The National tribune., 1896-07-23

paced up and down the room. He looked
at the exploit, and that small schemer
shivered.
Easy does it, Cap'n," he murmursd, with
O wink which he meant to be comforting
I'm going out little way" said the
Captain, after the reetor's daughter had
gone. Just to cool my head"
Mrs. Pepper took her bonnet from its peg
behind the door, and surveying herself in
the glass, tied it beneath her chin.
Alone" said Crippen, nervously. "I
want to do little thinking"
Never again, Jem," said Mrs. Pepper,
firmly. My place is by your side. If
you're ashamed of people looking at you,
I'm not. I'm proud of you. Come along
Come and show yourself aud tell them who
yon are. You shall never go out OF my
sight again as long as / live. Never"
She began to whimper.
What's to be done ?" inquired Crippen,
turning desperately on the bewildered pilot.
What's it got to do with him?" demand
ed Mrs. Pepper sharply.
He's got TO he considered little, s'pose,"
said the Captain assembling. Besides, I
think I'd better do like the man in the poetry
did. Let me 20 away and die of broken
heart. Perhaps it's best"
Mrs. Pepper looked at him with kindling
eyes.
LET me go away and die of a broken
heart" repeated the Captain, with real feel
ing "Td rather do it. / would, indeed"
Mrs. Pepper, bursting into angry tears,
flung her arms round his neck again, and
sobbed on his shoulder. The pilot, obey
ing the lrenzied injunctions of his friends
eye, drew down the blind.
There's quite crowd outside" he re-
marked.
! don't mind" said his wife amiably.
They'll soou know who he is.n
She stood holding the Captains hand and
stroking it, and whenever her feelings be-
came too much for her put her head down
uDOn his waistcOat. At such times the
Captain glared fiercelY at the exploit, who
being Of n weak nature, was unable, despite
his anxiety, to give bis risibie faculties that
control which the soIemnity of the occasion
demanded
The afternoon wore slowly away. Miss
Winthrop, who disliked scandal, had allowed
something of the affair to leak out, and sew
eFal visitors, including a local reporter,
called, but were put off till the morrow, on
the not unnatural plea that the long-sepa-
rated couple desired a little privacy. The
three sat silent, the exploit with wrinkled
brows trying hard to decipher the lip-lan-
guage in which the Captain addressed him
whenever he had an opportunity, but could
only dimly guess at its purport. Then the
Captain pressed his huge fist into the service
as well.
Mrs. Pepper rose at length and went into
the back room to prepare tea. As she left
the door open, however, and took the Cap
tain's hat with her, he built no hopes on her
absence, but turned furiously to the ex-
pilot.
Whats to be done?" he inquired in a
fierce whisper. "This can't go on"
"Itil have to" whispered the other.
Now, look here" said Crippen, menac-
ingly. Pm going into the kitchen to make
a clean breast of it. I'm sorry for you, but
I've done the best / can. Come and help
me to explain"
He turned 10 the kitchen. but the otter,
with the strength born of despair, seized
him by the sleeve and held him back.
She'll kill me,n he whispered, breath
Iessly.
Il can't help it, said Crippen, shaking
him of. Serve you right"
And she'll tell the folks outside, and
they'll kill you," continued Pepper.
The Captain sat down again, and con-
fronted him with face as pale as his own.
"The last train leaves at g. whispered
the pilot hurriediy. "It's desperate, but it's
the only thing you can do. Take her for
stroll up by the fields near the railway sta
tion. You can see the train coming in for a
mile off nearly. Time yourself carefully
and make bolt for il. She can't rum
The entrance of their victim with the tea
tray stopped the conversation; but the Cap
tain nodded acceptance behind her back, and
then with a forced gaiety sat down to tea.
For the first time since his successful ap-
pearance, he became loquacious. and spoke
SO freely of incidents in the life of the man
he was impersonatiug that the exploit sat
in perfect fever lest he should blunder.
The meal finished, he proposed stroll. and
as the unsnspecting Mrs. Pepper tied on
her bonnet, slapped his leg and winked con-
fdently at his sfelow-couspirator.
"rm not much of a walker" said the in
nocent Ms. Pepper, 80 you must go
slowly"
The Captain nodded, and, at Peppers sug-
gestion, lett by the back way, to avoid the
gaze OF the curious
For some time after their departure, Pep
per sat smoking, with his anxious face turned
10 the clock, until at length, unable to en-
dure the strain any longer, and not without
q sportsmaulike idea of being in at the death,
he made his way to the station, and placed
himself behind convenient cOal-truck.
He waited impaliently with his eyes fixed
on the road up which he expected the Cap
tain to come He looked at his watch.
Five minutes to 8, and still no Captain.
The platform began to fill; porter seized
the big bell and rang it Justify; in the dis
tance patch of white smoke showed. Just
as the watcher had given up all hope, the
figure OF the Captain came in sight. He was
swaying from side to side, holding his hat
in his hand, but doggedly tracking the train
to the station.
He'll never do it," groaned the pilot.
Then he held his breath, for three or four
hundred yards behind the Captain Mrs.
Pepper bounded in pursuit.
The train rolled into the station; pas
sengers stepped in and out; doors slammed,
and the guard had already placed the whistle
in his mouth, when Capt Crippen, breathing |
stertorously, came stumbling blindly on to
the platform, and was hustled into third |
class carriage.
"Close shave that, sir" said the station
master, as he closed the door.
The Captain sank back in his seat, fight |
ing for breath, and turning his head, gave |
last triumphant look up the road.
"All right, sir" said the station-master |
kindly, as he followed the direction of the |
others eyes, and caught sight OF Mrs. Pepper.
" Well wait for your lady"
Jackson Pepper came from behind the /