The Philipsburg mail., 1899-08-18
CHAPTER IX.-(Continued.)

would follow, and then another. The
pigeon was generally persuaded to
take his saddle off. Then he woulo
decide to stop the night, and no far
ther on the road would he go; while
the news spread quickly that Long
Jim was ION the spree at sullivan S.
On the afternoon in question the
coach was expected up, and Sullivan
had been several times to the door
looking out anxiously for its coming
There was never any telling What
profitable guests it might contain So
on mail-nights there was always a de-
cent supper laid in room away from
the common herd in readiness for
more distinguished company.
"There's the dust of the coach at
last" cried man, who had also been
engaged in watching the distant track.
cts two hours late; l expect they We
had a smash"
It was nearly dusk when the coach
pulled up at the door of the inn ana
discharged it's cargo. Horses mad TO
be changed, the fresh ones being al
ready in waiting in the yard, and ten
minutes were allowed for the dusty
passengers to refresh themselves on
lightning rum.
Only one person among the twenty
passengers got out with the evident in
tention of remaining at this stage
While the coach remained and the
bar was thronged with customers there
was perfect babel of voices and gen.
eral hubbub and confusion all round.
The stranger sat on bench near the
wooden counter Presently the land
lord came in. He had been taking a
farewell glance at the departing mail,
and was chinking some loose coins in
his trousers-pocket as if he were well
satisfied with the profits of the last
ten minutes.
The dirty kerosene lamp threw
dim light upon the interior OF the
den, and Sullivan suddenly remem-
bered his guest.
Pulling down his shirt-sleeves
which he usually rolled up above the
elbow, he put on his most insinuatins
manner, as he preceived at a glance
that he had no bushman to deal with
Unluckily, however, for the dignity
of his department, Mr. Sullivan was Sc
busily intent upon scrutinizing his pos
sible new prey, that he stumbled
across a PROSTATE body in the door
way and fel! fiat upon his face.
what are you doing, lying abou
a. + tod iC6 or n n
as he struggled to his feet. "Why, yo'
are drunk! You ought to be ashame'
of yourself, tripping people up in tha
disgraceful way. Out you go! TAX
your cooler outside if you don't know
how to behave YOURSELF" and seizin
the unresisting sot by the shirt an
trousers, he pitched him into the road
way.
Then turning to the new arrival l.
the most affable way, as il nothing un
usual had occurred, he inquired If h
would like some supper after his jour
ney.
"Thank you," replied the stranger
Eyes, / should like something to ca
and I don't mind if l had drop c
your best, just for the good OF tn
house." AS the man spoke, he shove
signs of having had several drops {
the "best" already.
certainly, sir" replied Sullivan
scenting a good customer as a terrle
would rat.
Then, rinsing a tumbler in woode
tub beneath the counter, he proceede
to polish it on piece of old towel wit
very professional air.
Turning to the shelves he pause
and seemed to be deliberating as
what really was his best" He the
took down a bottle with a capsule @
it, and. winking confidentally to h
guest. remarked that he thought /
would find that prime. The dliferent
between the mixture contained in tt
hottie and that in the kegs on tt
= shelf was that the former wa. near
proof rum, and the latter a cOncoctiC
of spirits of wine, tobacco, brown S,
gar, water, and a flavoring only of tt
real article.
Mr.. Sullivan kept few strong san
pie bottles of the genuine liquid on pu
pose for great occasions, and if ''tv
nobblers of that failed to start the
he did not know what would"
Supper seemed to take long tin
to prepare, and the stranger indulge
In another taste or two of the best
After his second dose conversatic
flowed more easily; the silence whi,
his highly respectable attire had ca
upon the company began 10 wear 0
and the landlord relapsed into his us
al jovial style.
do you know a station called Re
mont about here?" inquired the stra
ger presently.
"Redmount? I should think | did
"Mr. Hall, isn't it?"
Eyes. Mr. Charles Hall: and We
nice gentleman he is" remarked Sui
van. inwardly thinking that he W