Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-08-05

fumbling in dilapidated pocket. 1T
is apurty little thing wot picks up
in ditch this morning." and he stood
close to the wall and held something
mp to Doreen, who took hold Of II
rather gingerly.
The next moment she cried: "Why,
it's my Snowflakel My own dear lit
tie white hen that ran away from me
years and years agol Did God tell
you to bring ii back to me, beggarman?
love You just enormously" and Do.
reen beamed down on the tramp, cud.
ding her restored treasure close to
her clean white dress, regardless that
Snowflake was no longer white, hut
black, and had lost wing during he.
wanderings.
The tramp scowled. zone good turn
serves another. missy. What time
do you and the servant girl go a-walkin'
on Sundays?"
ave 60 after dinner when IL is fine,
as soon as Sophie has washed mp"
answered Doreen, still gazing in nd.
miration at the china hen. When she
looked down into the road again the
tramp had disappeared and the rector
of Finch was turning in at the garden
gate.
The next afternoon about 3 o'clock
this same tramp stood listening out
side half-opened door in the hall at
Holly Lodge, and as he listened the
expression on his face changed strange.
ly. Fear was transformed into won
der, wonder into into incredulity, in.
credulity into belief, belief into some
emotion impossible to classify. With
O hitch up of his tatters, as II TO make
sure that they still chung together, he
suddenly pushed open the door. en-.
tered the sitting room, set his arms
akimbo, scowled at the old lady who
gazed up at him in wonder from her
knees and said harshly: whats that
yer been a-saying bout Sam Blake?
Hurry UP, missus-"
1t was not a dignifel position, per-
hars, in which to be caught by a bur-
glar, but Mrs. Moneypenny maintained
her self.possession, rose from her
knees and faced the intruder boldly,
still holding the red book.
"How dare you enter my house in
this manner2" demanded the old lady
after slight pause, while she inves.
tigated him through her spectacles.
"Yer may thank yer stars, missus,
as yer amt deader already" said the
man, roughly, coming close to her;
''but when chap hears his own name
and facts bout his own life, he'd maybe
like to know what it means afore he
sets to work."
"So-you are Sam Blake9" an.
swered Mrs. Moneypenny, under.
standing as people do sometimes in
sudden emergencies "You are the
Sam Blake that nearly killed his wife,
that starved his children and broke
into jewelers. shop L. years ago. I
know you very well, Sam Blake, for I
have prayed for you and your miser-
able family every Sunday afternoon
for 10 years. I am very glad you
heard me, Sam Blake. Now what do
you want?"
''Wot yer done II for?" asked Sam
Blake, still scowing.
because you were wicked enough
to require O good many prayers, and,
my friend" Mrs, Moneypenny smiled
o quaint, shrewd smile, unless You
are going to murder me, which would
be but simple matter, as you see
am old and alone in the house,
shall continue to pray for you"
You're O game 'un, you are!"
growled Sam Blake, half.approvingly.
'Pve O mind TO let yer of this time,
bowed II I amt. Look a.here, mis-,
sus, il I don't knock yer over the
head as Ind a mind, nor take that
diamond ring o. your'n in charge for
yer, yer must hand over what money
yer has in the 'ouse and give US feed
afore yer little 'un comes back. Look
spry, old I'm, and maybe us won't
quarrel after ALL"
Mrs. Moneypenny measured the
man with her eyes, recognized his
strength and her weakness, realized
there was nothing to do under the
circumstances but obey, unlocked
her dispatch box and handed Its con-
tents to Sam Blake, who was pleasant
ly surprised, the nearness Of rent day
not having entered into his calcutta
tons, and treated her unwelcome guest
to as good meal in the kitchen as
the larder could provide.
Lets have q look at that book Of
N - 4
Mrs. Moneypenny oil up his glass
again with beer.
He studied the neat entries In ST.
lence and then banged his Ast down
on the table with such force that Mrs.
Moneypenny started. "Of all the rum
'uns you're about the rummesu" be |
exclaimed. There, shake hands,
missus -you needn't be afeared for
your diamond, though it'ss mighty