had suddenly repulsed him with so little
reason or excuse, been the means of
this danger and disaster? Had she and
Rogers-no, it was mpossible-impossi-
BILE! She might be, she was, the victim
Of misfortunes, but in her honest eyes
and heart there was no possibility Of
such a fault. He whistled gay shrill
tune as he sat by the fire alone; 1t was
tune they had both known well the
year before when they had seen each
other first in Southampton. Please
Heaven there were more happy days to
come for Lizzie Brent and himself. He
began to whistle the song again in
broken snatches and the men laughed
louder than before in the next room.
ITO Be Continued