The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-10-10


ment is better than rubies. "
Having delivered himself of this sen.
timent, he spread his hands over the
arms of his Windsor chair and leaned
forward with an air of awaiting sug-
gestions. But none came.
He coughed, looked at Mr.. Masters
and went on /.
"There was dear old gentleman
come here-let me see-why, it was as
near as possible year ago.
"It was year ago." put in George
"Well, he come here (I'll have to go
out and kick that dog, and Is this the
Deptford road, he says, my men?' and
you says, Matter o. 20 mile, master,
and bad road for a lonely traveller to
leave comfortable public behind on.
And he says, My horse is at the gate
post, and he'd be better in the stable,
and he walks in and orders candles and
supper. -
"Did he have them?' asked the hos
tier breathlessly.
."He had all he ordered and more, -
said the landlord slowly, "but he went
on that night after all. :" He looked at
his companion, appreciated the reminis-
cence in the eye Of George, the child
like admiration for superior achieve
ment in that of Bill, and pursued
eyes" he went on, "and when he went
he left his gold watch and sneezin box
and 10 guineas in a red silk bag. He
didn't want 'em where he was going :"
''Where was that?''
"Don't 1 tell you? Deptford "
They all laughed gayly, and the land,
lord took ont stone bottle and thick
glass RUNNERS from the corner cup
board.
ellis majesty King George, wot
you re SO fond of-here S his health, and
our gracious Queen Charlotte, and long
to reign over us George gave the
toast, and they drained their glasses.
"Giniver' said the hostler and add
ed tentatively, "a man could do any
thing wot's drunk Giniver y
,"Anything short o. murder he could, :"
assented George, ''but it's nothing short
o. murder would do for that dog O.
yourn, Tom.
Indeed, the dogs long drawn bowls
still disturbed their Christmas festivi-
ties. Moved by this incongruity, the
landlord went out and kicked it.
Cant you shut the door?" he asked
"This amt no weather for poor man
with his living to get and his pockets
as empty as the day he was born. "
WELL" said the landlord, "our
pockets was empty enough last Christ
mas here, afore that ole gentleman
called.
And still no sound from the room up
stairs.
"There' S another purse up there this
night, remarked the footpad, "wait-
ing for them as is sportsmen enough to
take it, as two bold lads did last Christ
mas eve. !"
The chill wind must have made its
entry still felt in the room, for the
landlord shivered again, and the foot
pad wiped the palms of his hands upon
his knees
"And another old man," he said. 81
was the man that did it, and suppose
it'll be my Job again. That dog bowls
fit to wake the dead. I don't like this
indoors work, with doors and curtains
and stairs a-creaking and having to
wash your hands this weather. I'm a
man that earns his living in the open
air, am, where thingsl is straightfor-
ward and nothing can't come creeping
up behind you without your seeing it. F"
The landlord suddenly lifted the
wooden latch of the inner door, held his
candle above his head and peered into
the darkness.
mo one there" he said, "and /
could have sworn that minute I heard a
breath. don't like your talk tonight,
George. Wake the dead and washing Of
your hands indeed Amt it enough
to-
He stopped abruptly to pour out
more spirit.
"Oh, let him talk, master!" cried
the hostler 1T puts heart into a man,
it do, talking over old times.
George chuckled grimly, and when
he had drained his glass he said cheer
fully:
faye, that does it. 1t all comes back
to me. 1t was him as held the light by
the door when l run i'll, and it was me
as He bled very free, he did, very
free. "
Eyes, held the light, though much
against my wish, mind you. Thank
them as be, said the landlord, regard
ing his grimy fingers with satisfaction
"thank them as be, my hands is clean. ?"
''They won't be clean long then It's
me what holds the light tonight" said
George firmly, and he took the candle
and walked to the foot of the stairs.
Not sound, he said.
The landlord had risen, the shock
headed man shifted his big shoulder on
the bench where he lay, and the express
sion rose in his face of a terrier await
ing with eager nose the rush from COW
er of his first rat
Of" said he hesitatingly-"if it
comes to that, you can both hold the
light-sooner than them guineas should
get up and ride off in the morning. I
know young man what would as lief
hold billhook as candle any day of
the week. "
Il