The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-02-15

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with a smart hanson, he had just time
to catch the last train for Kings Cross.
He felt considerably pleased with him.
self as he sat in a corner of a first
class carriage, and chuckled grimly to
think how impossible 1t was for any,
one to escape when his sharpness was
brought to bear upon them.
Tn a perfect bird-ketcher, I am" he
muttered to himself. ''They flutters
away a bit, but not for long; I as my
and on 'em before they can say q
word. I wonder who's put the gel up
thought that Jemima-' He did not
his hands was sufficiently deadly to
convey his meaning.
He got to dull little Barnet, looking
duller than ever with everyone In bed,
and set out to find the Crown and
little inn, with a comfortable, homely
aspect, and with al unpretentious sign
swinging over the door announcing the
fact that there were Beds for Travel
ers." He knocked at the door (for the
house was closed for the night and
was informed that he could have a bed.
AS HC WdS COlIuuCICO SAAOu6A ia VOL
by the man who had answered his sum-
mons, he dropped a gentle hint con-
corning possible refreshment; the man
set down the light and began to hustle
about to meet the wishes of his guest.
Cornelius sat down and let his eyes
roam over the walls.
There, on one wall, beside the bar IT.
self, was a long, yellow placard, setting
forth the fact that the Spencer Com
bination would give a grand perform
ance on the nex evening-the first Of
their our through the principal towns
Of Great Britain; and that they would
be assisted (this in very large letters
indeed by Mr.. Anthony Taggett and
Miss Medora Broom. Cornelius Wee
vers began to chuckle to himself again.
do you get many OF these ere play
actin folk in Barnt?" he asked. care
lessly, addressing the landlord. who
had set his drink before him.
mot many" replied the man, "cept
at fair time-and they're a rough lot, I
can tell yer. See that billy" He
jerked his head in the direction Of the
yellow placard.
Cornelius nodded. II was jist a-cast-
in my eye over It," he replied.
"Stoppin' in this very 'ouse, they
are" went on the man, with an air Of
pride. "None of your show-folk, there,
not a bit Of It. That's a gent for you!"
he waved his hand toward Anthony
Taggett's name-"a gent as is fairly all
Over Shakespeare-right up his back, in
fact. IVY, I do assure you, that gent
uses words, wen 'e's askin' for any,
think ordinary, as o don't ear any
where's but on the stage. Els a credit
to the 'ouse. that's what e isl"
Cornelius nodded, alphabetically.
Anybody with 'im?" he asked, slipping
his liquor.
mot till tonight. Then an old gent
"a little man come drivin' up with 81
young gel, an asked for them. I think
they said they'd drove straight from
London" =.
"Ah!" Cornelius nodded again. IT
think I'll go to bed, If you'll show me
the way"
Cornelius Viewers was seized with
such g violent fit of chuckling when he
reached his room and was left alone
there hat it almost seemed for a few
moments, as though he must inevitably
lose his breath altogether-which might
not nave been a bad thing for some Of
those about whom he had been reused
to SO much unusual mirth. But he
thumped and punched himself out of
his fit; and finally got to bed and slept
crooked monster that he was-sound-
ly enough, over the very room in which
Olive Mallory lay.
He kept out of sight during the next
day-only slipping out, by a back way,
to the postof1ce to send his telegram to
his master. That telegram was brief
and to the point: u,
"Found. Come down afternoon. Will
be at station waiting"
That dispatched, he went back and
informed the landlord that he should
probably want his room again that
night. Then he went back again and
found his way to the station; and loi-
tered about there, watching each train
which came in from London.
Quite early in the afternoon Mr.. Nu-
gent Leathwood stepped out Of a train
ana crossed the platform quickly and
passed into a waiting room, merely
giving a slight nod to Cornelius; that
gentleman followed him at once.
"Well-so you've found her, have
you? You're a clever old rascal
G0SACSu CAStCE, SOE1lSllOSs 1S 1hu6uSU
and clapped his hand on the old mans
shoulder. IT don't really know how I
should get on without you. Come, tell
me all about It,"
Stimulated by this praise. Cornelius
gave a very full and minute account Of
all that had happened. Of his talk with
the landlord of the Crown and Cush.
ion. and wound up by suggesting a pos
sible plan of action.
Tonight these Taggett's will go Il
their play-actin; they're playing in q
sort of barn at the other end Of the
town. They'll all go-sure to do; but
they won't take the gel. Most likely
they'll leave FER be'ind. Well, I put Il
to you: there's two Of US, and she's q
mere sliplof q gel. What do you think
Of that--eh?n I
81 think very well 4 It, indeed.
friend Cornelius" replied Nugent, with
a grim. .'But what about this fellow
Reeks? What are we going TO do about
him?"
Wen hope for the best said Cor
nelius. For the present, we muslin
be seen about the place make yourself
scarce all day-comef$ torssthe Inn to
night-and hang about at the back un.
til you pee me"
Upon that understandable, they part,
ed; Nugent to fuinei and 81 aboul
the5stown during the day,,aaeufsing IN.
del4y and torturfngg himself: with fear,
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