The record-union., 1899-04-16

could hold me own with the best of 'em
in those days"
How that girl used to rave about
you, Mr.. Large. | believe she wor--
SHIPPED the very ground you walked
on
Was bit gone on me, wasn't she?"
said Mr.. Large, chuckling. Lord! the
hearts I've broken one way and an
other. What was your husband when
he married?"
He was-er-a commission agent,
| said the lady; used to dabble in nearly
everything There's a sister of mine
| ON board
We'll" said Mr. Large, rising, i
shall be getting down to my cabin;
there's a little too much movement on
the part of this steamer to suit me-
| Were in the saloon, Mr.. Large. My
sister would like to see you, expect;
her husbands with her."
| Whats he?"
'Wen, he the lady coughed and
pulled her long brown cloak around
her; hes a commission agent, too.
Give 'em my kind regards" said Mr..
Large. I'D see 'ern, only that I've got
| important business in hand this jour-
ney. May meet again, perhaps.
Likely as not. SAID LIE lduy.
Midway in the channel the sea was
less boisterous, and the steamer went
more sanely. Mr. Large, muff1ed up in
his thick frieze overcoat, had fallen
nearly asleep ON the couch of his cabin
| when he heard a tap at the door. lie
did not answer, and the door opened
very gently. Assuming it 70 be one of
the sailors, he roared an imperative or
70 Ir;r rofrpChnoQnt The door
opened wider, and the two matronly
ladies presented themselves.
ct is the right cabin said Gather
inc. Come on. Edward; come in and
shut the door,
Mr. Large sat upon the. couch ana
stared at the three with undisgused as
| constituent The muffled-up man kept
| his head down and examined the floor
of the cabin with an assumption OF
great interest.
We'll" said Mr.. Large, satirically'
81 hope you're making yourselves thor
oughly at home"
Margaret and her husband would in
sist on seeing you, and the only plan
was for us all to come in here together
s'Pity there wasn't some other plan
Edward, where's that bottle OF spe-
cial you said you'd got?"
The silent Edward produced from the
side pocket of his overcoat a large, hat
bottle, and, uncorking it, passed it
| across to Mr.. Large.
Ladies first" said Mr.. Large.
81 could no more touch spirits said
! Catherine, making Wry face, than
could fly. I did have a sip when L
lost my poor husband, and the mere
smell of it brings him all back to me-
Il always was a strict Band of Hopper
as a, child" remarked Margaret primly,
land I don't want to begin at my time
of life"
There was nothing for Mr.. Large to
do but to wipe his lips with the back or
his hand. nod to each of his visitors,
saw that here was a happy New Year to
them and take long drink from the
fiat bottle; having done which ne re-
placed the fiat bottle on the table I'M
steadily and looked around for rev
moments at the three with half-closeo
eyes. ~
Then Mr. Large slipped from the
couch to the floor.
"Now. Edward" said Catherine.
with a prompt, decisive manner, OF
with your scarf. and try to play your
part"
Edward obeyed silently, in the man
ner of one accustomed to do as ne IS
told without argument. This done, II
could be seem that he bore an amaz-
ing resemblance to the stupefied man;
his whiskers had been carefully trim
med in a like manner; he had the same
burly appearance and the same tresh
colored type of face. When he had
taken Mr.. Large's frieze coat and tleo
the travelling cap under his chIn ne
looked rather more like Mr.. Large than
Mr. Large himself; when with pair
of scissors he cut off Mr.. Larges whis-
kers few could have correctly given
the identity of the two men.
80 far so good,'' said Catherine.
Mr.. Large was placed in restful po-
sition on the couch of the cabin with
his face to- the wall. He was breathing
stertoriously.
Now do listen, Edward, like a good
man, and attend to what we say. Tell
| him, Margaret, once more what he's to
do. Everything depends on him.
You go up on deck said Edwards
wife in a dictatorial way, and you
are you listening?"
Edward replied briefly that his ears
were not made of cloth.
or two to the Captain in a casual kind
of way You speak about the three
cases Of bonds that we saw them put
in the strongroom. Very we'll, then.
You give half a crown to several of
the men, and you keep close TO them
while they carry them ashore. Don't
| forget your names Large, and don't
| forget to be very friendly with the
customs officers if they say anything
to you You'll clear them through the
customs here, mind, SO that there shall
be no bother at the other end
| Edward said that it was in this same
| clearance through the customs that he
| foresaw a chance of ructions.
| ''Nonsense!" cried Catherine, sharply.
! Don't be so stupid
Then, went ON Margaret, enforcing
! the table, then you have them taken
| into the train; they'll reserve a first
class compartment for you, and you'll
| find Monsoon Delafon on the platform.
You remember Monsoon Delafon?"
NJ Delafon remained in Edwards
memory, it seemed. by reason of the
length of M. Delafon's nose. Edward
said he could pick him out of a thous-
and.
You won't have to pick him out at
ALL He'll come up to the carriage Win
| dow, and you'll get one of the porters
! to unlock the door and let him come in
with you and the three cases. Then
| on the wav 70 PollIogae he'll know what