Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-01-19
CHAPTER xI.
The Mineral Water Man.

In a week | was in London, and ear
ly in the afternoon of the Sd of July /
stepped out on the platform of the lit
tie station near Brierwick. in Suffolk.
Among the passengers who alighted
at the same time-there were not more
than a dozen, all told-was a man
about thirty years of age, whom l
Judged TO be, like myself, a stranger
TO the place. He carried a small black
bag, wore a loose overcoat although
the day was hot enough 10 roast an
egg in the SUM and n tall silk hat set
very far back on his head. | passed
him at the exit from the station. ard
began the walk of two miles along II
very dusty lane, which was to bring
me to the township OF Brierwick.
One by one my fellow travellers
passed out Of sight, some walking on
mere rapidly than | felt inclined TO do
Gu SO hot a day, other turning off in
various directions. At length, on glanc-
ing behind me found that the OILY
man in sight was the stranger | have
mentioned. Seeing this, he ~quickened
his pace until he overlook me. He
then babe me Good afternoon" ciyilly
enough.
Poor sort OF place, this | take It,"
said he, jerking his head in the direc-
tion Of the little town ahead of rs.
$50 | believe. / am a stranger In
this part OF the country" / returned.
$50 am /. Traveller in the mineral
water line. 1t doesn't seem to me that
the country is worth working
Probably not"
"There are only two pubs in the
place. | am told"
''Indeedv'
"YeS: and only one OF them, / nm
dcrstand, Is fit for a gentleman 10 put
mp atthe Ship. Perhaps you are
bound for the same r~endezvous.'
As there was no reason why | should
not 90 10 that inn as well as another, ]
said yes
Shall | order lunch for us 10th
when we get there asked my self
constituted companion, with a grin
that vas intended to be ingratiating.
! | looked ut the speaker again. aud
thought | detected a look Of cunning in
the small brown Eyes If the mineral
water man. He was not altogether n
I demonstrating specimen of humani
~. He wore his dark hair rather long,
and his w~hlskers. cut short off Ina 4
slanting line from his ears, joined on to
his moustache. SO as TO give him tke
appearance Of an animal bridlad-espe
cially when he turned his little saul
nose up in the air. His hands. l 20.
tlced, were very broad and not too
clean.
l did not particularly crave for this
mans society. but / did moi like t,
hurt his feelings; and as it was evi
dent that we would both be In need o1
refreshment by the time we reached
the inn. | accepted his proposed. Il
mattered nothing to me how | spen'
the time before 2 in the morning, III,
hour at which ! was to meet the EN-
~issaries Of Won Mltschka and h.
friends.
After luncheon my new ~acunaint
ance proposed to accompany me TO tn
beach. but | was tired OF the man,
company, and declined his offer. Th,
shore | found. was covered with low
sand hills, held together by long. wir,
grass. The village was built clcsa I,
the sea. There was n harbor. and
pier extending a considerable way int,
the sea, so that the fishing smackt
might lie there at all states Of III
tide.
Having noted the general arrange
ment of the place. and in particula
the way 10 the pier. so that. IL neces
sary, | might be able TO find 1t in TN
dark without asking the way. | strolle'
on past the outskirts OF the little town
and, crossing the sand hills | reache,
the beach and threw mysel flown OF
the pebbles.
/ was. quite aloEe. A short way o.
the keelson and the mighty ribs OF
ship. stranded there long ago, prorrud
ed from the sand, as ii they refused {
be buried, after the manner Of smalle
things. The timbers were bleache
with the SHOWS OF fifty winters: the
looked gaunt and eerie, even In tn
summer sunlight.
A haze had come over the brigh
face OF the sky, and presently the Sc
was hidden and clouds began to gathe