Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-02-01

the dogcart.
Most certainly" answered, staring
and at a loss for more words
II owe you many thanks. he said,
and, slipping away with that noiseless
tottering gait of his, he disappeared
into the courtyard.
1T was not fifteen minutes ere we
| were upon the road. I drove the mare
| at rapid pace. being conscious of my
| companion's restlessness, and for a
time he spoke liz Ave to direct
me at the crossroads, but lay back on
his seat with his arms folded, his hat
lowering upon his eyes and his eyes
| fixed upon the immediate purview. But
after awhile he uttered a little sigh, as
| Of one whose deliberations had relieved
him, and turned mild eye upon me.
.sYou drive well, my friend" he said.
"From all appearances you have a
hard nerve. 1t is we'll. 1t is well. 1t
| is the one thing have aimed at, and
/ might have succeeded had not my
ascendants weakened the blood"
/ told him that so far as could. see
he had no reason to complain of his
nerve
"You think so? Then it seems that
| you are not only silent but an OBJ
serving person." he said. smiling. But
| you are wrong-you are wrong. Never
theless, am glad to find you SO OBJ
servant. My dear sir. there is nothing
SO important as observation. Educa-
ton and breeding and birth. these you
may buy or feign, but observation is
| the measure of mans character. ;"
| With that he sank into silence once
more, nor, so far as ] can recall, did
we exchange one sentence till we ar
rived in Raymond.
| We drew up in the main street. off
| large and formless building, upon the
door of which was emblazoned the
name of a solicitor and public notary
| And here, begging me to await him.
the old gentleman alighted and entered
the house. 1t was not very long after
ward that he reappeared with pleas
ant little lawyer behind him, and no.
ticed that he himself seemed very well
pleased. He talked as if a load was
| off his mind; but, to tell the truth,
| felt that it was time had some ex-
PLANTATION. 1t was not that / grudged
the old gentleman my fellowship, such
as it was, and it certainly was not that
| / was tired of the experience. Quite
| the contrary. / was tantalized by
| these strange tastes of adventure. My
nose took up the scent of mystery as a
| hound shifts the air, and when | spoke
so abruptly it was only in the wish to
| let him understand that / thought my
| fidelity had earned its wages.
ut is well to be armed at all points,
my friend,'' he had remarked compla-
Gently. II find a complete equipment
| is a solace against possible evils"
"Thats very true l said, land l
am delighted if my small services this
afternoon have, as it would seem, been
/ the happy occasion of suggesting to
you this comfortable reflection. But
now, if you will excuse me, Mr.. Kes-
teven, / will put my thanks in your
hands for a very agreeable hospitality
and
He was yisibly disconnected, as had
hoped he would be.
"You are not thinking of your imp"
he demanded after pause in which he
recovered.
"My dear sir,' replied, II have been
thrust upon you, complete stranger,
| for a day and a night"
His face suffused with amusement.
II don't think we are strangers to each
other, Mr.. Greatorex," he observed
| quietly. Il dare say we understand
one another better than appears. If,
however, it be any relief to your con-
science, assure you that am much
better for your company. But" he
added dryly, Il should be the last to
hold you if your duty claims you else
where
We looked at each other for mo-
ment, in which time noted a twinkle
cleaning in his eyes, and then stimuli
taneously, think, we burst forth into
laughter.
"Come, come, think understand,
Mr.. Greatorex," said he, land the I'M
Outstanding notches another score to
| you in my stick. admit that you have
| right to something further. l freely
confess it, only am an old man and
must take my time. Are we agreed?"
| my dear sir" said I hastily, 81
would not press you for the world, and
am no more inquisitive than any hon
est man who hopes that he might be of
some service to a friend in trouble
you are very good" he returned
gently. "You can be silent, and you
can proffer a question at the right time.
l think all the better Of you. And for
what you say of friendship, why, I am
sincerely obliged to you. and I think
you can render me an invaluable aid"
81 have no warmer WISH" answer
| ed, and turned the horses head forth
with upon the road to the Gwent.
| We reached the castle in the twilight,
but it was not until after dinner that
| Mr.. Kesteven reverted to the subject
/ - ox,r .o,,ryr,.,o flor, In worry