The Worthington advance., 1900-07-06
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+ A LACK OF PROOF !
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speaker, Lieut.. Curwen, of the revenue,
seated on the keg in triumph; he
looked at the landlord OF the Green
Dragon, prisoner like himself; at the
two revenue men who guarded the
door, and he thought dolefully that
there was some truth in the lieutenant s
remark. All night Dick had been out
in the Betsy Jane, and though, of
course, being q mere visitor to this lit
tie seaside inn, he had only gone for
the sake Of the sail and the excitement,
it was impossible to deny that, when
the lugger dropped anchor in the black
pool some time before dawn, Is kegs
had been landed, and he had helped to
land them. For all Dick cared-or
knew-they might have contained wa
ter. Fourteen went into the country
in the charge of silent men who seemed
to know their road even by that half
light. One, notwithstanding the re-
monstrances of the Betsy James skip
per, who declared it dangerous pro-
ceeding, had been placed on a bar
row and wheeled up to the Green
Dragon by Dick and Mr.. Prendergast,
landlord of the same. frendergast was
positive that the gaugers had no ink
ling of the landing; Dick was content
to regard the cask as a cask-which
might contain water. The conse-
quence was that no sooner had they in
stalled the keg in this attic than rap
at the door came, followed by the en-
try of Lieut.. Curwen and dozen rev.
enue men. Dick and the landlord were
at once arrested. That was the miser-
able fact. True, Prendergast, before
he lapsed into sulky silence, had con-
veyed to Dick that the other IA kegs,
after which the lieutenant had sent
ten of his men, were safe from pursuit
But there was little consolation in that.
The fact remained that here was the
discriminating keg, and the lieutenant
seated upon it in fanatical triumph.
He was only waiting for the return of
his men before he took the prisoners
and the spoil up to the squire's.
Dick looked the miserable fact in the
face. The worst of it was that the
squire would take the lieutenant's
view, for he detested smuggling. No
doubt Dick could show the absurdity
of pressing such charge against him
seriously, but to have been found aid
ing or abetting, even by his presence,
would lose him the squire's favor,
which he had been at desperate pains
to acquire. Probably, too, it would
lose him the squire's consent-not yet
besought-to the hand of his daugh-
ter. Besides, it was this Curwen's tri-
umph. The long-faced, fanatical fel-
low was jealous, pointless though his
jealousy was. He had waited for his
chance against Dick, and seemed to
fancy he hadl got it.
1.-THE Lord hath delivered yew into
my hands," he repeated.
'Think SOP" said Dick, obviously.
"Tew of my men saw yew landing
kegs from the lugger; they saw yew
wheel this one in barrow up to tn
inn"
ITS uncommonly hard work wheel
ing barrow" said Dick.
""Twill not assist yew to make a
mockery of your crime"
''True, my dear sir, quite true," said
Dick, feigning levity he did not feel.
."But you see my contention is that
so far as I'm aware-there is no brandy
in that kcg.'
The lieutenant did not Geign to re-
My, but drummed his heels on the
cask, which gave back a gurgling,
liquorish sound.
''Soda water, perhaps" Dick suggest
ed, pleasantly.
A knock was heard at the door, and
the lieutenant said, "Coom in," pomp-
ously. Entered Sal Prendergast, with
a tear-stained face.
""Iis letter." she said, diffidently,
"for Mr.. Shenston."
MAY the captive of your spear re-
ceive communications" Dick asked.
affably.
From whom does the letter come?'
demanded the lieutenant.
From Miss Judy, sur" said Sal, and
his brows contracted angrily: 'She
was passen and seed me cryen-'
"Thou shalt not mourn for the
wicked" said the lieutenant.
mot eff ma fathers taken by the
gaugers an charged O. runnen kags?''
Sal flashed out. Miss Judy dew not
think so, and when I tailed her she
said it was a sheame-"
"Peace, GIRL" said the lieutenant.
"What more did she say?" Dick
asked, eagerly.
"Nothen of Importance" said Sal.
The lieutenant had taken possession
OF the note and was examining the
superscription. If he had opened it.
as he seemed half inclined to do,
Dicks crime would have extended to
assault and battery. But he handed
it over, saying, grimly: