The times., 1897-12-05

boldly replied, looking him square in the
eyes as 1 said it.
Tut. tut boy, but don't give me any
such yarn as that. Tom Taylor always
leaves n.cnPy behind HIN when he goes
out. It's fur you to hand it over within
three minutes or take the onsekences,
and them coEsekences won't be very funny,
l can tell yonri
was afraid OF him, you may believe,
hut Yet not 50 badly rs 70 think nf giving
up the money-boX at this simple demand.
lie was regarding me with crafty,
cruel look, nd l was about to deny that
there was any money III the house, when
the door softly opened and n man spnng
into the room and dealt the stranger a
blow on tie head that tumbled him off
his chair like bag Of sand. Before
could make out what manner of man the
new arrival WAS, he knelt upon the other
and called to NE:
Here. boy, find Ine some stout lashingS
for this fellows ankles and wrists, and II II
soon make him harmless"
Under the idea that the new arrival was
an officer of the law and was ma king the
oSleI his prisoner, | ran for the Clothes
line hanging atthe door and in wo rainutes
he had his man securely tied. Then he drew
the stiIl uncoIscious form 10 one side AMI
Strengthened up to his full height. He was
also toHgh-loOking customer-too tough
looking to i'e an officer of the law. as /
reasoned He was not so tail as tie 9th II.
bnt muc.' stouter. and his voice was .ot
at all pleasant as he said:
Now, yOu cub, don't sit there ike a
'ocl but stir around and put ON supper fer
mel Dye imagine l amt hungry aftec an
ail-day's tramp through rain and niud?''
There's only milk 10 be had" said sro.n
the far side Of tie tabls
81 must have better than thati" he
growied. You have meat and Eaters
and flour in the house, aid no doubt you an
cook. A way With ye and git me up good
NEAL
Yes, we had meat and potatoes and
flour, and there was also coffee in the
canister. There was no fire in the stove,
but I kindled one and went to cooking.
] could have rushed across the room and
out OF the door at any moment, but,
strangely enough, the Idea never came tn
me. 1t would bave been the plan OF a
bright BOY to make a bolt for 1t, get the
money frcin under the rose bush, and
skip to the village for police assist ance,
bu; things had come upon me so suddenly
and 50 Queerly that / moved about as one
ia a dream The ruffian who had beeu
assaulted soon recovered consciousness,
and when he discovered what had hap.
pened he was Inore than furious. While
the two mad no acquaintance, they Ger.
tainly lalonged To the same ik. This
was made plain by the words of the last
arrival when lie said:
It's no use kicking. old man; I've bacn
intending to visit this crib for many months
PAST, hut 1 never got around to it TIN
DOW. Now, when gifts here and finds a
bloke in possession and about to lay hands;
on the bcoile, why, MY plan is to prevent
him IL can, and think have. When
hasthecashin my pocket nj a hour s start
thecub here can cast you loose.''
lnthe ecourse of half an hourI had supper
on the table for the man, and he sat down
ana ate with tremendous appetite. AS he
ate the other cursed and threatened, hut
neither addressed word 70 me. Not
scrap Of food was left on the table as the
nan showed hack, bit piece off plug ,f
tobacco, and then turned to me to say:
Boy, there's money in this crib. aud I'm
here 20 git it. Bring it ont at once"
Uncle Tom took every shilling with
him. renlied, as stood before him.
'Eh? EhP SO Uncle Tom left no money
behind? Maybe he didn't, but I'm going to
havea try forit- The stove is good and hot.
and after you have taken seat on it two
or three times perhaps you'll remember
that Uncle Tom left snug bit of money
behindl''
Take off these cords and let's make
a fair diyyy OF it, cOaSingIy suggested
the fellow on the floor. Il know how
to get at the boy and the money. He
was going to give it up when you
Jumped in to play dirty trick on a square
man.
''Will you hand me over the box.'' de-
manded Number Two, paying no atteurion
to the others words.
There isno lux III the house,
boy, I'll bum you alive," he hissed
at me across the table. Don't lie TO
me, cause know yer lynn. I'm here for
the box, and Ia have it IL had to do for
half dozen fools like you. VIII you brins
it out?',
l was about to offer 20 go down eel
lar and unearth the dish / had plaGte
liz place OF the box, when the kitchen
door opened for the third time. The man
at the table had his back to it, while /
faced it. As the door swung back saw