The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-23

j
"'rhey don't do anything like this at
the club. 1t is such jolly flavor too,
quite unique" he said with enth,lsi-
asm; seems as if it were seasoned
with anchoyy or some French sauce
quite Partisan, in fact!'
YES" Billiam answered simply,
''that is the red behring's / had in the
pan last week. With us coming in SO
quick | hadn't time 10 clean him out
properly"
The outer room ,,as filing up all
this time, and the yelping, whistling,
and mewing grew louder than even the
cawing of TIE rocks III the old trees
above Ormfthwaite.
'1Tarantara Tarantarai" cried tue
Hussar, cheerfuliy. 'tT'urn out for
kennel parade" And for two hours
he was kept busy enough with his lint
and bandages.
"But where does the money come
in?" he said, when it was all finished
He was smoking a cigarette, and Bill
liam was polishing up his instruments.
do it for nothing-don' they even
pay for all that vaseline and plaster.
You are blamed young fool, BiIliam
and will die in the workhouse."
Then the Captain yawned a little.
''It's too late for the theater," he said,
"even if you knew where one was,
which / don't believe. I'm deuced tir
ed, let us go TO bed"
BilIiam looked about him doubtful
ly. and then suddenly threw up his
hands with a gesture Of despair
II forgot, old chap; on my life and
honor, / quite forgot. / lent my bed
to Peter Wilkins, the water-color man.
He had pawned his to pay his rent,
but he thought he could get it out a
gain before ! came back"
You bet he couldn't" said the Hus-
sar, twirling his handsome mustache;
1--WE seen that kind of man; there are
several in my regiment"
Lets 90 and look Peter up, any
way" said Billiam; perhaps we can
get the bed after ALL"
So the Hussar accompanied Billiam
through the dimly lighted street, un-
der gloomy archways, past great black
chasms yawniDg between lofty houses,
till they arrived at the dwelling of
Wilkins, "the water-color man." as
BilliaIn said 1t was room upon the
ground floor with sunk area in front.
1T does not look promising" said
BilIiam; 1.-THE beast isn't lighted up.
i guess old wilkins is either drunk or
has gone to the country"
perhaps he has pawned your bed,
too" said the Hussar bitterly.
Billiam was hurt at the suggestion.
wilkins is d gentleman" he said,
"and it was only last week he sent me
his sky terrier, for me to doctor up
and have all right for him when he
came back Peter isn't the chap to
sell my bed and then blk
They tried wilkins door in vain, and
rang the bell repeatedly without pro-
ducing the least effect. Apparently
others had done the same. for at the
first tug the beIi-pull slid out about
six inches in silent, nncanny, unat~
tached manner.
That's no use" said Billiam, lets
climb up on the ratings"
''Ah!" he cried, as soon as he had
mounted himself upon the area rail-
ings, whence he could look into the
room of wilkins; there is my bed
standing against the wall, and the
mattress beside it. You see, good old
Wilkins IS all right. 1t is a first-rate
bed; better take a look at III, for it is
all you will see of ii tonight
"Come doom cot b. that" commanded
a stern voice. What for are we loiter-
ing WI intent there for. I'LL haze to TAX
We up"
a portly policeman vas standing be-
hind them with much suspicion on his
face. Billiam turned himself about
quietly.
John" he said, II wish you could get
me my bed. ] lent it to Peter Wilkins,
and his door is locked"
"Guid save us!" cried the policeman,
sits the Dog Missionary lis that your
bed?" he added, climbing up beside
Billiam and looking critically at the
object The rays Of gas lamp upon
the pavement shone upon it SO that it
glowed with kind of radiance not its
own.
ut looks a guild bed eneuch?" the
policeman said as he climbed down.
Can YOU get it for us, John?" re-
peated Billiam,
bod, sir, | Gamma do that without
hoose-breallin' an I've been 80 years
IN the force" answered John; but
there's nae doot that the beds guild
bed"
And with that he walked heavily
away.
The Hussar stood on the pavement
with his legs very wide, and whlstled
fitfully.
"Well," he said, "what do you pro-
pose to do about it, Billiam? Say, let's
both 90 to a hotel and get supper.
Then we can stop the night there"
Billiam looked at him with kind OF
sad reproach in his eyes.