The evening times., 1895-08-30
THE :.
Underoliff Tragedy

Chums? Well. hardly. But still, viii Stev-
ems and Joe Belts were at least very old ac-
quaintances. If they could scarcely be called
old and dear frIenls.
When. therefore. they met casually in a
public house near the London docks, Joe be-
ing onfurlough. and win Just returned frum
a voyage, 1t was natural that each should
welcome the meeting with a native or his
own village.
1t was in the month of February FILL
dyke and il had rained continuously for a
fortnight and gave promise of raining for a
fortnight more. Both the young men had
therefore, soon had enough Of their London
gayeties and they made up their minds to
return home together Both men came from
u village near the south coast. half a dozen
miles from any railway station. They had
to take the train to the little seaside town
of Underciiff and walk OF drive the rest Of
the way.
''If We get down there to-day, SEEM it's
Wednesday. We can get Rudd, the carrier, TO
take US on to CFaston In his cart" said W i'll.
Joe looked at him askance.
"Oh. well, there amt so much need to
hurry a. all that. is there?" he asked, with
a shade OF waking suspicion in his tone.
VIII smiled eXpressively.
Here's health to-somebody, said he,
raising his glass; for though both young men
were sober fellows enough, considering
their respective professions, stress of
weather had driven them into the poor
mans club more often during their few
days ashore than was rond either for their
persons or their pockets.
The suspicion which had already ap
peared on Joe's face grew stronger. He
raised his glass also, after few moments
reflection. and gave his toast in surly
tope, with fIown on his face.
Here's TO the prettiest girl in Craston-
or out of IL, for fiat matter" said he.
VIII. who was the better humcred look
ing fellow of the two, raised his eyebrows
and starred at his companion
We'll, to my thinking" said he. IN a
cheerful voice. those words can fiji no.
body but one person. By the by. it's an
odd thing, now l come TO think of it, that
we should both be so partic'lar to be in
Craston by Thursday, neither sooner nor
later Now, it's on Thursday that Mamie
Merriman comes home to her folks for the
holidays. Maybe it's that that's bringing
you down from London IN such a hurry
as well as me, eh?"
He spoke good-humorediy enough, though
not without a certain natural amount of
anxiety on discovering in his companion
a possible rival Joe, however. took the
matter differently He scowled, grew
suilen, and wanted TO know what right
Will had to think Mamie Merriman would
be glad TO see him.
No right at ALL" confesse Will,
frankly; "or, at least. next TO none. Only
she seemed sorry when I went away, and
she went so far as TO write to me once or
twice and 10 let NE know what day she was
coming back home for a holiday from
her place -
That's nothing returned Joe, prompt
Iy Some girls will write 10 dozen
chaps
Has Mamie written to you, too?"
asked Will, with more gravity.
Yes. l wrote and told her / was com
ing hone anG should have something TO say
to her when 1 saw her An she wrote
back sayin' as how she would be in Cras-
ton by the time / was back and-and-
here's her letter"
And he pulled out OF his pocket, tri-
umphantiy letter, which he handed to
the rather downcast VIII TO read II was
a modest little note enough, the girl thank
ing Joe for his remembrance of her and
expressing denure wonder that he should
have anything TO say TO her. Will chose
to think the tone OF the note discouraging,
a point on which ice disagreed with him
entirely. viii did not in return offer to
show his letters and he bore his companions
sneering suggestions that he had none to
show with fortitGde, which was, however,
not unmingled with uneasiness.
This Incident rather spoiled the har-
mony of their intercourse, but it did not
interfere with their plans of going back
home together. Indded, each man felt the
necessity of keeping an eye upon the move
ments of the other, SO that his rival Should
not steal a march upon him.
When they reached Uuderciiff neither
were in the bes0f tempers. The train was
late; Rudd, the carrier. had gone; and the