The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-10-27
NUMBER So.

per as he gained his courage, sis NOT
your business, but would like to know
what is. -
"It's bad talking business ON an
empty stomach"
81 don't see how it's to be helped"
answered Dick doggedly.
Don't you see how it's to be helped.
you curmudgeon?' thundered the little
man fercely. with the remains Of
such feast on the table there must be
more where it came FROM"
Upon my word," replied Richard
meekly, for he was getting frightened
again, There ism t a bite in the house..
Don't lie" roared the other.
"There's cold ham in the pantry and
demijohn of brandy in the closet"
"How do You know thatP" 1t was ON
the tip of Richards tongue to ask, but
he was too much amazed to speak.
"How do l know it?" broke in the
stranger, as if reading his thoughts
"Why. smell them. So bring them
out"
Richard would have demurred, but
his guest made movement which oon-
vinced him delay might be dangerous.
and the required articles were produced.
Without changing his seat, the little
man drew up to the table and began to
eat And how he did eat A chunk OF
ham, big enough for shark bait, was
stuck on the point of the carving knife
and thrust down his throat with the
audacity of sword swallower. Another
and another followed, till nothing re-
mained but the lone. which he crushed
with hss teeth and then sucked the
marrow.
"Now for q punchl" he cried.
"There is no hot water" Richard
ventured to cay.
water Who asked for wateri Bring
me lemon, some sugar and kettle"
The ke.tle was placed on the fire.
The stranger filled it with brandy, add
ing lemon and sugar to suit his taste.
As the liquor boiled over it caught fire.
setting the whole in blaze.
Richard jumped up to take it Oh.
The stranger caught his arm and flung
him back as if he had been q child in.
stead of a substantial citizen Of 200
pounds.
"What are you about?" he exclaimed.
"The punch is doing we'll enough"
81 was only afraid the house might
be burned"
Bother the housel" replied the ~.
tie man. "There's no danger"
"Your health, Dick" at length he
said, and raising the kettle all blazing
to his lips he drank like dromedary.
! "And now, Dick, it's your turn" he
said, after long breath. "You must
drink my health row."
Richard drew back.
"Drinkp' shouted the stranger. hold
ing out the vessel.
Poor Dick took single gulp He left
the skin of his mouth on the brim Of
the kettle, his throat was scorched -
with liquid fire and his hair was singed
by the blaze.
"Apd now to business" said the
stranger, resuming his seat and leaving
Dick to sit or stand as he chose.
"You knew John Walter, believer"
"Ye-yes," stammered Richard. II
once knew person Of that name"
"You and he went to California 10
gether?''
Richard acknowledged the fact.
"You made money, and he didn'ti"
II believe was the more fortunate
of the two"
"You and he started to return togeTh-
, er, and he died at San Franoisoo?''
Richard bowed.
"His wife and children are now desti-
! %rto - Tho e<rovcov x,o~e;ckoA
Il can't help that"
"Of course not. It was his boy you
gave the good advice to today. I hope
the young scamp will profit by it."
The scene with the little beggaz.
Richard was quite sure, had been wit.
messed by no one. How the stranger had
found out was past comprehension.
You're quite sure John Walter died
poorP" the stranger went on.
"Oh, quitel" said Richard. II paid
his funeral expenses myself"
man. "They were paid by the public.
It's another lie that he died poor. he
had $40, 900 with him which you stole r.
81 deny it,, Richard fairly screamed.
"and defy you to prove iti''
"Prove it'll What effronteryi Why. ]
saw you do iti'
"Its falsel There was nobody pres.
entp'
} BE careful. Dick, or you'll commit
!; yourself. 1 saw you do another thing.
; Richard sank shivering into chair.
, but said nothing.
"John Walter would have survived
J his illness, but you put poison in hii
medicinel"
, A sudden fury took possession o1
: Richard Whinstone when he saw the
secret of his life in another's keeping.
The carving knife lay within his reach.
He seized it and. springing ON the
stranger, with a desperate plunge
sought to bury the blade in his heart,
but it glanced as from plate armor and
; in an instant the little man was ON hi
|, feet.
} "Oh, ho That's your game, 10 it?"
And with trip that sent Ills heel
: spinning in the air Richard was thrown
headlong with a force that shook tht
house to its foundation. The club foo
was planted ON his stomach, and wha,
, a horribly ugly foot it wasi It was clef,
like the hoof of an OK and seemed t.
weigh ton.
. "Then you are''-
} PRAY keep a civil tongue in you
, head and come along" said the LITTLE
man.
Richard tainted.
When he came to himself, day Wal
breaking The old housekeeper, Wit
had found him groaning and sprawlini