Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-02
CHAPTER vi.
ATTEND THE COUNCIL OF SCoUN.
DRELS.

WHO'S there?" said a voice from
within. in response to the stealthy
summons which l raped upon the
door of the gypsy wagon where the
council was assembled.
Number Seven" l made answer, in
accordance with Instructions
l heard bolt slip in its socket, but
the door was opened so cautiously that
there was scarcely space for ne to
squeeze in. Nor should have been
sorry to have squeezed out again the
next instant, for, though the light was
Of the dimmest, the air was too scoty
and greasy with the stencil of burning
COLA that it stuck in my throat like
q mouthful of oily soup, and felt my
stomach twisting in protest under my
belt.
The next instant the light. which ap-
parently had been turned down at my
summons, was turned up again. l
cannot say that the interior OF the
wagon was much pleasanter TO the
sense of sight than to the sense OF
smell. for the smoky ismplight so
jaunsiced the faces OF the six OF us,
that we resembled nothing so much as
a batch of sea-sick passengers who
look askance at each other. wondering
who will be the first to give the signal
TO succumb.
I'VE are waiting for our chief, Coun-
cillor Number One" said the man who
had opened the door. Did you pass
any one like him on the road, Council
tor Number Seven? He would, OF
course, be wearing his councillors dis
guise but whether he had his bag with
him, as usual, I can't say"
I did not consider it advisable to in
form this honored colleague of mine
that the bag to which he alluded was
tucked away in a hayrick. where had
bestowed IL only few minutes before,
and that the owner of the article was
lying on the railway line with his
brains on the wrong side Of his head, so
contented myself by replying that
had seen no one after had left Leigh.
The man at the door inclined his
head gravely In acknowledgment, but
said DO further word, and for some
quarter of an hour we stood there with
out speaking. Except for our breath
ing and the ticking of our watches.
there was silence which every mo-
ment became more oppressive and
more aggressive. TO my overwrought
nerves IL seemed singing with disas-
ter. IL was like a brooding presence,
omiRous of evil. and soon-what with
the fetid air and the heat of the place
began to feel liSht-headed and could
have sworn that this same silence had
slowly begun To gyrate around me- like
gigantic wheel that increased in mo-
mentum with every revolution Nor
was I the only one OF the company
with nerves." for when sleepy but
wouid-be-sober beetle. graveiy wheel
ing homeward from some seductive
becue-haunt. Numbered against a win
dow pnne-as drunkard. who, vowing
that he can walk straight. reels against
tavern door-the whole six of us
Jumped like startled cats ut the sound
Of his horny tap.
The incident was not, however, with
out sequel. for one of the party Il dis
covered afterwards that he was Num-
Der Two). whose Jump" had been ac-
companied by 4 word unaccustomed to
ears polite. but whose sins were not
all uncovered by that cloak to the
wearer of which much may be for
given. that cloak which can transform
the raggedest of rascals into a present.
~hOiC ACA SOAAdSC an COll-
panion-need say mean a sense of
humor?-took advantage of the diver
sion TO make sensible suggestion
He remarked that he had always been
taught and was quite prepared to ad-
NIT the truth of the Scriptural pre-
cept that 1.-The way of transgressors is
hard" but as for himself he did not
see why the transsressors-aS he pre-
sumed the occupants of that wagon
were-should be poisoned in this world
as well as roasted in the next, and he
begged leave to move that either the
door or the window be opened.
ItWas not brilliant observation, but
IL brought about two good results
the letting in of some fresh air and
the letting out of the awkward con-
straint which had bound us. Laughter
Is the greatest of Jewellers. To ask a
man 10 drink with you-which, ac-
corning To our English social code, is
the very running up of the flag of fell
lo"shlp-is not half SO effective in
setting you and him upon good terms
~lih each other. as is a hearty laugh in
common. From laughing at this allu-
sion TO the way OF transgreSsors we
went en- To discussing the situation as
IL then presented itself, and as there
was still no sign of the advent of Num-
Der One, we decided that something
had happened 10 detain him, and that,
as We could do nothing without him, we
had best postpone the discussion of
business till the next day, when he
wouis. no doubt, make an opportunity
10 Join us. In the meantime we must
pass the night where we were. so each
OF us proceeded to make himself as
eomfortabie--or. rather. as little uncom-
fortable-as he could in our very lux
urions lodgings. For myself, what
with the unusual circumstances, tho
tragic struggle In the train, the i'm
patient tossings, turninss. twistings
and sishinss of my companions, vainly
staining after ease on their most nm