Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-07
!; then more hesitation, ana moro

ing; then more hesitation, and more
drink.
"Can't be far off now" he muttered
brok enly. Round here to the leftAit
ought to be-" And, accordingly, round
to the left he staggered, feeling pretty
sure that if be did not speedily strike
the street he sought, brain and feet
would alike fail him and leave him
helpless in the gutter. No matter how
drunk u man may be, he generally
knows when he is upon the brink of
collapse.
Come, hold up, can't yer?"
The warning was gruffly spoken, and
came all too late to save Webb from
sudden and violent contact with an adj
vancing pedestrian. He reeled back,
and would certainly have fallen had
not the newcomer seized his arm in q
powerful grip. Nothing was distinct.
They were as two shadowy figures in
the mist. Webb was too much dazed
by the shock and liquor to make any
reply. He stood there swaying about
in the other mans supporting grasp.
Pretty far gone, reckon" remarked
the latter. You looks like pitchin' OH
yer head as soon as let go of yer, ana
I've q bigger job on hand than to play
leanin' post for a., boozey cove like
you"
"Where-am Il" hiccoughed Webb.
lost m'way."
"No wonder, what with the fog and
the BOOZE was the reply. "Well, you
are in Greek street."
"GoodT' gasped Webb, trying hard to
stand unaidcd 81 liye-No. 1S Cato
street."
"No IS Cato street. eh?" repeated
the stranger with interest in his tone.
"Why, that's close by. But how'll you
get in at this time Of night?"
was Wcbb's disjointed, but still intel
lible explanation. If, by means of his
latch-key. lie could still reach his room.
he would be safe. But he was obvious
ly incapable of walking, even a short
distance, without assistance.
The stranger hesitated, as though
rapidly revolving some fresh plan OF
action. in his mind. ''See here my fest
i've cuss,' he said, at length, "Ill see
yer as far as yer crib, if you'll just
sit down on that curb stone for a cou-
pie of minutes. I've a mate waiting
for me Il bit down the street, and l
want to tell i'm volts up. See"
Webb assented, and sat down as bid
den. The stranger uttered peculiar
sort of cat-call, which was answered in
the distance. and walked swiftly down
the street. Within few minutes he
returned, according to promise, and, be-
ing man of obviously vast personal
strength, he easily raised and support
ed his drunken protege to Cato street,
which, despite the still dense fog, he
apparently had no difficulty in finding.
Twice he paused as though to listen,
and it was evident from the sounds,
that a vehicle was following in the
roadway close behind.
BY the time they reached No. 10,
Webb was in a state of barely semi
consciousness. His conductor extract
ed the latch-key from his pocket, open
ed the hall door carefully, and fairly
carried him into the hall.
(Which is your bed room?" he de-
manded, quietly lighting taper.
By final effort, Webb managed to
indicate door at the extremity OF the
hall, and then went off into drunken
stupor upon the strangers shoulder.
Very gently the latter carried him into
the bed room, and deposited. him, just
as he was, upon the bed. Then, after
Il hurried glance around at the position
of the furniture, he eXtinguished the
taper and retraced his steps, emitting,
however, to close the hall door behind
him. Upon the opposite side of the
street hanson cab doomed vaguely
in the dense mist, with tall mans,
figure standing at the horses head.
''Weli?" queried the tall man, impa-
tiently, Can you manage it without
risk ?''
Il can manage it right enough, SIR"
was the reply, "and rare luck call it
to tumble across such a chance. AS
for the risk, well, there's risk to be
run, anyhow, in a job like this; but
less this way, reckon, than any 9TH
er. Wot you've got to do, sir, is to
lead the 'orse quietly on until over
takes yer, and if yer happens to spot a
copper. keep i'm in chat for a minute or
two. That's Just the one thing I'm
afearcd Of, stumbling against a copper;
and the odds is ag'in it. Sc here goesw
Standing upon the footboard of the
cab. the speaker stretched forth his
powerful arms and stepped into the
roadway, bearing Il motionless figure
enyeloped in a long naval cloak. There
was something in the mans every ac-
ton suggestive of GOODNESS and self-re-
lance, and these qualities were
strongly in evidence upon the present
occasion. With no greater apparent
effort than though he had been carry
ing u sick child, and as calmly as
though No. 10 were his own residence,
he re-entered the house and noiselessly
went into Webb's bed room. The
heavy, stertorous breathing of it's
drunken inmate was sufficient proof
that he would not regain consciousness
for many hours to come; but the in
truder did not deem it prudent to haz.
ard striking a light. He had, from
memory, an exact knowledge of the
room, and had no difficulty in deposit
ing his burthen npon sofa that stood
near the fire. place. Lastly, he placed
the 1atch-key upon the floor, as though
it had been dropped by it's drunken
owner, and once more went forth into
the street, closing the door behind
him. For a moment he stared hard
into the still dense fog, as though half
expecting to discover the form Of a
prowling constable. But he could sec