The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-05

ssxyIewe4 MT N yillaSs 4 rev mourn
20 81 sw} - that h had never
heard n q ssn aSy gshtleman answer
Ing to my. description Of my father.
''6psak on BY all MEANS" ] said.
''but no lias, mindr'
''Lord have mercy, BARN, would lie
to your" ,......
already. my friend" Isaid--"that Is, II
you have anything to toll me now"
"Sh,hl" he said, glancing round
again. "Not 20 loud, BARN; that was
necessary, because others were present
who might not hear, but all the while l
said to myself, when 1t Is safe, and I
can see this good BARN alone, I'll go
and tell him all the truth, and ss I
promised myself. 70 I have performed.
Here I amp e
"very we'll" I said, rs rubles If
your tale sounds satisfactory, and an
other il on inquiry y proves to have
been true.,,:.~z.,.
Tho fe,tssssA Eyes spaiRled. "Glory to
the highelt III said. "Then I am sure
Of my mo4sts
4 Then Ms3lttle rascal spun most
circumstantiS tale Of how one day,
very short while since
"Last week." interposed.
"Yes, last week, certainly, last
week, he said, he had been driving his
cart from the fields near the village.
when three men in the road called to
him to stop. One seemed iii, and the
other two supported him. They asked
whether he could drive them to Balota,
to the post station, and he replied that
for certain sum he would do 60, but
the sum he mentioned was large one,
because his horse was tired.
"Drive Us there in an hour," they
said, "and you shall have double thatl"
Then, glad at heart-for money is scarce
in these parts-he drove them quickly to
Balota. At the post station they carried
the sick man in. Then one came out and
gave him the money, four times as
much as be had asked, and said that
this much was paid him because there
were reasons why he should not breathe
a word to living man or woman about
having driven this party of three to Ba-
lsta. On the other hand, they would be
sure to know If his tongue should wag,
and, by all that was sure and terrible.
death would be his reward-a sudden
and violent death-when he least ex-
pected It'll My little informant at this
point looked 30 pale and 80 obviously
alarmed at his own temerity in telling
me the story that I could not help be.
ing impressed by it. Either he spoke the
truth or he was most consummats
actor as well as liar.
E"Look here, my man" said, wish
ing to test him further. "You are very
rash. Surprising that I should prove to
be the friend of these persons who en-
ployed you, sent by them purposely to-
try the good faith Of the man they had
trusted by offering bride as though
from the other side. Why, you would
be ss good as a dead man and"-
The wretched fellow was on his knees
in moment; tears rushed to his eyes;
he groaned and walled and moaned.
crossing himself vehemently and utter
tering inarticulate words - probably
prayers-as unmistakable picture Of
AFFECT terror as the eye could see. Real
or assumed, his fear took me in at once,
and believed his tale.
Don't be afraid, you poor fool" !
said. II am no spy. 1t is my interest
to learn the truth of these matters, and
I believe your story. Are you satisfied
I shall tell no one who informed me or
indeed that know Of all this that you
have told me- l am not aware of your
name, and you need not reveal it; you
are safe, 60 far as I am concerned, and