Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-03-14
CHAPTER VIII.

''Tbc Sprat and the GrIdiron."
Noel Darlington had reached the last
town at which he had business to do
on his way back to London.
Alighting at the Commercial Inn, y
he was accosted by a seedy, disropu-
table looking man of about five and
forty years of age, who asked for a
little assistance tow ard procuringsome
food and Il night S lodging.
Darlington was by no means prepos-
sessed with the fellows appearance,
who, truth to tell. had anything but
an honest look.
The landlord of the inn, coming to
the door to welcome Noel, who was of
course we'll known to him, saw the
man. who was still importunins our
commercial traveller, and ordered him
away.
"Harkye. my man." the landlord
said sharply to the mcndicant. 1.-The
sooner you are out of this town the
better. unless you want another month
in jail"
Eyes, I know retorted the man.
they gave me IL month because they
said l was Il suspicious character.
with no visible means of livelihood;
and Just because l was found sleeping
in farmers stable. they accused me
of wanting to steal one of the horses"
We'll. be off from my premises
said the landlord. ''or perhaps you may
have mora than another month in
prison"
"You consider yourself a respectable
Christian. i suppose!' cried the man,
to talk that way to poor fellow
Who was bundled into Jail a month
ago for nothing else than because he
hadn't penny i'll the world, and who
was kicked out of Jail again about an
hour ago with just the same amount
of property"
"Well," said Noel. and diving his
hand into his pocket, ''if there was
nothing against the man but his pow
erty. it was rather hard to send film
to prison"
And the man having observed Noels
movements, AMI that the landlord
might not have time to speak again.
exclaimed very hurriedly:
Wasn't it now? And wouldn't l be
glad to get from their town; but l
can't start up the road with an emp
ty stomach and empty pockets too"
and Darlington putting half crown
into the mans hand, said to him:
'Well. if YOU are really anxious to
MUTT the town, there is something to
help YOU on your way"
And. with the landlord. he turned
from the mendicant, ard entered the
inn.
The landlord blamed Noel for his
generosity. expressing an opinion that
the man just relieved was nothing bet
ter than a thief.
To which Noel replied. that anyway
the fellow was a very picture of
wretchcdness; and, laughingly added.
that the landlord ought to be very
grateful to the person who had
sought to rid his town of so unwel-
come an intruder
Noel harrington brcakfasted and
started forth Oh his days business. and
returning in the afternoon towards his
inn was surprised to see leaning
against its door-post the man whom in
the morning he had relieved.
And he saw, too. that the fellow was
at least three parts tipsy.
AS harrington was about to enter
the house, the man placed himself full
in the doorway. so that it was i'm
possible without thr,lsting him aside,
to pass.
II haven't gone yet, you see he
said. "because I wanted first to snake
hands with you and tell YOU that one
day you won't be sorry for the good
turn you have done me-
IF you will be good enough to su11er
me to pass" Noel said quietly.
But, unheeding. the man went on.
II am Il grateful chap. l am, ana
never forget anything-neither beneht
nor an INJURY shall be rich one OF
these days, and then l shant forget
YOU"
Once more Darlington requested the
fellow to stand aside, and THIS tl1he
not so patiently as before.
The man still went on, unheedlng:
II tell YOU one day l shall be very
rich, and you and l will snare the
swag fairly between us-l never 1orget
:: good turn, l don't-give us your
fist"
Ard ~. Ii. thrust I very dirty hand
towards harrington, the fellow lurcheo
and staggered forward from the doof-
way.
harrington ayailcd himself of that
opportunity to reach the door or the
inn. while this free-and-aasy mendlcaht
shouted forth:
Goodbye, old fellow YOU just wait
till l have got my rights out OF one
Tree Square"
Darlington was in the passage OF
the house when those words reached
his ear.
He stopped instantly. and then turn
ed to the door, and once accepted the
again offered hand Of the drunken
vagabond.
II believe you to be good fellow
who deserves better fortune said
Noel. with pretended heartiness.
And then, very adroitly, he piled the
man with questions, but could draw
nothing further from him.
Il shan't tell you any more now"
said the fellow, but l shall be rich
one day, and then SO shall you, as sure
Ms my names Nicksey."
Darlington was thinking how he
might contrive so as not forever lose
sight OF this vagrant when Nicksey
said:
''Send me up to London respectfully,
and meet me two nights afterward ut
the .sSDrat and Gridiron,' and I'll pay