The times., 1897-12-05
SUPPER FOR THREE.

Peonie throughout the district of Shrop-
shire we're in the habit ol Speaking OF nay
Uncle Thomas Taylor as a miser, lat this
was slai.cer on the character otthe man
Over in Lincolnshire, msny years before my
story opens, he lad been made the vietim
Of a ccsigning rascal ana left heavily IN
debt He meant to pay every shilling he
owed sud III time he had 4 receipt In fun
from every creditor lie had worked hard,
lived poorly and pinched his pence for
wears, and the people 90 Shropshire, not
understanding his worthy motive, called
him a ruiSer and were not a all neight0rly.
Whet ! Went to live with my Uncle
Tom for year he was out OF debt ana
had money in the house He was buyer
and seller OF live stock, and often he was
away and 1 was alone on the little farm.
No help was employed. The man had got
used To living alone and doing for himself.
and he nIade no change when a bls 10 10 50.
1t devolyed upon me 10 COOK, milk the
cow ana care for the pig and the poultry,
but ! stiIl had time on ny hands for
fishing and roaming about One octo-
Der oay, ss my uncle was preparing
for a trip which would take him three
days OF more he oyerhauled his money
box ard counted up its contents, which
amounted To 1853. This boX was al
ways kept buried in one corner of the
cellar, aud after the count it was Ie-
placed. We had never talked of lob
bers but once, and then Uncle Tom mad
cautioned ne not to betray the hiding
place OF the box, unless 10 save myself
from torture. A So note ana IA handful
OF silver were always kept in an ola dish
on the top shelf of the pantry. and II hard
pressed was 10 offer that.
The day turned out dismaIly and it be-
gan e. rain soon after noon. The day prob
ably made me nervous, for found myself
thinking OF ICbbers and wondering if had
not better remove the money. Buried where
It was a Iobber might search all day nd
not come across the spot, but toward night
/ dug up the box and carried it out in the
rain and thrust it among the roots 0f 4 rose
bush growing beside the kitchen door. Then
] took the old dish from the pantry and
covered IL UP in the hole where the box
had rested. L had no good reason for max
ing the change, and after making it Was
angry with myself for being so silly. We
had no firearm Of any description about
the house, and though the doors were fast
ened at night push from a strong 6rm
would have carried any Of them off their
hinges Before night came on l had fin
ished my outdoor work and was feeling a
little more cheerful.
1t was close upon o'clock and / was
eating a bowl Of bread and milk by ,he
light of a candle, when the kitchen door
opened and in walked stranger. There
were plenty of trainps about, and some of
them were nervy fellows, but it struck ne
at once that this fellow was a more dauger-
Gus character. He had an ugly, determined
look on his face, and as he smiled at me
across the table It brought out cruel ex-
preston around his mouth.
well, sonny" he began. after look
around, '-:-ou don t seem to have no word
of welcome for visitor
'Who are you?'' 1 asked.
"As 10 that, names don't count. What
wants is a cheerful lwelcone-supper-a :lipe
"a mug o. something-perhaps bed. /
begs your parding fur not knockin on The
door, but you neednt furgit yer maaqers
cause did. Am invited to supper?"
1 asked him TO sit down to the table, AMI
a minute later l placed a howl OF Iilk
and half loaf bread before him. He
ate ravenousIy. and without a word be-
tween mouthflils. Forfiy minutes hada
good look at him and sized him up as
bad man.
Morei'' he growled as he finished wha,
I lad given him.
There was another half loaf and a fuii
pan Of milk. lie filled his bowl and emptied
it twice over, and when he had finished il he
pulled dirty pipe from his pocket and said
There's tobacco lyaing around here.
and / want 4 pipe o 1T before begin 70
talk
My uncle always kept a box OF smoking
tobacco on the shelf, and / reached i
down. The fellow looked at me in a very
ugly way as he filled and lighted HIS pipe.
and he had taken a dozen whirfs before
he thickly observed
The uncle IL away and you are all alone.
I've come fur the money in the house. II
you gives il up without any nonsense l
takes it and goes On. Ii you don't I ties
you up and burns your feet with tile candle
till you thinks you is n Tophet. Which
ever wsy st Is IN bound TO git the Doodle,
ana ff yos-vs Ept sense. you won't make me
trouble VIII ~ Evs S. up?''
There is no money in .hs house." !