The times., 1899-02-19
A N E AT JOB


street station. MI Large, IN MS long
frieze overcoat. sat on the box near the
driver, for MIR. Large was one of the bank
couriers. red-faced, and whiskered, and
sufficiently rotund of figure. with a sea-
! faring manner that not even a large silk
| hat could hide. Mr.. Large told the driver
that, this being the last day of the old
year, he vas making his final trip on be-
| half of the bank on his return the bank
| proposed to superannuate him. with a
| handsome allowance. and he did not know
| that he should not take a nice little hotel
down at Hythe. on which he had had his
| eye for some considerable time. This, ="
added Mr.. Large to the driver. with his
usual caution, this is confidence. mind"
| The driver answered that it should not go
| any further. and that he knew when to
keep his mouth shut and when to open it.
In our business" agreed Mr. Large,
you have to-
| At the station the padlocks were taken
off the back of the van. and three large
wooden cases, red-taped and sealed with
scarlet wax, were taken out by the rail-
way porters carefully and placed
| in frst-class compartment. 1t was all
| done with fine air of mystery, because
| to mention the name of Mr.. Large's bank
was to fill railway men. and even customs
officials, with awe and reverence. Espe-
| cialiy at about the end of the year.
Might those cases contain bonds. in
| spector?" asked an inquisitive passenger.
We'll" said the inspector shifting his
lamp from one hand to the other. they
might contain anything
| But what do they contan?"
"Ah!" replied the inspector, evasively
! Now you're asking me something"
There were not many passengers by the
night mail from Cannon Street, but among
| them there was party of three, two we'll
| dressed, matronly women and a mufied-
up man; the two women, when they had
| seen the muffled-up man into a first-class
compartment and had warned him to keep
his scarf over his chin, came back and
watched the proceedings with studied care
| lessness.
Wish your poor husband was alive.
| Catherine, said one, in an undertone.
This would have been job after his
| own heart"
He was always planning something of
| the kind" said Catherine feelingly; but
| he was never spared to carry it out. Seem
ed as though it wasn't to be. Poor George,"
| The lady shook her head sadly. II dom t
| believe. Margaret, there was ever any
| body like him.
Fortunately. said Margaret. there's
| somebody like this man Large"
'Hush!" remarked the other, reproving-
ly.
And it's some consolation to think that
your poor usband is looking down now
| and seeing US three helping the foreign
gentleman to manage a scheme that"
Certainly" conceded Catherine with
emotion lit is a mark of respect. And
there's no doubt it was Providence sent
me here this morning and let me listen
to them making the arrangements. You
sent the telegram to Delafon all right?''
IF Edward can only leave On-yes.
| dear. | sent the telegram-leave off being a
| silly fool for little while it ought to pan
out all right
The other lady was not optimistic.
Il haven't been his lawful married
| wife" she said. these two-and-twenty
| years without finding out that Edward has
his faults. How'd it be to take our seats
| before the train starts?"
At Dover the usual commotion OF passen-
| gers alighting at the low. narrow platform
and. draped with rugs and decorated with
| portmanteaus descending the wooden steps
| to the Calais steamer was stayed for few
moments while Mr.. Large. with the i'm
| perial air that a yceroy tries to catch, but
cannot, strobe down, keeping a severe eye
on the porters who were carrying the three
elaborately sealed cases. The crowd of
passengers had to wait while this took
| place. and the cold wind, determined TO
| have some fun before the old year went
out. blew their hats off and fluttered la
| dies cloaks impudently. Then the ordinary
| passenger came down. and Mr.. Large, who
| had changed his silk hat for a tweed trav-
| cling cap, that had flaps to cover his ears,
| and was tied securely under the chin, nod
| ded to the captain (who seemed pleased TO
see himJ. and demanded a prophecy in re-
! gard to the journey across. The captain
| said that it might be the leastest bit bois.
ferrous, and Mr.. Large answered that he
! knew what that meant. Let the cases be
| placed in the strong room, where they
/ would be secure from injury by sea water
and he would take private cabin.
Right youeare, Mr.. Large" said the
| captain. Not too early, / hope. to wish
you a happy New Year How's the firm?"
We're sending you a basket of game
this year remarked Mr.. Large casually.
Struck me your missis would like that
better than cigars"
1T all comes in useful" replied the cap
tain, where you've got family. See you
again presently
The captain went up on the bridge. The
| last trunk slid down the wooden gangwa
and was caught by the sailors on deck: a
bell rang; the steamer whisted a mournful
I regretful note to indicate its regret at leav-
/ ing, II only for few hours, the land
Of its birth; the engines grunted
and the steamer, making a prOdigOus
I amount Of white foam went out into the
dark, clustering night. The lights OF Do
/ YER town fringing the shore winked: a
/ railway engine, anxious to show OFF, gave
an imitation of a cock growing at early
, dawn. Snow began to fall as the end OF
the pier was passed, and the steamer show
ed premonitory signs of playing at pitch
and toss.
Why, l declare," exclaimed the ma
tronly woman called Catherine, with great
astonishment-passeng were moving
about mistily on board. and many Were
going downstairs-'I declare. If it ISM
Mr.. Large"
Well" said Mr.. Large with reserve
what of it?"
why, don't you remember me? l wa.
lady's maid at the place in Pembridgg
Square years and years ago. when yor
used to come there courting."
That's long time ago." said Mr.
Large, uneasily. Let bygones be by.
gones.''
But isn't it marvellous we should rur
across each other like this after all these
years."
Il don't know about being marvellous.
replied Mr.. Large curtly. "'Tisn't the
first time I've been across the Channel
although it may be the last
For pleasure. | presumed"
Then" said Mr.. Large. you'd presume
wrong"
Il shall never forget what a smart
odiooking, weIl-built young fellow yot
were when you used to call at Pembridge
Square years ago"
| Il spose," remarked Mr.. Large. with
less frigidity of manner. 81 s'pose | coult
hold me own with the best of EN- in thos;
days
How that girl used to rave about you
Mr.. Large! l believe she worshiped tn,
very ground you walked on"
Was a bit gone on me, wasn't she?'
said Mr.. Large, chuckling. Lord, the
hearts I've broken one way and the other