The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-03-02
SILVER SPUR

he steps up to where the bully stood
mopping his face and, with a finger be-
tween the leaves of his book. bows very
politely.
You handled that dog, sir. choicely
well" says he, in thin voice that seem
ed to have chuckle hidden in 1t some
where. But sure" he went on. "'twas
hard on the poor cur. that had never
heard Of Captain Lucius higgs-"
1 thought the bully would have had
him by the windpipe and pitched him
after the mastiff, so fercely he turn'd at
the sound of this name. But the old gen.
tleman skipped back quite nimbly and
held up finger
I'm a man Of peace. If another title
suits you better
Where got you that nameY growled
the bully, and had half a mind to come
Oh again, but the other put In briskly:
Pm on a plain errand Of business. No
need, as you hint, to mention names; and
therefore let me present myself as Mr..
T."
MY name is Luke Settle" said the
big man, hoarsely.
Let us say Mr.. x 1 prefer It"
The old gentleman, as he said this.
popped his head on one side, laid the
fcrefnger of his right hand across the
book, and seemed to be considering.
why did you throttle that dog min
ute ago? he asked, sharply.
"Why, to save my skin." answers the
fellow, bit puzzled.
Would you have done 1t for fifty
poundsw
Ave. or half that
And how II it had been a puppy,
Mr. XT
Now, all this from my hiding 1 heard
very clearly, for they stood right under
me in the dusk. But as the old gentle
man paused to let his question sink in.
and the bully to catch the drift Of it be-
fore answering, one of the dicers above
struck up to sing.
While this din continued, the stranger
held up one foreinger again, as II be-
seeching silence, the other remaining
still between the pages of his book.
Pretty boysr' he said. as the noise
died away; pretty boys! IT'S easily
seen they have bird to pluck"
Hes none of my plucking-"
"And if he were, why not? Sure
you've picked feather or two before
now in the Low Countries-hey?"
"I'll tell you what" interrupts the
big man, next time you crack me one
of your death s-head jokes, over the wall
you 60 after the dog. What's to prevent
it?.
why, this" answers the old fellow.
cheerfully. There's money to be made
by doing no such thing. And 1 don't
carry it all about with me. So, as it's
late, we'd best talk business at once
They moved away toward the seat I'M
der the sycamore. and now their words
reached me no longer-only the low MUIR
! muir of their voices. Their very forms
were lost within the shadow. 1, myself,
was cold enough by this time, but lay
still nevertheless. And after awhile they
stood up together, and came pacing
across the bowling green, the older man
trailing his foot painfully to keep step.
'-besides the pay" the stranger
was saying, there's all you can win of
this young fool, Anthony, all you find
on the pair, which I'll wager"
They passed out Of hearing, but turned
soon and came back again. The big man
was speaking this time.
'l'n be shot if l know what game
you're playing in this"
| The elder chuckled softly. "I'll be
| shot if l mean you to-" said he.
And this was the last | heard. For
now there came a gathering at the door
behind me, and Mr.. Robert Drury reeled
In. Liquor was ever his master, ard to.
day the Kings health had been a fair
excuse. He did not spy me, but the roar
Of his ballad had startled the two men
outside, and so, while he was stumbling
over chairs and cropping for a finder box
/ slipped out in the darkness, and down