The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-05

a rick of turf while l realized ia fullness
what an exceptional ass l was to have
been beguied into an enterprise that in
yolved hiding with Slipper from the Roy
| M Irish ConstabulaTy.
Let il suffice to say that Trinket's in
fernal offspring was finally handed over
on the high road to Michael and Slipper.
and FURRY drove me home in a state of
mental and physical overthrow.
I saw nothing of my friend Mr. Knox
for the next couple of days, by the end of
which time ] had worked up a high polish
on my misgivings, and had determined t.
tell him that under no circumstances
would I have anything to say to his
! grandmother's birthday present. 1t was
! like my usual luck that, instead of writ
ing a note to this effect, l thought it
would be good for my liver to walk across
the hills to Tory Cottage and tell Furry
50 in person.
II was bright, blustery morning after
n muggy day The feeling Of spring was
| in the air. the daffodils were already ia
bud and crocuses showed purple in the
grass on either side of the avenue. It
was only a couple of miles to Tory Cot
| tage by the way across the hills. I
walked fast. and it was barely y o'clock
when I saw it's pink walls and clumps
! of cvergreens below me. As I looked
down at 1t the Ginning of FURRY s
hounds in the kennels came to me on
the wind I stood still to listen, and
! could almost have sworn that l was
| hearing again the clash Of Magdalen bells
hard at work on May morning.
The path that I was following led
downward through a large plantation to
| Flurrys back gate. Hot watts from some
| hideous caldron at the other side Of 4
wall appraised me Of the vicinity of the
| kennels and their cuisine, and the fir
! trees round were hung with grewsome
and unknown joints. I thanked Heaven
that | was not a master OF hounds, and
passed on as quickly as might be to the
hall door.
! rang two or three times without re-
| sponse; then the door opened a couple
| Of inches and was instantly slammed in
my face. | heard the hurried padding
of bare feet on oilcloth and a voice
Hurry Birdie, hurry; there's quality at
the door!"
Birdie, holding dirty cap on with
one hand, presently arrived and informed
me that she believed Mr.. Knox was out
about the place. She seemed perturbed
and she cast scared glances down the
drive while speaking to me
I knew enough of Flurrys habits to
shape a tolerably direct course for his
whereabouts He was as l had expected
in the training paddock q field behind
the stable yard, in which he had put up
practice jumps for his horses. 1t was Il
good-sized field, with clumps of furze In
nd CT
of these with his hands in his pockets,
singularIy unoccupied. I supposed that
he was prospecting for place to put
up another jump, He did not see me
coming, and turned with start as
! spoke to him. There was a queer ex-
preston of mingled guilt and what car
only describe as devilment in his gray
eyes as he greeted me. In my dealings
with FURRY Knox | have since formed
the habit of sitting tight, in a general
way, when l see that expression.
well, who's coming next, / wonder,"
he said, as he shook hands with me; cts
not ten minutes since l had two Of your
ID peelers here, searching the whole
place for my grandmothers colt
what" I exclaimed feeling cold all
down my back, do you mean the police
have got hold of it,"
"They haven't got hold Of the colt
anyway" said FURRY. looking sideways
at me from under the peak of his cap.
with the CLINT of the sun in his eye. 81
got word in time before they came"
What do you mean" I demanded
Where is he? For heavens sake, don't
tell me you've sent the brute over to
my place!"
Its a good Job for you I didn't" re-
piled FURRY las the police are on their
way to Shreelane this minute to consult
you about it, You!" He gave utterance
to one of his short diabolical fits Of
laughter. Hes where they'll not find
him, anyway. Ho! Ho' It's the fun
niest hand ever Played"
"Oh. yes, it's devi1ish funny, I've no
doubt" l retorted, beginning to lose my
temper as is the manner of many people
when they are frightened; but l give you
fair warning that if Mrs. Knox asks me
any questions about it, I shall tell her
the whole story"
"All right" responded FURRY, "and
when you do, don't forget to tell her how
you flogged the colt out on the road
over her own bounds ditch"
Very we'll" said holly, Il may as
well go home and send in my papers.
They'll break me over this"
"Ah hold on, Major" said FURRY.
soothingly; "it'H be all right No one
knows anything. It's only a spec the
old lady sent the hobbies here If you'll
keep quiet it'll all blow over"
Il don't care" | said, struggling hope
lessly in the tolls; eff l met your grand
mother and she asks me about Ii l shall
tell her all / know"
please God. you'll not meet herl After
all it's not once in a blue moon that
she" began FURRY. Even as he said
the words his face changed. Holy fy!'
he calculated, isn't that her dog coming
into the field" Look at her bonnet over
the wall! Hide, aide for your life," He
caught me by the shoulder and showed
me down among the furzc bushes before
realized what had happened.
Get in there! I'll talk to her"
I may as well confess that at the mere
sight of Mrs. Knox's purple bonnet my
heart turned to water In that moment
| knew what it would be like to tell her
how |, having eaten her salmon. and
l