The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-12-13

The Waffle Tree Hotel, to which Mr..
Mcintosh had directed Pierre, was quiet
little public hDrse in a quiet street. 1t
was far AVA. from the main thorough
fares of the e.ity and a stranger had to
go up any number Of quiet streets to get
TO il and turn ard twist round corners
and down narrow lanes until it became
a perfect N racle how he ever found the
hotel at all.
Any one going into the bar could see
old Simon-a stoiid. fat man with
sleepy looking face always in his shirt
sleeves and wearing a white apron sitting
in chair at the end while his daughter, a
sharp red-nosed damsei, vino was So
years of age, and confessed to %, served
out the meals. Mrs. Twexby had long
ago departed this life, leaving behind her
| the sharp, red-nosed damsel to be her
| fathers comfort. As a matter of fact. she
was just the opposite. and Simon often
wished that his daughter had departed
to a better world in company with her
mother. Thin, tight-laced, with shrill
voice and an acidulated temper, Miss
Twexby was still spinster. and not even
| the fact of her being an heiress could
tempt any Of the Ballarat youth to lead
her to the altar. Consequently Miss Twex-
| by's temper was Rot a golden one. and
she ruled the hotel and its inmates with
rod of iron.
Mr.. Villiers was a frequent customer at
the Waffle Tree, and was in the back
parlor talking to old Twexby on the day
that Pierre arrived. The dumb man came
into the bar out of the dusty road, and
leaning over the counter pushed letter
under Miss Twexby's nose. and although
it was directed to her father, Miss Twex
by, who managed everything. opened II
and found it was from Mcintosh. saying
thar the bearer, Pierre Lebaire, was Il
have a bed for the night, meals and what
ever else he required, and that he-McIn
J tosh-would be responsible for the money
He furthermore added that the bearer
was dumb.
..Oh. so you are dumb. are you?" salt
Miss Twexby. folding up the letter an,
looking complanntly at Pierre. Il wis.,
! there were a few more men the SAM
way then, perhaps. we'd have less chat
Meanwhile. Villiers having heard tn
name of Pierre Lemaire, and knowing h
was engaged in the Pactolus claim. cam
round to see him and try to find out al
about the nugget. Pierre was sulky a
first, and sat with his old black hat draw
down so far over his eyes that only hi
bushy black beard was visible, but MI
Villiers' suavity, together with the pres
ent of half a crown, had a marked ehec
: on him. As he was dumb, Mr. Villier
somewhat perplexed how TO carry on
, conversation with him, but he ultimatel
drew forth a piece of paper, and sketche
rough presentation of nugget there
On. which he showed TO Pierre Th
Frenchman, however, did not comprehen
: until Villiers produced sovereign froi
, his pocket, and pointed first to the gol'
and then to the drawing, upon whic
Pierre nodded his head several times
q order to show that he understood. vi
liers then drew a picture of the Pactolu
! claim, and asked Pierre in French If tt
o nugget was still there, as he showed hi
. the sketch. Pierre shook his head, an
. taking the pencil in his hand, drew
rough representation of a horse and car
:. and put square box in the latter
r show the nugget was on a journey.
o .Hullor' said Villie-s to himself, lit
n not at her own house, and she's drivir
2 somewhere with it; 1 wonder where ts
She's got the nugget with her in the ira
n and she's taken it to show Marchurs
4 Well, she's sure to stop there to tea, ar
won't start for home till about nil
Q o'clock; It will be pretty dark by the
a She'll b By herself and if T." here