Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-06-11

/ OLe evening" dDOub q 1O4 lA4E III ldNGAs
I stepped out of my Office for the double
purpose of enjoying pipe and a stroll
! in the open air. The hour was late, at
/ least for that community of early ris-
| ing and early retiring, and few lights
were to be seen in any of the cluster of
| farmhouses. A faint CLEAN from one
| of the upper rooms of the house across
] the way showed that Mrs. Loring was
| wooing slumber under the protection of
her night-lamp. She and her niece, hav-
| ing arrived that day, were now in fulI
| possession of their new quarters. Both
! had stood the journey well. Mrs. Lor-
| ing, in fact, was never more cheerful
| than when on the wing. The invalid
had greeted me with eifusion, while
Miss Gray had displayed cordiality
! that was almost too full % friendlineB
and too lacking in self-consciousness TO
| please my fancy Cheerful goodfel-,
lowship was, perhaps, all that had rea1
son TO expect in her; yet it was a very,
flattering result of many a tete-a-
tete in the moonlight of the tropics.
The night was clear, and, though
there was no moon, it was pleasant to
stroll along, reviewing the events of
ON acquaintance and specializing upon
the effects Of it's renewal. ! was fol-,
lowing the path to the knoll, and so en-
crossed We're my meditations that on
raising my eyes fD3fn the ground was
surprised to find myself close to the
base of its landward slope. was on the
point of turning back, when l heard a
voice recognizable as LAInar's, which
seemed to come from the northern.
side Of the little hill, at the base Of
which, as has been set forth, was one
of the saltwater creeks. The words
were not to be distinguished, but his
tone gave evidence that the business
he was engaged In had nothing alarm
ing about il, although, from the hour
selected for carrying IL on, It was likely
that he desired to avoid observation.
II might be well TO prove to hfm that
even at such a time and place he could
not be sure that some loiterer was not
about, and TO give practical illustra-
ton of the need of a sentinel; at least
that was the excuse FRAMED for advanc-
ing Cautiously ] stole by the spring
and up the ascent On the dark surface
Of the creek the still darker outlines Of
a boat could be made out. The craft
was moored TO the rocks, to which
1nan was transferring a number of cases
and packages. A little way up the
slope, directing the operation, stood
Lamar. Intent as he was upon the task
in hand, his quick ear caught the sound
of my steps, and he turned toward rue
like fash.
Its Morris" called out. 1t was
too dark 10 perceive his motion clearly,
but thought detected a swift move
Inent Of his right hand toward the
breast OF his coat.
"Ah! You are II rambler until late"
nc answered Startled as he must have
been by the interruption, he spoke with
all hfs usual deliberate GOODNESS.
ayes; was walSeful and happened
TO walk this way. Hearing unusual
sounds, 1 pushed on TO investigate.
There was a chance, you know, that
reinforcement might be acceptable"
There was nothing In his manner TO
indicate whether the explanation salts
fed him.
johnson brings a spall cargo. sup
plies that might cause talk if obtained
through the village" said he, HE will
place them presently in the house"
"An excellent plan. He buys them at
the larger ports up the coast, sup-
pose"
"Yes."
There seems very little danger that
ssf4 lie
the goods are being landed" said ],
''but my experience tonight shows that
1t is possible. 1t might be advisable
70 post IA sentry, for If u rumor of these
midnight labors got about it would set
the village by the ears"
Hereafter the precaution shall be
taken. Remain little" he added, az
1 was about 10 go. II, too, am wakeful.
Let us, converse"
lie led the way TO the front Of the
house and seated himself on the door
step.
"How OF your medical practice?" he
asked, when had found u rtsting-place
near him.
told him Of Mrs. Loriug's arrival
and of the probability that she would
remain "a considerable time in tho
neighborhoool She was an old ac-
quaintance, I added. That had met
her on the voyage from Rio seemed
TO be detail which IL was as well not
TO mention Had he learned IL he might
have displayed livelcr interest in the
matter As IL was however, he mere
~ said that it was TO be hoped that she
would recover her health, and then
changed the subject to remark that he
desired me 10 bring him considerable
sum of money in a day or two.
at Is for Johnson" he condescended,
TO cx, in.
every well; you shall hnve it," saidl
I. "By the way, Is your telegraph line
to his house still In working order?"
"Yes; but It Is not II telegraph, only
a simple signal" lie answered. Enter,
II you choose, and will elucidate It,"
We stepped into the 1iying-room, on
one wall OF which I've showed me knob,
30 tiny as hardly TO be noticeable. BY
pressing IT., he explained, a metal disk
was made 20 fall at the other end of
the line, conveying the intelligence TO
the fisherman that he was to hasten TO
his employer. If he was absent from
home, one OF his brothers would re-
spond 10 the summons.
But IL all three nrc awayP" / asked.
THAT will not occur" he replied, de-
cldedly.
"Dut I'm case they are asleepT
"The disk, In falling, strikes gong.
There Is q provision for the chance"
Here was n further illustration Of the
ingenuity the man displayed in pre-
pairing for possible dangers. But, IL
he had taken the pains 10 insure sup
port from johnson In case OF need, why
had he not arranged n method Of calling
upon me nlso? Rather piqued, IN spite
Of my dislike for him, 1 asked, bluntly,
IL some signal could not be devised.
"It Is not necessity" said he, dryly.
And even had ] been disposed 10 argue
the point there would have been no
opportunity 20 do 80, for johnson en-
tered the room, staggering under the
weight of one OF the cases He gave me
his customary curt nod, and carefully
deposited his burden upon table, La
mar stepping TO the door 9nd beckoninR
me 60 follow him before / could moro
than guess at what the contents OF the
cuse might be. But walked home that
night possessed by a notion that, when
tho cover was removed, small arsenal