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

| as took her in to dinner she quoted
| Virgil to me- and in the same breath
| screeched an obiurgation at a being
whose matted head rose suddenly in to
| view behind an ancient Chinese screen,
as ] have seen the head Of Zulu woman
| peer over a bush.
Dinner was as incongruous as every
| thing else. Detestable soup in a splendid
| old silver tureen that was nearly as
| dark in hue as Robinson Crusoe's thumb
q perfect salmon, perfectly cooked, on a
Clipped kitchen dish; such cut glass as
| is not easy to find nowadays; sherry that.
| as FURRY subsequently remarked, would
| burn the shell OFF an egg; and bottle Of
| port draped in immemorial cobwebs, worn
with age and probably priceless. Though
out the Vicissitudes of the meal Mrs.
Knox's conversation flowed on undis-
mayed, directed sometimes at me-she
had installed me in the position Of friend
Of her youth, and talked to me as If
were my own ndfather-scmetimes
at Crusoe. with whom she had several
heated arguments and sometimes she
would make a statement of remarkable
frankness on the subject Of her horse
farming affairs to FURRY, who, very much
on his best behavior, agreed with all she
said and risked no original remark. AS
/ listened to them both, | remembered
with infinite amusement how he had told
me once that "a pet name she had for
him was Tony Lumpkin," and no oae
but herself knew what she meant by it.
1t seemed strange that she made no al
fusion to Trinkets colt or to Flurry's
birthday, but, mindful Of my instructions,
held my peace.
AS, at about $3.50 o'clock, we drove
away in the moonlight, FURRY congratu-
lated me solemnly on my success with
his grand mother He was good enough
to tell me that she would marry me TO-
morrow if l asked her, and he wished
would. even if it was only to see what
nice grandson he'd be for me. A SYM
pathetic giggle behind me told me that
Michael. on the back seat. had heard
and relished the jest.
We had left the gates of Aussolas
about half a mile behind, when, at the
corner of a by-road, FURRY pulled up. A
short. squat figure arose from the black
shadow of furze bush and came out
into the moonlight, swinging it's arms like
a cabman and cursing audibly
ooh murder. on murder, Misther Flur-
~! What kept We at all? 'Twould perish
the crows to be waiting here the way l
am these two hours"
"Ah, shut your mouth, Slipper" said
FURRY, who, to my surprise, had turned
back the rug and was taking off his driV
ing coat, II couldn't help it. Come or,
Yeates, we've got to get out here"
What for?" l asked. in not unnatural
bewlderment.
ITS all right. I'll tell you as We go
along" replied my companion, who was
already turning to follow Slipper UP the
by-road. Take the trap on, Michael,
and wait at the Rivers Cross. He wait
ed for me to come up with him, and then
put his hand On my arm. You see,
Major, this is the way it is. My grand
mothers given me that colt right enough,
but if waited for her to send him over
to me I'd never see a hair of his tail. So
just thought that as we were over
here we might as well take hima back
with us, and maybe youll give US a help
with him; he'll not be altogether too handy
for a first go of"
] was staggered. An infant in arms
could scarcely have failed to discern the
fshiness of the transaction, and l begged
Mr.. Knox not to put himself to this
trouble on my account, as l had no doubt
could find horse for my friend else
where. Mr.. Knox assured me that it was
no trouble at all, quite the contrary and
that, since his grandmother had given
him the colt, he saw no reason why he
should not take him when he wanted
him; also, that if didn't want him he'd
be glad enough to keep him himself; and,
finally, that l wasn't the chap to go back
on a friend. but l was welcome to drive
back to Shreelane with Michael this
minute if / liked.
OF course l yielded in the end. I told
FURRY l should lose my job over the
business. and he said | could then marry
his grandmother, and the discussion was
abruptly closed by the necessity of fol-
lowing Slipper over a locked five barred
gate.
Our pioneer took us over about half a
mile of country knocking down stone
gaps where practicable and scramblmg
over tall banks in the deceptive moon
light. We found ourselves at length in
a field with a shed in one corner of it;
in a dim group of farm buildings a little
way off a light was shining.
wait here" said FURRY to me in a
whisper; 1.-THE less noise the better. It's
on Sltli SANi, anu We II just SlIp III ana
coax him out"
Slipper unwcund from his waist a
halter, and my colleagues glided like
spectres into the shadow of the shed,
leaving me to mediate on my duties as
Resident Magistrate, and on the question
that would be asked in the House by our
local member when Slipper had given
away the adventure in his cups
In less than a minute three shadows
emerged from the she'd where two nd
gone in. They had got the colt.
"He came out as quiet as a calf when
ne winded the sugar" said FURRY; 'it
was well for me l filled my pockets from
grandmama's sugar basin"
He and Slipper had a rope from each
side of the colts head they took him
quickly across a field toward a gate. The
colt stepped daintily between them over
the moonlit grass; he snorted occasional
ly, but appeared on the whole amenabie.
The trouble began later and was due,
as trouble often is, to the beguilements
of a short cut. Against the maturer
judgment of Slipper FURRY insisted on
no oCc,,,,o,l =.