Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-09

made me feel how very desirable it
was that should not outstay my well
come, or trespass unduly upon my
hosts hospitality.
Hence I decided that the following
morning should witness my departure,
but as preferred making my exit by
means of my legs rather than with the
assistance OF dynamite, and as I pro-
posed moving only to the next street,
and notion this occasion at least
right away to the next world, came to
the conclusion that should Sleep more
peaceably if, before retiring to rest,
| could satisfy myself that on that par
tlcular night, at all events, Mr. Henry
Talbot's parcel contained nothing more
dangerous than chalks. So, instead of
hobbGng off at nine o'clock into the
prepared, l remained chatting with
Amelia. By-and~by she began to get
fldgety, being, as I could see, impa-
nent for the moment when by carry
ing lighted candle three times past
the window, she could let her lover
know, according to the signal which
hal been arranged between them, that
the other servants were at supper and
the coast clear.
The signal had scarcely been given
before there came gentle tap at the
area door, and leaving me in the inner
room, hurried out Juliet-like to greet
her Romeo
Here's the parcel of chalks, pretty
one," l heard Mr. Talbot say. Put
them away carefully for me, darling,
and III call for them as usual in the
morning.
Amelia had left the door leading into
the passage slightly ajar, so that had
been able to play the eayesdropper
without leaving my chair, which was
fortunate, for the next instant she
stepped coquettishly into the room with
a brown paper parcel in her hand
which she popped into an open drawer,
and then, with saucy nod to me,
popped out again.
Her lover seemed to be in a hurry
this particular evening, for I heard
Amelia say, 'WOt, you amt goin' yet?
Put down Yer at and coat and give us
kiss
Presumably the obedient Henry put
down his hat and coat as directed
WhereupOn Amelia snatched them up
playfully and running once more into
the room where l was sitting threw
them upon chair, and returning to
Henry said triumphantly:
There! you shan't ave 'em back
again till you be'ave yerself. A nice
young man you are to walk out with
a gal, and never even want to give her
kiss
That's soon put right" was the re-
ply, and from the sounds which reached
my ears, have cause to suppose that
Henry was as good as his word Pre-
sumably, however, preoccupation of
some sort tended to make him less
amOrOus than usual on this occasion,
for when Amelia next spoke there was
a ring of disappointment in her voice.
Dye Gail that kiss? Why don't
yer give us a real 'ug?'
An ardent lover, when the object of
his alteration thus coyly capitulates,
and gives him to understand that the
favors she has to bestow are his for
the asking, might reasonably be ex-
pected to snatch her passionately to
himself, and to cover her lips, hair
and cheeks with burning kisses, but
MIR. Talbot's reply to Amelia's tempt
ing invitation consisted, so far as l
could gather, OF a mumbled protest
about having TO be going now.
Very we'll, Mr.. Emery Talbot"
snapped the sighted maiden, I'm give
you yer old parcel back and wish You
good-hevening; and perhaps you'll
find another young woman to walk out
with another time"
20 Lord love us, what lot YOU wom-
en- are!' groaned Mr.. Talbot ina voice
which, though intended to be persua-
sive and conciliatory, sounded to me
more like the voice OF man to whom
it would have been an intense relief
to tear his own and perhaps his COM
panion's hair. Lord love us! I never
knew such fool as you are in my life.
l didn't mean anything, my dear. You
know l love you better than-lump
sugar, do" and from the noises which
ensued, l gather that he was bestow-
ing real 'ugs," with an ardor. which.
if assumed, was sufficiently ursine to
satisfy the most eXacting of maidens.
Here was my opportunity. Very
quietly I reached over, and took Mr..
Henry Talbot's parcel of chalks from
the drawer. AS 1 held the package.
with a hand which haste and nervous
ness made none too steady, something
metallic ratified ominously; and when,
with humping heart, laid my ear be-
side the thing to listen, 1 distinctly
heard the clock-like beating of an in
fernal .machine. REFRESHING the in
sane but perhaps natural inclination
to dash the horrid object away, and
mastering, by sheer will-control, the
blind, unreasoning rush of panic
stricken impulses that sprang up with
in me, tiptoed across the room, and
lifting Mr.. Talbot's coat, l stuffed the
parcel into the pocket.
How long sat in my chair, looking
in a sort of frozen horror Of calm at
a dirty brown bowler hat and a grease
soiled yellow overcoat, reeking of bad
tobacco and stained with beer-neither
of them objects to be associated readi-
ly with tragedy cannot say. To me.
who fancied as sat there that I could
hear the stealthy working Of that
devils plaything and hour-glass, tick
ing away the lives of human beings
of whom it was possible l might my
self be one-it seemed a very eternity