Willmar tribune., 1904-04-27
CHAPTER XVIII.
A "SCRIk.M AGE IN WHICH I PLAY
THE PART OF FOOTBALL.

The lights once switched off, felt
that there was not a moment to lose
if l wished to be on the spot to get
tossed through the window.
Walking quietly out, l worked my
way unObtrusively to the gate which
closed the passage leading to the yard
at the back of the hall. Fortunately
for me, the hubbub inside the building,
and the sudden putting out Of the
lights, had served to distract the at
tention of the loungers inside the rail-
ings and of the crowd outside, so I
was able to open the gate and to slip
through unobserved. Closing it 81
lently after me, hurried along the
passage, but before had gone a dozen
PAGES I came upon some one walking
when he turned on hearing my foot
steps, found to my dismay to bs the
old care-taker
where are you going, young man?''
he inquired gruff1y.
Perhaps my mOmentary hesitation in
search of a plausible excuse aroused
his suspicion, for when l said that l
was only taking an airing, as the heat
of the hall had made me faint, he an
swered, none too genially-
"Then you take a airin' somewhere
else. These amt infirmary grounds,
and if 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," l said,
thinking it best to humor him. *
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 stroll round
in the air for few minutes" and
with that I 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 go and sharp"
Finding him thus obdurate, did
what ought to have done at first, and
slipped coin-half crown
thought it was-into his hand. His
fingers closed upon it in an instant.
Il don't want to be disagreeable
when a gentleman amt feeling quite
WELL" he began. 'All the same
Then he stopped disgusted why, it
amt art a crown. It's a penny-not
so much even as the price of drink.
If you think"
Just then l heard the bursting Of the
bomb inside the hail. There was not
a. moment to lose if was to secure the
lag, so, determining to take by force
what had been refused me as a favor
nudged my shoulder to the care
takers chest and "charged'' him in
the good old fashion of the football
field.
Would you?" he shouted. "You
rascal! l knew you were after no
good!" and catching at my coat COL
lar as was in the act of passing him,
he tried to swing me round, but, los
on the gravel, dragging me, sprawling
over his chest, on top of him. AS we
went down, man-it was evidently
misunderstanding something in his
hand darted round the corner, and
jumping lightly over the PROSTATE pair
of us, passed through the gate, which
he banged behind him.
Let me go, you dotard!' I shouted
to the care-taker. Let me go before
| strike you. l must follow that man
at all costs.''
The old fellow was man of spirit
Notwithstanding his years, and held
me so stoutly-I could not bring my.
self to strike him-that some seconds
passed before I could shake off his
grip.
When at last I managed to wrench
myself free and leaped up to follow
lubbock, it was only to find that h ad
left the frying-pan for the fire.
From the open door of the hall a
swaying throng was now surging like
devils vomited from the mouth of hell
Some of them must have heard the
meaningless cry of stop him! stop
thief!' with which the old care-takel
saluted my flying figure. All know
Is that for the second time that even.
ing was reminded of my football
days, only on this occasion it seemed
to me that l was the football and the
center of the scrimmage, and that some
two dozen of devils-mad for blood
and pounding and bashing at me with
hands and sticks, as we'll 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, if they were only
quick enough about it, they might Sc
cure the booty for themselves.
1t did not take long to undeceive
them, for in less than half minute
hadn't as much as rag to my back;
and I was allowed to drag myself
bleeding, breathless, naked, and
trembling in every limb, to a corner
where lay feeling as one might who
had been snatched from the ravenine
jaws OF pack OF hungry wolves.
It was some days before was suf1l-
ciently recovered to journey to Tar
borough to claim my share of the
money and to hear how Number Two
had Jared. had telegraphed to say
was coming by the three o'clock train
and lubbock was there with the trap
to meet me.
"Well, is the money safe, lubbock -
said, as we drove off from the sta
ton.
Eyes. sir. I took care of that. Your
share is waiting for you all right
Rather cheaply earned, sir, wasn't it,"
NO." answered, gruffly. "lt struck
me as rather dear. Where's your mas
ter?''
I'm bed, sir-what's left of him. And
had attack tOO"