Middletown transcript., 1901-01-12

QaQR6Q SlII Uuo WAOA ASS0s -
amount you'll have to pay to get me to
face to-night's storm again, you seem to
be getting off dirt-cheapp
"Ah, if you had only known Adolph-
us!'' he exclaimed.
Now, the third glass of clean spirits
has always deplorable effect on me. 1t
turns me from bright to black, from
lightness Of spirits to extreme sulkiness.
have done more wickedness over this
third tumbler than in all the other states
of comparative inebriety within my ex-
perience. So now glowered at my COM
panion and raped out curse.
'Look here, don't want to hear any
more of Adolphus, and I've a pretty
clear notion of the game your playing.
You want to make me drunk, and you're
ready to sit pratting there till 1 drop
under the table"
''Do me the favor to remember that
you came, and are staying, at your own
invitation. AS for the brandy, would
remind you that suggested a milder
drink. Try some Madeira." :"
He handed me the decanter, as he
spoke, and I poured out glass.
''Madeirap said /, taking gulp.
'eUgh! it's the commonest MarsalaP'
had no sooner said the words than he
rose up, and stretched hand gravely
across to me.
"I hope you'll shake it," he said;
''though, as man who after three glasses
of neat spirit can distinguish between
Madeira and Marsala, you have every
right to refuse me. Two minutes ago
you offered to become my butler, and l
demurred. now beg ou to repeat that
offer. Say the word, and I employ you
gladly; you shall even have the second
decanter (which contains genuine Ma
deira) to take to bed with you"
We shook hands on our bargain, and
catching up candlestick, he led the way
from the room.
Picking up my boots, I followed him
along the passage and down the silent
staircase. In the hall he paused to stand
on tiptoe, and turn up the lamp, which
was burning low. As he did so, I found
time to fling glance at my old enemy,
the mastiff. He lay as had first seen
him-a stuffed dog, if ever there was
one. Decidedly" thought 1, ''my wits
are to seek, tonight" and with the same
sudden suspicion made me turn to my
conductor, who had advanced to the left
hand door, and was waiting for me, with
hand on the knob.
Zone moment" said; "this is al
very pretty, but how how am to know
you're not sending me to bed while
you fetch in all the countryside to a lay
me by the heels?"
'I'm afraid" was his answer, "you
must be content with my word, as gen.
tleman, that never, tonight or hereafter,
will breathe syllable about the cir
cumstances of your visit. However, if
you choose, we will return upstairs. -
mo; I'll trust you," said 1; and he
opened the door.
1t led into broad passage, paved with
slate, upon which three or four rooms
opened. He paused by the second, and
ushereded me into sleeping-chamber
which, though narrow, was comfortable
enough-a vast improvement, at any
rate, on the mumper's lodgings had
been used to for many months past.
"You can undress here" he said.
'The sheets are aired, and if you'll wait
moment I'll fetch nightshirt-one of
my own."
'tSir, you heap Goals of fire on me-"
"Believe me that for ninety-nine of
your qualities 1 do not care tinker's
course; but as man who, after three
tumblers of neat brandy, can tell Mar
sala from Madeira you are to be taken
care Of"
He suffled away, but came back in a
couple of minutes with the nightshirt.
Goodnight he called to me, fling
ing it in at the door; and without giving
me time to return the wish, went his
way upstairs.
Now it might be supposed that was
only too glad to toss off my clothes and
climb into the bed had SO unexpectedly
acquired right to. But, as matter of
fact, did nothing of the kind. Instead, |
/ drew on my boots and sat on the beds
edge, blinking at my candle till it died |
down in its socket, and afterwards at the |
purple square of window as it slowly |
changed to gray with the coming of dawn. |
l was cold to the heart, and my teeth |
chartered with an ague. Certainly 1 |
never suspected my hosts word; but
was even occupied in framing good reso-
lutions and shaping out an excellent
future, when heard the front door
gently pulled to, and a mans footsteps
moving quietly to the gate.
The treachery knocked me in heap
for the moment. Then leaping up and
finging my door wide, stumbled Though
the uncertain light of the passage into
the front hall.
There was fan-shaped light over the
door, and the place was very still and
gray. A quick thought, or rather sud
den prophetic guess at the truth, made
me turn to the figure of the mastiff cur
led under the hall table.
laid my hand on the scruff of his
neck. He was quite limp, and my fin
gers sank into the flesh on either side of
the vertebrea. Digging them deeper, L
dragged him out into the middle of the
hall, and pulled the front door open to
see the better.
His throat was gashed from ear to ear.
How many seconds passed after drop
ped the senseless lump on the floor, and
before I made another movement, il
would puzzle me to say. Twice I stirred
/ foot as if to run out at the door. Then,
changing my mind, stepned over tho