Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-02-06

LET Me GO. YOU DoTARDi"
tently after me, hurried along the
passage, but before had gone a dozen
PAGES 1 came upon some one walking
slowly in the same direction, whom,
when he turned on hearing my foot
steps, l found to my dismay to be the
old care-taker.
Where are you going, young mani"
he inquired grufly.
Perhaps my momentary hesitation in
zearch Of plausible excuse aroused
his suspicion. for when l said that I
was only taking an airing, as the heat
or the hall had made me faint, he an
swered. none too genially-
Then you take a airin' somewhere
else These amt infirmary grounds.
and n you feel faint the best thing
you can do is to nip round to the Red
Cow and get two penny'orth OF
brandy"
''Oh, shall be all right in a min
ute, my friend. thank you" 1 said,
thinking 1t best to humor him. az
don't care to go out into the street
for the present, it's too crowded: but
don't you bother about me, shall be
all right when I've had a stroll round
in the air for a few minutes" and
with that essayed to slip past him,
being impatient OF this unlooked-for
bindrance.
We'll. you can't stroll round here"
he said. barring the way with his bulky
figure. I'VE can't have no strangers
along this passage. It's private prop
erty; so out you so and sharp"
Finding him thus obdurate. I did
what / ought to have done at first, and
clipped a coin-balf crown I
thought it was-into his hand. His
fingers closed upon it in an instant.
Il don't want to be disagreeable
when gentleman amt feeling quite
wen," he began. "All the same"
Then he stopped disguised. why. 1t
aint art crown. It's a penny-not
SO much even as the price of drink.
IL you think"
Just then heard the bursting of the
bomb inside the hall. There was not
a moment to lose II / was to secure the
bag. so, determining to take by force
what had been refused me as a favor.
L nudged my shoulder to the care
takers chest and charged" him in
The good old fashion OF the football
Geld
Would your" he shouted. You
rascap l knew you were after no
good" and catching at my coat COL
lar as was in the act of passing him,
ne tried TO swing me round, but, los
Ing his balance, fell back heavily
on the gravel, dragging me, sprawling
ever nis chest, ON top OF him. AS we
went down. man-it was evidently
HuSoock--carrying something in his
hand darted round the corner, and
jumping lightly over the PROSTATE pair
OF US, passed through the gate, which
ne banged behind him.
Let nae so. you dotard!" shouted
20 tAe care-taker. Let me go before
q strike you. 1 must follow that man
at ali costs"
The old fellow was a man Of spirit
notwithstanding his years. and held
me so stoutly-I could not bring my
SEX 70 strike him-that some seconds
passed before I could shake off his
grip
when at last managed to wrench
myself free and leaped up TO follow
lubbock. it was only to find that had
ief3 the frying-pan for the fire.
From the open door Of the hall a
SwaJins throng was now surging like
devils vomited from the mouth of hell.
Some Of them must have heard the
meaningless cry OF stop hint stop,
theft" with which the old care-taker
Saiuted my flying figure. All know
Is that for the second time that even
ing l was reminded OF my football
days. only on this occasion 1t seemed
10 me that I was the football and the
senter Of the scrimmage. and that some
two dozen Of devils-mad for blood,
snd pounding and bashing at me with
hands and sticks. as well as with feet
were the players.
The old mans meaningless cry of
Stop, thief" had led them, no doubt.
TO suppose that / was the stealer of tho
money, and that, IL they were only
QUICK enough about it. they might Sc