The Washington weekly post., 1899-11-14
THE LAST TIME.
by EDWIN PUGH.
c,,yrirh,. is's ~ Ea~in PusAl

g.fpn. ana AZ Aut sNttlA - W. tNiAft7f-
-... entry she held - warning hand.
.Neyer mind about the kid said the
-sr "Iet him wake up II he likes. /
-, TOO Jolly TO be quiet"
The womans face took on an express
,on o. great gladness.
WAY Bob" she cried, you don't never
man 90 cay --'
"Yus. 1 do" said he. i've got the
.o5"
And he executed a very long. SLOW.
ss.tmn dance. The baby sat Up and crow
ID 50yousiy.
I'm to start on Monday" said Bob.
"ThatU give Us time 10 get the sticks to.
ge,her before pratting. And once out OF
-h.s rotten London-sway from thu
smoke vi trees round US instead O.
H11ees-with a chat Of our own and the
money coming in reg'lar and on the
straight-Ill be a different man"
You'll be yourself again." said his
v.te
THAT countrifed old self I can only
INST remember. So / shall. And want
> be- that Old self again. I'm tired OF
Rob Ry0t the snidcsman. scTewsnlan.
.t5er-o'aimoT what you like, so long as
il amt honest | want TO be Bob Ryot
he b'oomin' yokel, with knowledge o.
gardbnin' N general an graftln' in par
uruar. And I'll be him. Put on your
slueeza dress and we'll make a night of
IT, The kid won't hurt II we leave him
with the landlady. Hey, old lady? What
saw
"PThars re hadn't better 20 out" fal-
tered Mrs. Ryot, between longing and
prudence.
Rats said he.
And that decided II.
Tney were on the point OF starting
Nhen the door opened and man entered
the room. He was small. of mean ap-
1earance, and crafty demeanor. He had
dispensed with the fOrmality Of knocking:
the formahty OF greeting he also omitted
"Evenin', Jimmy" said Bob.
I've come on business" said Jimmy,
sitting dawn. 'If Mrs. Ryot wouldn't
mind going out on the landin' for a bit
We might get onto il quick"
II doesn't matter about her"
oh DON'T II, thought" cried Jimmy 81
think 81 DO. You know what il is when
the tees get nOslng round a woman. Out
comes the whole billing. And the woman
never KNOWN as she's let on. 'Sech a
L.Ce man called to-day That's them
when you come home. 'Sech a nice man
knew your brother Jack in Australia
'Garnr Gays YOU. Jack wasn't never In
Australia at all. 1t was Cape Colony as
Jack used Co. adOrn.' Oh. but he said
De kneN him quite we'll che says. not
half believing you. Then he's qualified
har, says you; and you tell him that
again when he meets you at the Sessions;
but 1t amt no good. and you get fulfilled.
sure as Adam. Sech a nice man he was
so genPm'nly.' Ughr'
can't your business wait, Jimmy? Me
and the missus Is going out"
Not tonight you amt. Business can't
never wait. Take of that go-to-meeting
clobber. Mrs. Ryot Your husbands book
ed 10 me-"
Mrs. Ryot lookel at him, and there was
shadow Of alarm upon her face What
90 you want WI Bob?" she asked.
There you 20! There you goI' snarled
Jimmy. That's a woman all overt She
must be askin' questions. Why? Where?
How? When? Who? What? That's
them. 1t amt 10 be surprised at as ali
ask. But l amt goin' to let on. Bob
can If he likes"
Bob scratched his head.
rs 1t "a burglary you want Bob for?''
asked Mrs. Ryot.
Jimmy half rose with a savage growl.
shut !tr' he cried. Don't 80 tellin' the
world"
so that is your business!'
'Yussr'
Mrs. Ryot laughed.
Then il car wait" said she
what dye mean?" asked Jimmy look
ing from her TO her husband. Ere, Bob,
open your mouth an say>-sutthink. 1t
gives me the fair knock, palaverin' with
a woman"
You see, Jimmy" said Bob. I've got
z Job"
a whaiter?' asked Jimmy, incredu-
lously.
"A job. AS gardener down Ethan way.
Big house. Lot o. servants. Lodge all to
myself. EveTythink known about me by
The boss. Nothink known about me by
anyone else All shipshape and comfort
able. and thirty quid year reg lar
Ere. I say, you'll so and get drunk or
sUtthink with all that money" sneered
Jimmy. Bob laughed, "All the same,
that's 10 reason why you shouldn't help
ne with this bust tonight"
Don't so. Bob" cried his wife, In quick
dread.
"'Tain't likely" said Bob.
Jimmy gave no sign OF any emotion.
Ha sat looking at Mrs. Ryot in silence.
his thi1-lipped mouth drawn out in a
WY smile. A. last he spoke.
Well, you're nice sort o pal, L don't
think" he said
Very sorry" said Bob; ''but I've done
with all that sort o. thing"
AIR reflected Jimmy. We'll, it's never
TOO late To begin again, is it? You'll begin
sgaIu tonight"
Not me"
"Yuss-you. Look ere. Didn't l help
you last time, when you couldn't nnd
mate Tor love or toffee? And didn't you
promise as you'd do the same for me
mex time | arst? Hey? And amt l
hodu out my hat now|
did promise?' asked Bob weakly.
WAS YOU ever born? Yes and yes.
You ala promise And even if you hadn't
promised. you'd he bound as an honor
able man To come tonight wi me-"
81 wish you'd let me off it. Jimmy"
But. Bob" cried Mrs. Ryot. surely
you're never thinkin' of goin' 2
Wen, you see, my dear, a promise is
promise, and"
'b.u..-dUu't got'
Its the softest little thing I've spotted
Tor years" said Jimmy. ''Itn be Just Ike
Smelling peas fairishsized house up
A-sErh Hul way. owned by military
man. retired. Eccentric old card, Twin all
Iy mssef II was made To be burgled.
A'sl na' been run up BY screwsman
'l'neA builder for old associations sake!'
.aal you DO IL by YOURSELF?
no ~lH.t strong enough. And amt
t'l enough sand IN me. / get the teTrors
".iAh sug.,-handed And it amt so
.' L''lAer Then ] want your spreader.
i..'rs bars on all the windows"
jimmy, cried Mrs. Ryot, don't ask
Bob l0 TO-"
lt.I ialr' said Jimmy. you never
nm no. 20 ask me to go that other
has' did youg"
Bob
Pen You are golngr'
Il must"
You saan't go"
Don't De- a goat"
.l.rFf 81, Til