Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-07
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
/ BUSKERS
/ AT BAY |
Z BIT ARTHUR MORRISON. !
Copyright, 1901, bu Arthur Morrison.
Observation-Disclosures

IupBfWit, 1914, W A'W' 1uo'ftsoH.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
No doubt 1t was large larder, though
a mere blackncss to sight now; nc
doubt crammed to the ceiling with a
superiiuity of the Christmas fare that
Iendy saw no chance of tasting. Was
1t really so large rs he fancied? lie
felt his pocket and found matchbox
with n few matches still remaining
AT least ii was no sin to take peep
Everybody was in bed He struck q
match in the shelter of the window
frame and held 1t within.
a larder 1t was, indeed, with both
windows-wire within and glass with.
out = left open; q long, brick paved
place-the floor was a yard at least
below the path he stood on and fitted
round with shelves everywhere. And
on the shelves
He gazed till the match burned his
fingers. But the picture remained Wv.
id in his mind. Six plum buildings
twas 1t SIX or seven-at any rate six
In a row, in china molds, with cloths
tied on top; cut ham on dish and
three whole ones, hanging; two birds
geese-hanging also; mass of cold sir
loin, half cut away; another mass OF
sirloin. uncooked; n large dish of mince
pies, tub of water in dark corner
with oatmeal spilled about it--oysters
no doubt; rows of jam pots, butter
cheese-everything. The agony of it'll
Was it six buildings or seven? NJ
harm in counting, at any rate. La
struck another match.
Six plum puddings! And what could
one mana bachelor-want with ST,
plum buildings, to say nothing Of nj
the rest of this extravagant provision
Probably the housekeeper or the cool
was swindling her master and prepar
ing all this to regale herself and hel
friends. 1t would serve her right II
somebody to walk off with enc
of those puddings and say, one ham
mere act of justice indeed. No
that he could do such thing as thai
himself, of course, though, indeed, Il
would be rather ,lark-the sort OF
joke you could tell your friends oil
years after-how the rich co1npan,
monger supported the drama, after all
without knowing it.
1t would be the easiest thing in thu
world to get in, too-as easy as goinl
down stairs. Nobody would know, OF
course, and it would really seem ;
capital joke afterward. And, while
this would be joke, going without &
Christmas dinner would be serious
matter. Were they oysters in tha
tub? The spilled oatmeal would seen
to indicate as much, though YOU
couldn't tell with certainty at.this dis
lance. And then
Mr.. Barring Spencer sat late, with {
box of cigars and n decanter. He was
ford, heavy jowled man of forty
five or thereabout, and it was probable
that in his time he had emptied more
deennters than this one. A few draft
prospectuses and such papers lay about
the table, but they were done with
hours ago. He had discovered a very
excellent port in the cellar, and now,
the decanter being empty, Mr.. Barring
Spencer, after look ut his watch, de-
cided that on the whole he would see
about another bottle. The rest of the
household We're in bed. so he took Il
candle and went down stairs himself
He wGs on the cellar stairs when lie
heard slight noise in the direction of
the larder. Perhaps n cat had got in.
to 1t.
= Joe Hendy had burned his last
match and, with pudding dangling
by its cloth from one hand, was feel
ing along the shelf with the other in
pursuit of the cut ham when the door
flew open behind him. and his heart
flew up into his mouth There were
light and crash and two hands on
his collar behind, and at that, with a
yell Of despair, Hendy twisted about
and fought wildly with both hands
The candle went over and out, the
pudding mold smashed against shelf
and the cloth, still gripped in his
fingers, shed cool. moist pudding about
the heads of thief and linancicr alike.
But Hendy was the weaker, and the
shock had despoilcd him OF wind
Presently he was dragged through the
door and found himself imploring par
don and release in affect terms He
was starving, and the window was
open to tempt him; he had sick wife
no food for her. disgrace would kill her
and so forth
Come" said his captor. hard OF
breath himself; you just come along
ana wen see about that" And lie
pushed the captive now all terror and
submission, up stairs before him in the
dark. tripping and stumbling. For II
struck Mr.. Barring Spencer for reasons
that possibly. If no particular harm
We're DONE it would be better to tcrrify
the intruder and send him about his
business rather than engage In trouble.
some business at police court So M
the top of short flight Hendy found
himself pushed first across Il dimly
lighted passage and then Through a
study door.
From landing high above came u
trembling female voice: Mr.. Spencer,
sir! Are you there, Sir? II thought
heard noise"
Whercto Mr.. Spencer, in the passage
without, replied with SO terrifying a
mouthful Of language that the voice
was heard no more.
Poor Hendy. pale and trembling,
smeared across the face with pudding
and staring at the decanter ON the
table without seeing it, started at that
amazing string Of rhetoric. Surely
surely the idiom was somehow ia
miliar
MIR. Barring Spencer came In at the
door. and for the first time their eyes
met in full light. Both We're to some
extent disguised in pudding, but Hendy
knew his man at once Why" he
gasped. Fita-Fitz- Howardw
"Ehf' grunted the other sharply.
whats that?" for his own recollection
was slower. But the name
Hendy took n long breath, wiped the
back of his hand across his face and
sat down unlimited. my names Hen
dy" he said; Joseph Hendy, Juveniles,
Trevor Fitz-Hownrd's company, Leeds;