News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-05-24


coat, was smoking short black pipe
and strolling along as if all the town
belonged to him.
"Hunstonw exclaimed Jack.
Eyes, I'm the man, alive and kicking,
as they say" replied Harry funston
coolly. Didn't you know l was here?'
mo-"
I'm at DR.. Begbie's. Crawcour
wouldn't have me, and | thought I'd
try t'other crib, which like a precious
deal better. Well, tip up your fist.
You're not above shaking hands with
fellow, are you"
Jack hung back. Somehow or other
his instinct made him distrust Hun
ston senior, who had always been his
enemy.
''It was through you | got the dirty
kick out from Crawcour's, but l don't
bear malice" funston went on.
81 can't see that it was my fault"
"It was in reality all Naples doings
He put me up to the dodge, but I'm
sorry for it, and l beg your pardon.
can't say any more than that, can p
Jack took his proffered hand.
Consider that I've made you hand.
some apology. Let's be friends" Hun.
ston exclaimed. "And now suppose we
have a drink to our noble selves"
"All right" replied Jack, whose great
fault was his easy, good natured way.
funston slipped his arm in that of
Jack, and they walked to the Crown,
Shortly afterward they passed Collin
son, who was going to the stationers,
He stared hard at Hunston senior and
looked both grieved and puzzled to see
Jack with him.
Hes too proud to speak" remarked
Hunston senior as Collinson went on.
"It's his loss, however, not mine. By
the way, how's my pup of a brother?
Tell him to come down to Begbie's and
see me-"
81 WILL" replied Jack.
They entered the Crown, which was
an old fashioned hostelry of some con-
sequence in the posting days, and had
two glasses of bitter beer in front of
the bar A fashily dressed man was
standing by wearing a profusion of
jewelry which did not look real. Near
him was another man of the same dis
sipated appearance. They had two
dogs with them and accosted funston
ia Niliarly.
Who are those fellows" whispered
Jazz.
zone we call Ugly Bob and the other
is known as the Brum because he halls
from Birmingham. I'll introduce you"
What are they?
Sporting men"
"What do they do for a living, !
mean"
ooh, bet on races, get up pigeon
shooting Matches dogfghtS and bill
Hard matches and all that sort of thing!
They're two summers. | say, Bob,
here's friend of mine anxious to make
your acquaintance, and you, too" he
added, addressing the Brum.
The men shook hands with Jack and
proposed, as it was cold out there, they
should go to the billiard room fire.
Jack followed them, scarcely know
Ing whether he was doing right or
wrong in mixing with such peculiar
people, but his suspicious vanished al
most as soon as they were formed.
Suppose we have a game of bill
liards?" said Ugly Bob, adding as he
looked at Jack, play, STRIP
81 know a cannon counts two, and
white ball pocketed is also two, and
that anything off the red is three, and
I can make a bridge and knock the
balls about little, but l can't play"
replied Jack
mo more can l." answered Ugly
Bob. when l play, it is for amuse-
ment. But I've no objection to play
you twenty points up and give you
five for half crown"
"Play him. He's the biggest duffer
know" whispered funston senior.
II thought you said he was a sporting
man.
''Ah, but he knows nothing about bill
lizards! It's horses he's so big upon"
answered Hunston senior, with a sig
nificant shake of the head.
The Brum took up a position near the
board and said he would mark. Jack,
against his will, began to play. The
balls ran very easily and luckily for
him, and by the aid of few fukes he
won the game.
Ugly Bob handed him half a crown,
saying, you're pretty good for one
who doesn't play"
"He's one too many for you, Bob"
said the Brum.
"I'll try him again. Never say die"
HunstQn patted Jack on the back
and exclaimed: what do you say to
my novice? Isn't he a beauty"
"Reg'lar lamb" answered the Brum
rapturously. 81 mean a wonderful
good one to play"
Jack did not see the connection be-
tween good player and lamb, as he
was not aware that young sheep in
dulged In the pasttme of billiards, nor
did he see the exquisitely comic grim
ace with which that intelligent coun-
tryman, the Brum, favored him behind |
his back. Flushed with success and |
fully believing in the innocence of his |
heart that he could beat Ugly Bob on
his merits, be felt no reluctance in play
ing him again, and this time for lar |
ger stake. AS matter of course he |
won. Ugly Bob growled a little and |
was advised by his friend to leave off.