Evening star., 1900-01-13

quid."
The sum seemed enormous in these lean
days, but he was dealing with capitalist
and the estimate was honest enough. And
then" he went on. you might give poor
old Leatherby lift on the road"
Never mind all that the other said.
unlocking drawer. You don't expect to
make me believe you're interested in all
those people do you? Or that you'd give
EN- cent? amt baby, no more are
you. See here" He took small parcel
OF notes and counted. "One. two three,
four, five-a pony: f25. Take 1t and clear
out, and keep your mouth shut. As for
getting the show on the road, do it any
how you please and as soon as you like.
only mind! And he raised his finger. "lf
any of those others get on the scent and
come here 1 shall tell 'em you've got their
money. Now you can go as soon as YOU
like"
But. indeed, Mr. Barring Spencer was just
a trifie too clever He much too clever
in fact, TO suppose that Hendy-a man just
caught stealing puddng-would part with
any of that money unless he were obliged
He assumed, Of course, that Hendy would
keep the money to himself. say nothing Of
the encounter, ard, moreover, use every
eNertion to get the show out of the neigh
borhood. because of the threat to set the
others after a share of the notes if he,
Spencer We're troubled by them Indeed. he
judged ii very cunning shift to shut
Hendys mouth and clear away the players
1Fom the town at one stroke. He was
never safe from recognition among players.
But he miscalculated. For Leatherby's
company sisnaiized Christmas by TWO din
ners at the Crown. one at midday and one
at I. And Leatherby gave the health of
Barring Spencer, founder of the feast, with
great fervor. and proclaimed him an orna-
ment to the theatrical profession, which
| he had so lately left. For Hendy had
made no secret of whence he had the money
nor of the debts 1t was to iquidate. and
some of it he represented subscription
toward a Leatherby benefit. designed to
set the show on its legs again in the next
| town. And the company called Mr.. Barring
Spencer a noble fellow, and, moreover in
sisted on tearing the butcher from the boS-
| ON of his family THE drover not
| be found, and making him drink Mr.. Spen-
GERS health. too, a great many times. So
that they We're all mighty merry together
That Christmas. and every hour was an
hour of joy and Teasing. And at last, to
! cap everything, all the male part of the
company, with the butcher in the midst
of them. stood in the early evening on Mr..
| Barring Spencer's lawn, roaring For he's
l a jelly good fellow at the top of their
| voices, to the amazement and scandal of
! all Crowbrtdge and the spcechless fury Of
the jolly good fellow himself. Till at last
| he found his voice and throwing open n
| window, and shaking his fist, flung out
| such shower of the rhetoric that Hendy
| 50 well remembered that the players went
| off nightly astOnishrd.
| 1t is his mOdcsty," said I.eatherby out
| side. with tears of gratitude trembling in
his eyes: just his modesty. Truly he is a
| noble fellow"
But the story spread about Crowbriige
| and ere long it was very generally known
| that Mr.. Barring Spencer was AIr. Trevor
| t1tZ- Howard. and that Mr.. Trevor f7itz-
| HoWafG probably had half dozen otner
names as well. And it was even said in
| the end. that the thing hast@ned his arrest
| by three days. He had bought the house
| at Crowhridge. he'd managed to pay for ii
| III worthless shares, and had mortgagcd ii
| instantly TO" hard cash. His companies
| We're timed to hurS- just after the new year
| and he was laid by the heels just Il LAY
| before his appointed steamer left Liver
| pool; sad Nictim Of his own excess of
| cunning and tho misplaced gratitude of
| Others.