The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-09-27

with the punishment! Conceive HE
new position, for lack words to pic
ture it; conceive him condemned to re-
turn to that house, from the very
thought OF which his soul revolted, and
once more TO expose himself to cap
ture on the very scene of his misdeed;
conceive him linked to the moldy cab
and familiar cabman. John cursed
the cabman silently, and then 1t oc-
Cured TO him that he must stop the in
generation of his portmanteau; that,
at least, he must keep close at hand
and he turned to recall the porter. But
his reflections, brief as they had APP
peared, must have occupied him longer
than he supposed, and there was the
man already returning with the re-
cefpt.
Well, that was settled; he had lost
his portmanteau also for the sixpance
with which he had paid the Murrayfield
Toll was one that had strayei alone into
his waisteoat pocket, and unless he
once more successfully achieved the
adventure of the house of crime, his
portmanteau lay in the cloak-room in
eternal pawn, for lack of penny fee.
And then he remembered the porter,
who stood suggestively attentive,
words of gratitude hanging on his lips.
John hunted right and left; he found
a coin-prayed God that it was SOW
ereign-drew it out, heheld a half
penny, and offered it to the porter.
The mans jaw dropped
Its only a half-penny" he said,
startled out of railway decency.
Il know that" said John piteously.
And here the porter recovered the
dignity Of a man.
THANK you, sir" said he, and would
have returned the base gratuity But
John, too, would none of 1t; and as they
struggled, who must join in but the
cabman?
''Hoots, Mr.. Baigrey," said he, you
surely forget what day 1t isp
Il tell you have no change" cried
John
Well" said the driver, "and what
then? would rather give man a
shillin' on a day like this than put him
off with derision like bawbee. Pm
surprised at the like of you, Mr.. Baig-
reyp
My name is not Baigreyv broke out
John, in mere childish temper and dis
tress.
Eye told me it was yourself" said the
cabman.
II know / did: and what the devil
right had you to ask?" cried the un-
happy one.
"Oh, very WE'LL" said the driver. IT
know my place, IL you know yours-if
you know yours he repeated, as one
who should imply grave doubt; and
muttered inarticulate thunders, in
which the grand old name of gentle
man was taken seemingly in vain.
Oh, to have been able to discharge
this monster, whom John now per-
ceived with tardy clear-sightedness to
have begun betimes the festivities OF
Christmas! But far from any such ray
OF consolation visiting the lost, he
stood bare of help and helpers, his
portmanteau sequestered in one place,
his money deserted in another and
guarded by a corpse; himself, so sedu-
lous OF privacy. the cynosure OF all
mems eyes about the station; and, as If
these were not enough mischances, he
was now fallen in ill-blood with the
beast to whom his poverty had linked
him! In ill-blood, as he reflected dis
mally with the witness who perhaps
might hang or save him! There was
no time to be lost; he burst not linger
any longer in that public spot: and
whether he had recourse to dignity or
to Cancellation, the remedy must be ap-
piled at once. Some happily surviving
element OF manhood moved him to the
former.
Let us have no more OF this" said
he, his foot once more upon the step.
Go back to where we came from"
He had avoided the name OF any des-
tination, for there was now quite a lit
tie band OF railway folk about the cab,
and he still kept an eye upon the court
OF justice, and labored to avoid concen-
tric evidence. But here again the fatal
jarvey outmanoeuvered him.
Back to the I.odge?" cried he. in
shrill tones OF protest.
Drive on at once" roared John, and
slammed the door behind him, so that
the crazy chariot rocked and jingled.
Forth truneled the cab into the
Christmas streets, the fare within
plunged in the blackness of despair
that neighbored on unconsciousness,
the driver on the box digesting his re-
Duke and his cIstnmar,s dnnlicitu I