The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-27
You see. while ] was on my back

You see, while j was on my back
I had noticed the parsons watch-chain.
1 took care not to look at IL again, but
kept it in my memory. While he was
saying good by TO me in the dark / got
an easy chance. The parsons gold
watch and chain were in my trousers
pocket, and he never had the least no.
ton when / took them. My notion was
now TO get on 10 Enton about five, and
take a workingman's train on to Wa
terloo.
/ chuckled to myself. He'd called me
n ginger-headed scoundrel, stopped me
swearing, spoiled my little game, and
given me a thrashing, but i had the
better of him in the end. There was his
watch and chain in my pocket, and in
less than four hours l should be handing
them over to Ike and getting three or
four sovereiRns for them.
AS / walked along it gradually
began TO grow light, and somehow or
other l lost my spirits. l stopped
chucllling; the more / thought about the
neat way that had scored off that par
son the less i felt inclined to laugh
about that or anything else. i got
angry about nothing. 1t may seem
queer, but was angry with the parson
for having stood out there in the dark,
close against me, and given me my
chance. / called him all the names l
could lay my tongue to for his foolish
ness. was just as angry with myself,
though for no sensible reason. Then l
began to get nervous and took fancies.
thought / heard steps coming after me,
and imagined there was a policeman
waiting to catch me behind every big
tree / passed. didn't enjoy that walk.
Iwished to heaven that parson had taken
me out by the scruff of my neck and
handed me over to the police when he
first caught me, though l don't know
why 1 wished i. who wants his
blooming tickerF' j said out loud.
pulling it out of my pocket. Strike
me if ] won't pitch it over the hedge and
be done with It'll"
But l didn't. / pulled myself to-
gether, and argued with myself. If
you can afford to throw money away"
/ said to myself, "that's the first I've
heard ofit. You just plug on until you
get to Enton Station, and don't give way
to such Stiffness" It's easier to argue
with yourself than IL is TO make your
self see the force Of it. Iwent on, but
1 couldn't stop thinking. l wished I
had never come near the vicarage. l
wished / had got my shooter out and
finished the parson on sight. wished
i had never been born, wished was
dead. The further went the more
down-hearted / got, ] had never felt
anything like it before.
At last / had done my nine miles and
stood outside Enton Station. l stood
there for about minute, and then l
made up my mind. II chuck this" /
said, 'and take that forsaken ticker
back to the parson again."
] was as tired as dog when got to
the station; but as soon as 1 had made
up my mind that seemed 10 pass off. I
made my way back good deal quicker
than had come. The sun shone and
the birds sang, and you could see we
were in for rare fine day. l met some
workingmen on the road, and passed a
good morning 70 them. could have
said good morning to the very police
man that had lodged few hours be-
fore, and not been afraid of him.
felt afraid of nothing, and up to fight
ing any man of my own weight.
AS i drew near the vicarage didn't
feel quite so chirpy. had a nasty job
before me, but l made up my mind to
go through with it. They told me the
vicar had brealkfasted early and was
in his study, and would see me there.
The vicar was standing up when l
went in, with his hands in his breeches