The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
it ought to have thought how weak you

Rubbish said the major. II am as fit
as fiddle. But since / had that beastly
enteric. get tired now and then. and when
l do lift is welcome. If / don't overdo 1t,
a walk is a good thing. But it's always
pleasant 10 know that you have a gee 10
pull you home Just ring. the bell. Mater,
and I'll give the necessary orders
The bell was rung. and, in response 10
orders, delivered under a somewhat eia5or-
ate etiquette, Jones appeared.
''Erlscote, sir?' he said, touching his
forelock. Ready in five minutes" But
Jones grinned, well trained as he was. and
the CLINT of his white teeth behind the
Transvaal tan of his complexion brought
vague remembrance to Major Adcock S
mind. Four miles away from home the
major found Jones halted on the high road,
which had been so cut as to split spinney
il two haiyes.
Il seem" said Jones, "a weasel follow a
rabbit across this ere path. and couldn't
help but pull up and look on at the works
o. nature. Amt it lovely, comm back, sir 20
It's very pleasant to be back, Jones. .
said the major, shifting up the mild air;
very nice indeed"
II don't suppose, SIR said Jones, re-
spectfully," as it ever entered your head to
be poacher''
We'll" said the major. smiling and twist
ing his moustache, Il don't know that it
ever did, Jones. 1 suppose" he added. al
lovingly, that you were born in the
country?'
Yes, sir" said Jones. Born in the
country and in this part OF it, sir. And
manys the time I've found a rabbit, or a
partridge, or an are in this perticlar little
bit of spinney. It's regular breeding
ground, this is, for all sorts o game-all
the kinds of fur and feather as you gen.
tlemen likes to shoot. But bless my cart
If l was to be left here alone, sir, for five
minutes, / don't want no gun. 1 WOULDN'T
mind betting what you like, sir, if you'll
excuse the liberty of the offer, that I'll
walk into that there spinney, either side.
and come back with an are or rabbit or
a partridge in my and, and I'll ask for
nothing but my native wits to guide me-"
Jones' said the major, I'm in no hurry.
and l will bet you a dollar that you don't
go into that wood and come back again
with fur or feather within quarter of an
hour It's an utterly nefarious enterprise
on my part but I'll watch the old girl
whilst you co.
Done with you, sir.' said Jones, touch
ing his cap and leaping lightly from the
dog-cart, into which the major climbed.
somewhat cumbrously.
Its a baddish time of day for this kind
of work, but then, sir, If you'll excuse my
Dragging, I'm an expert. Do you remem-
Der my stalking that springbok, sir, and
bringing you in the launch for Christmas
dinner?"
"Go along, JONES'" said the major. land
let us see what you can do
why, SIR" said Jones, II was a poacher
from my cradlel' And with that he dis
appeared into the spinney.
Major Adcock was little tired, and the
comfortable cushions of the dog-cart were
grateful to him. He sat there half doing
in the sunshine, with the pleasant autumn
country air about him, and thought how
good thing it was to be at home again.
and stroked the well-combed name of the
mare in the shafts with a caressng touch
of the whip. When Jones had gone five
yards into the wood his step became in
audible, and the dreaming major had actu.
ally ceased to think about him, when in
about ten minutes time he returned with a
bird in one hand and a hare in the other.
"Aint forgot the trick, SIR" said Jones
as he thrust the bird and the hare beneath
his masters feet and clambered into the
dog-cart.
"You amt forgot the trick" said a voice
very near at hand, land you amt forgot
me, ave you, Jones?'
Jones turned with a calm which is not
common to the detected poacher, and
smiled
NO" he said you and me as beer
longer at war at 'ome than the British and
Dutch as been so far in the Transvaal
But L was just showing the guv'nor little
trick of mine. and we're going up to the
castle to explain about it,
''Yus," said the man in velveteens, who
had originally accosted Jones, you're going
up to the castle to explain about it, and
I'm going to show the way" The man in
velveteens dexterously took the reins from
the hands of the astonished major, and
began to lead the mare up hill.
But, / say, look here, my friend" said
the major, you're rather OVERRIDING this
I'm going up at this moment to leave my
card on Lord Erlscote. and don't want to
be introduced as poacher. Here's half a
more about it,.
i've got 'im," said the man i'm velveteens
very grimly. without turning; i've got i'm
red-handed, and I've caught i'm in the act
You're along with i'm, whoever you are
and you've got to come afore his lordship
And. mind you this said Velveteens
whether I've got the law behind me Oh
whether 1 'avent makes no difference to
me. I've got a gun here, and I'll put more
or less of a load o. lead into whichever OF
you starts to run, whether it's the thief Oh
the receiver
MY dear good fellow" said the major
you can't suppose
Never mind you what / can't suppose, "
said Velveteens, NOR what can suppose
I've known this chap for poacher from
his cradle, and this is the first time I've
got a chance at him. Do you think I'm
going to lose it? Not much / ain'tr'
1t was in these circumstances that Major
Adcock found himself landed at the lodge
of Erlscote Castle, where the trap was
taken in charge, and whence he and his
man were marched up the sweeping avenue