Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-03-08

a law too widely open will sometimes
lose bite: it takes too long to shut It.
II had managed this business But
here, apparently recollecting himself,
he broke of and turned away with q
little frown. But presently he resum-
ed, wearing his accustomed good hui
mored expression. There was never
any good came Of Greek. I've known
them upward Of twenty years, and
never knew one that was fit for any
thing save to jab you in the back when
you were not looking"
Il should say" remarked Sheppard
mildly, that you had very suitable
gang for your purpose"
sercombe laughed. "Oh, don't fan
cy the knife myself. though some peo-
pie do
Sheppard turned deathly pale, but he
smiled politely and answered, There
is no knowing what scruples man
viii develop"
This turn Of the conversation sud-
denly woke me to a sense OF my errand,
and quickly communicated my news
to Sercombe.
Il thought we should come to this"
he said cheerfully, land / would have
laid odds I should have had you here
on this mission. / knew you would
drop that mealy mouthed righteous
ness Of yours. What disliked In you,
Mr.. Greatorex, from the outset, il /
az
your blamed British pharisaism. You
couldn't look at a job squarely. It's
not your fault, but that of your train
ing. I had the same defect once my
self, but campaign In the Ionian Isles
knocked the pretenses out Of me.
That's how I came to know these
scoundreIs so well. Well I'm glad we
meet evenly at last You can see for
yourself there's not a penn'orth to
choose between us, save that you've
had first blood" and with that he look
ed at Sheppard.
This time Sheppard held his color
under control, but he looked away, and
I perceived, in spite Of his severe re-
straint, twitching Of the nostrils.
Come come said I, 1--WE must take
what steps we may In self defense
against cutthroafs, captain"
I'm with you there said Sercombe
cheerily, "and the steps usually take
consist of a barker shoot out of my
coat tails as often as not. Ny plan is
to Ere when see a squint."
Il fear you rebuke me-" replied,
with bow, sbut / swear that would
have fired if it had been any other
place but London. am so well known
| there"
Sercombe burst out laughing. II
once thought" he said, that Mr. Shep-
| pard was more my sort, but now
believe pin my note on your
you honor me" / returned, sbut
| come to business"
| The captain plucked his long red
mustache meditatively. I'm sorry I
| can't discuss this with you now, gen
| tlemen.o he said. after all, it's your
affair, though I admit / have certaiR
| interest in it, but if may come up ana
see you about 8 O'Clock we can go into
details. / fancy it's a concerted plan
we want"
| ssThat's so, I returned, feeling ter
ribly mean and small to be conspiring
| so against the laws of my country with
an admitted scoundrel.
| very well; let US say 8, said the
captain and stuck out his hand as
| though to dismiss us.
For myself, being in the frame of
| mind I have described, l contriyed to
| overlook his arm, but Sheppard, all
smiles, sprang forward and shook him
heartily. by the way" he said bright
| IL, "and where is my friend Hood?"
.Hoodr echoed Sercombe and looked
at us queerly. ssOh. Mr.. Hood is in
| venting new maneuver. He is bet
ter soldier than am, is Mr.. Hood, nat
urally.' / suppose he saw that we ex-
changed glances. My dear sirs," he
said, Il only tell you what you might
| suppose for yourselves. Mr.. Hood is
| trying his hand at generalship, but !
don't reveal his plan Of campaign. Per
| haps you guess it. And he burst out
| laughing rather unpleasantly.
| 1t was obvious to both of us that
| there was a bitterness in Sercombe's
words. Fallen though he was from a
respectable estate and sunk as he had
become in career of dissipation and
| INSCRIPTIONS adventure, he still re-
! tanned certain feeling Of his own dig
nifty. How far the difference between
| Hood and himself had gone could
not know, but if it went much further
! it seemed as though we might take
some advantage out Of it. But Of the
| two it was Hood Hood, with his lean
black face that feared.
| Sercombe kept his appointment with
commendable punctuality, entering our
council chamber, if may SO describe
| the smaller Of the halls in which we
usually sat, with the jauntiness Of his
mornings encounter Lunch was but
newly over, and felt myself descend
| in MonfQomery'S eyes when I offered