Evening star., 1896-02-29

that was quite good enough. I was impa-
tient to begin, but did not consider it safe
to start work until 1870. The window gave
me more trouble than l had expected; the
catch was very stiff, and / had nothing but
my pocketknife to force it back with. How
ever, got it back at last and opened the
window very slowly, an inch at a time, max
Ing no noise. Then 1 got in.
i no sooner got my feet down on the
scullery floor than / was knocked headlong
and found thirteen-stone weight on my
chest. 1 asked it, speaking under difficult
ties. to get off again. 1 was a bit dazed
for had come down hard and bumped my
head. but saw the only thing to do was to
sham drunk. and spoke thickly. 1 undid
one end of my collar pulled my hair over
my forehead, hung my lower lip, and put
on a bleary stare. By the time that man
had got off my chest, struck match on
the heel of his boot and lit the candle be-
hind him looked a complete drunk if ever
any man did.
/ could see now that the man who had
knocked me ever was Rev. William Lake
himself. And the more 1 looked at him the
more felt sorry that I had ever come.
Well he said, you dirty little ginger
headed wo-penny-half-penny scoundrel,
what are you doing here"'
hiccodghed and answered: Thor thish
was my housh-nummer twenty Willetsh
Terrish. Amt this ri'?'
THAT won't do," he said. II heard you
round the house an hour ago-or shouldn't
have been here waiting for you. Besides,
drunken men don't open windows that way.
You're not drunk. Drop it,"
1 thought about it for moment and saw
that there was a good deal in what he said.
S., / dropped it. 1 fastened my collar again,
sat up and pulled off my cap.
Very wen,'' 1 said, then what's the
move now?
1 suppose he saw my hand slipping round
fer he said quickly: Have you any weap-
ons?"
Bless you, no! only"
Before could finish he was sitting on me
i
caught my wrist and nigh broke it. After
that 1 didn't try again. 1t wasn't only that
he was bigger, heavier and stronger than
most men; he was quick as light and you
could never tell from his eye what he was
going to do Eext. He went all over me
carefully, and took my knife and the
shooter and my Jenny. Then / saw that
the game was up.
What silly little liar you are"' he said
AS 1 have said saw that it was all up,
and I couldn't make it any worse. 1 was
a good deal disappointed. and 1 had been
roughly handled, and altogether was not
in the sweetest temper So 1 spoke out. I
said that 1 did not want any adjective
omitted preaching from a substantive
omitteO like himself. All 1 asked was
what his adjective omitted move was.
IF you swear any more,' he said, Il shall
be compelled to cause you considerable
physical pain.
1 had a bumped head and barked ell
bow. 1 was fairly copped, and my temper
got the better of me again. 1t was foolish
of me, but may have thought that he, be
ing a parson, would not actually strike me-
Anyhow. I said that if he wanted to know
what he was 1 could tell him. / did tell him
in few words. 1 omit the words.
Never in my life have I had such a
thrashing as I got then. He hit only with
the open hand; if he'd have used his fists
he'd have killed me. There was no getting
away from him, and no giving him any,
thing back. 1t was ding-dong all over my
face and head until 1 dropped IN a heap
bleeding like a pig and nearly sick. 1t
finished me.
You're boss" I said. "You can give
your orders. / only wanted to see"
He stood there smiling, as If he had
rather enjoyed himself
Pick up your boots" he said, land put
them on"
On entering the window I had my boots
hanging round my neck by the laces; they
had fallen of when he first knocked me
over. While I was putting them on he