Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-01-25

4
anything. There was lolgsh pass
ed in the kitchen stairs. There. a
coming from below.
IF you'll believe mo. that was the
first time l began to feel scared. Ii
heard and seen enough of Jim Bl0gg tt
know that he warn't exao thy the safest
man in the world to run foul Of anG
that. if he caught me a-spin' on him
he'd make it 'ot for me- Howsomevcr
1 plucked up heart and crept like a cat
down stairs. There was no light OK
cept what came from the kitchen. oNy
i'll to the door being a few inches ajar
but l managed to get within earshot
without making no noise. Two mel
! was arguing. and spotted one of 'en
i as Jim by his voice. The other dirn't
recognize.
faint worth While arguin' all
night about a thing wot'S got to be
done. jim was saying. 1 was prom
Used a thousand--I earned the money,
and jolly we'll mean to have it,
'Thats right enough said the 9TH
or. You've had hundred and fifty,
and you shall have the rest within a
! week. Can't you understand that the
drafts became useless when the name
Of-thc man-was discovered: The act
ual hard cash did not. as you know.
amount to much-in fact. you got most
| Of it. And it takes time to raise
ESQ.,
That's none of my business. SEE
Jim. sulkyliSe. wants my 'oof and
wants to get away. and l don't want
to be choked off with excuses and ex-
plantations. See here. mate. You pear
to- take your masters place all through
in this business. and l believe you
mean square enough. If | agree to
wait till this day week. will you I'm.
dertalle to see me paid off without any
more nonsense? Your boss can do it
right enough if you keep him up to it,
"'To be sure he cam said the other
man. and he'll do it. too. The money
O'clock this day week.
That's a wager. growled Jim.
And now let's have drink
well. they sat there boozing and
talking about all sorts Of things that l
didn't bother my head with, until the
clock struck seven. when Jim made up
his mind to clear. and the other one re-
membered he had a cove to see in the
West End. This was straight enough
tip for me. and l slipped up stairs to
the landing as quick as | could. I
drew Oh my boots. knotted the laces
anyhow. and waited. astride the win
dow SILL until heard the door SIAM
Then l pulled down the window. put
the ladder back where l found it. and
bunlled after the pair Of 'em. They
walked together as fur as the Sheet
Anchor. where Jim went in, but the
other one wouldn't. 1 got fair look
at him, under lamp. and at once spot
ted him as the stranger that gave me
the letter and the shilling. What was
I to do? Follow him, or stick to Jim
Blogg? I hadn't much time to make
up my mind. but stuck to the strang
er for two reasons
What were they. Billy" asked Mr.
Gray, enccura gingly
'Well, l felt pretty sure that Jim
was on for nothing more than a good
old drunk, for one thing was the re-
ply. embellished by vulpine grin.
land. besides. you'd give me money for
cabs. if necessary. SO I felt 1 could
crack on as much steam as he could"
"And did he take Il cab?"
"Why, in course he did; but l didn't
find it quite so easy to get one to take
me, and I had to part two shillings
afore the cabby would make a start.
However. he turned out a real clipper
when he did get under way
"'Wotever 'appens. don't lose sight
of that cab, in front, with the grey
horsev' l bawled atm, forking out the
two bob.
"'All right says he. 'Wot's up:
Don't know l answers back. 'cept
that the gent in that cab has been
playing scme game on my sister and I
means to find out where he's going
to. I've more 'oof on me. so don't you
worry
"'Oh. that's his game. is it, says he.
I'll not lose him, young'un. never fear!'
Lei! what a drive that was! Pref
ty. too, when we came to where the
streets and swell places was all lit up
out of a blaze of light where several
streets met, into a wide road with
park on one side. and presently the cab
in front turned into gateway. My
cabby pulled up
see mere. young I'LL. says liz. tHc
bloke you're after has gone into a
swell club. where you can't follow
him
""Can't ~ 1 replies. well. can
wait outside for him. anyhow. What
do owe you'
".Call it another bob. says he You'd
best take Liverpool Street bus to get
back by. and then ask a copper
81 paid him the bob, and watched
him drive off, and then crossed to the
opposite side of the road, where there
were trees. in order to keep a good eve
upon the two gateways that led to the
club
..Did you ask the name of the club,
Billy I inquired. / had little doubt.
from his description, but wished to be
quite sure.
Eyes: it was a club for young Off
cers.'' was the reply, "and the street
was Picadilly / waited for the strang-
err to come out until / was that cold
and hungry I4could stand it no longer.
For aught know, he might stop there
all night. and couldn't ask for him,
COS / didn't know his name. So, long
after midnight, i gave it up and went
= ut u s.,o mi IL