Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-03

wife strove to make her husband more
sanguine; neighbors all foretold pleasant
things concerning Daniel; but the lads rep.
utation was not good. His knowledge OF
sport and his passion for sport had taken
q sinister turn. They Were spiced with a
love of adventure and very vague ideas on
the law of property. Flogging had not
eradicated these instincts When the time
came to make choice of trade, Daniel
decided against gamekeeping.
81 be too fond of sport. he said
And now he worked at Vitifer mine on
Dartmoor and was known to be the cieVer-
est poacher in the district.
on coming of age, the youth made his po-
sltion clear to his parents.
II don't think same as you, father pc
cause I've learned my lessons at the Board
School an ideas be larger now than they
was in your time. l must have my DIT o
sport; an when they catches me, Twill pc
time enough to pull long race ABOUT II.
But this I'll promise on my oath; that never
do | set foot inside Middlecott woods an
never will 1 help any man as does. Il
not lift gun against any bird or your rais-
ing; but more l won't say. AS 10 game III
general-well. I've got my opinions; an pc
ing a radical with large Ideas ABOUT such
things III go my way.
go your way to the gallows, said Mat
thew Sweetiand. If Ia Kno"eo Wla'
was breeding you for, I'd have sent you 70
your uncle the cobbler to London. an never
taught you one end of gun from tother
IT'S poor payment for good fathers care
n find his only one ne an uilS uIc4 III eSoN
..Sporiing will out answered Daniel
calmly. Il ban't bad sort; an. IN as
grace nobody. I'm honest, PLAIN deaier.
Recording to my own lights; an If l don
agree with you about the rights of property
in wild things like birds an hshs an mare
now an agan-well what OF II!
"'TYs the beginning" declared his father
"1rorn the day 1 catched you setting wire
In a hedge unbeknowst to me l felt that
done wrong to let you bide in the country.
And now Matthew Sweetland,s beer tasted
sour and he heard the talk or MS nelShpols
In the bar of the white Hart
handsome fair man was speaking He
looked pale for a country-dweller, ana IN
deed his business kept him within DOORS
for he was a footman at Middlecott Court:
His ewes were blue, his face was long and
his features regular. He spoke slowly ana
with little accent for he had copied his
masters guests carefully and so mendeo
the local peculiarities of his speech
Iris said without doubt, Sweetland, that
the burglars must have been helped by
somebody-man or maid-who knew the
house and grounds. What did Barley mere
think when first he heard about 1t?
The footman turned to a thin. weak-faced,
middle-aged person who sat next to him.
Luke BARLEY was policeman, at present
off duty and recent burglary OF valuable
plate was the subject they now discussed
Mr. BARLEY had q feeble mouth and
shifty eye He avoided the gamekeeper's
scowling glance and answered the footman
ords | don't say Dan Sweetlands ever been
afore the bench; but that's thanks to his
own wicked cleverness. His father may
flash his eyes at me. but l Will say that
taking into account Dams character an
pluck an cheek, I ban't going to rule him
out of this Job. He might have helped to do
1t very easily. He knows Westcombe so well
as anybody. and his young woman was I'M
der-housemaid in the house till week afore
the burglary Well, I won't say no more.
Only It's my business as police constable
to put two and two together. which | shall
do. by the help of God, until be promoted.
Besides, where was Daniel that night?"
He was fishing up pom the moor In
Dart" said another young mana young
and humble admirer of Daniel Sweetland.
so he may have told you; but what's his
word WORTH"
Then the youth, who was called Prowse,
spoke again and turned to the footman.
Anyway. ii ban't a very seemly thing OF
you. Titus Sim to say word against Dan;
for it's we'll known that you was after Min
ME Marshall yourself"
Titus Sim grew paler than usual and
turned roughly on the youngster.
What fool, And impertinent with 1t!
You ought to go back to school. Samuel
Prowse. 'Tisn't right that you should talk
an drink with grown men. for you're too
young to see a joke apparently Dyou
think | don't know Daniel better than you ?
D'you think I'd breathe a word against him
the best friend I've got in the world? OF
course he had no hand in the burglary at
Westcombe. If thought he had-but it's a
mad idea. He's got his own sense of honor.
and a straighter man don't walk this earth.
AS to Miss Marshall-she liked him better
than she liked me; and there's end to
that"
I'm sorry I spoke then" said Dams
young champion. II beg your pardon. Titus
Sim"
Granddaughter. Only remember this:
I'm ans first friend. and best and truest
friend and he's mine. We'm closer than
brothers-him an me; an II l make a joke
against him now an then, to score against
BARLEY here. It's friendships right. But I'll
not let any other man do II"
The policeman nodded.
There was the three OF you" he said.
Dan. an you. an Sir Reginald's son Mr..
Henry. When you were all boys twas a
saying in Moreton that one was never seed
without tothers. But rare rascals all three
In them days! You've made my legs tired
a many times chasing of e out of the or
chards."
"Such friendships ought to last forever
declared Titus thoughtfully. Mister Hen
rvs a good friend to me yet. When l got