Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-01-25

exhibiting local celebrity to his guest.
Anything doing out your way, sir?'
he inquired.
The youth turned his eyes upon him
in lackluster gaze and then, empty
ing his glass, hammered on the table
noisily.
.Why the deuce don't that man of
yours Gomez" he exclaimed. Here
have ridden in ten miles for the sight
Of a human face and the taste Of good
Scotch, and That's right" He gave
his order and, observing Wendover
again. gave vent to a heavy laugh.
ssWhat do you expect to happen in the
Gwent?" he asked. s.Ifs as dull as
ditch water"
81 don't know SO much about that, !"
put in suddenly man on the other
side of the room whom, from his gen
eral air, took to be miller. There's
something as I heard Of lately that was
pretty exciting
The spokesman drew all eyes upon
him. The surface of our deep COM
posure stirred and ruffied.
whats that, Mr.. Llewellyn" asked
the innkeeper.
Montgomery looked incredulous.
@Poohm he said disdainfully.
The miller enjoyed the Importance
and seemed inclined to prolong it. He
leisurely reflled his pipe.
81 heard something queer happened
at the castle last week" he said at last,
seeing that his news must out.
whats that?s asked Montgomery.
"a girl that was in service there told
my missus," went on the miller. eve
have taken her in. She's left the cas-
tie"
"what did she say?" asked Wen
dover.
II don't exactly recall the right of
it" the miller confessed, with a hasty
sense of shame. Montgomery looked
at me and, seeing a smile in my eye,
burst out laughing. But / know it
was about burglary said the miller
promptly and with courage.
I'D like to hear about the burglary"
said some one.
"The man that keeps the inn there
what's that inn?" went on the mill
er.
.The Woodman," answered Mont
gomery.
.Aye, that's it. He was servant to
the castle-the girl said-and he caught
them"
Caught whomY' said Montgomery
impatiently.
sWell, he didn't catch Them" admit
ted the miller, but he frightened them
off. They were after the plate that the
old gentleman keeps, so the man told
my girl"
"He's queer old customer" inter
posed one of the company, seeing, as
we all saw, that we should get no fur
ther interest out Of the miller. Our
attention broke up.
You're right nodded his yis-a-vis
and replaced his pipe in his mouth.
May ask what castle you are
speaking OFF, I ventured to say, adj
dressing the miller
sIvor castle, sir" said he civilly.
sit lays in the Gwent, sir, back of
the hills, explained the landlord.
.As you talk of this burglary" said
Montgomery, breaking in rather rude
Iy. I'D like first to know what they
were going to find in the castle. Every
one knows there's nothing to be got
there"
Confronted with this unciyil infdel,
the miller came to bay. I don't know
anything about it," he declared. All
1 know is that this young woman-she
says she was woke up by noise going
on, and then she went to sleep again.
putting her head under the blankets,
and that the manservant-I can't bring
back his naae-he told her next day
that the thieves had tried to get in
.aumphr' sneered Montgomery, who
had plainly drunk too much to be an
easy companion. 4 don't call that
much of a tale"
IF it's true, it's true" said the mild
looking man.
ssWho the devil asked your opinion? 2"
retorted the lad brusquely. The mild
man shifted in his chair, but mustered
courage to ask If a man might not ex-
press his sentiments upon a point of
/ general interest.
sThat's true, anyway" assented
Montgomery. with foolish laugh.
1t was clear that he had taken enough
| to be quarrelsome If the opportunity
should rise, and unfortunately he chose
to turn bis bantering gaze upon my
sour and peevish neighbor.
! .Nell, Mr.. jones'" said he, .and
how's hay p
/ sHoW's crops, my young gentleman Is
says Jones in bis surly fashion.
/ Crops said Montgomery IN bawl
"crops is as they should be- season
able. Here's to crops, gentleman, and
also to hay and he fell into his chair
laughing abominably.
| Icould not say If this was part Of an
elaborate jest, conceived BY maudlin
| brain, or whether he had really been
/ taken with an unreasonable fit OF