The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1906-12-06

trust In the old nrm, Phil, my boy
and IL there's a count anywhere about
Woolwich, I'll lay i'm by the 'eels as
Dol as look"
Philip Chatter urged upon him, how
ever, the necessity for proceeding
with caution; and, above all, making
his inquiries in as casual a fashion as
possible 1t being now very near the
time for keeping the appointment, the
captain, accompanied by Philip, SCI
off on his quest; they parted near to
THE Three Watermen," Philip re.
naming in the shadow of an archway
to await the captains return.
In a very short space Of time-al-
though it seemed long to the waiting
man-Peter Quist hove in sight; com
ing along In a very mysterious and
cautious manner, and keeping well
within the shadow of the houses. He
dived into the archway, dragging Phil
ip with him; and there stood for some
moments In semi-darkness, breathing
hard and shaking his head with much
solemnity.
Well" asked Philip. impatiently,
what news?"
Il tell yer wot It Is, young man." re
piled the captain, slowly, you'll be a.
gettin' me into serious trouble, you
will-alonger yer counts and things.
| stepped into the bar, an I orders a
drop of rum-just to ease conversation
a bit; an ses, Of finland like, 'As the
count come in?' The man was a-draw-
in the rum and e ses, without lookin'
up, 'No-nobody amt seen the count
for some days Then e looks up
seems surprised-an' SEES, Who wants
to know?' tells i'm a pal O. mine
was wishful to know about the count.
Well, Phil, my boy, the man looks at
me very ard; and presently | see i'm
a-~w'isperin' to some n wot 'ad
slipped in on the quiet, an a-lookin' at
me. So l strolls out careless like, an
| 'adn't gone far wen | found as | was
bein' followed, and by the bloke q
called you Mr.. Chatter not an hour
ago."
"What-the Shady 'Un!" exclaimed
Philip.
Shady or not, there e was; but |
soon settled is business" replied the
captain. "As e was a sneakin' past a
little shop, with steps a-leadin' down
into 1t, l turns round on a sudden an
lands i'm one on wot | may call the
fore-'atch-an' down e tumbles into
that shop. In fact" added the captain,
with a fine air Of carelessness. the
last | see of i'm e was on is back, an
the female wot KEEP the shop was a.
layin' into i'm proper with a broom an,
yellin' Fret Accordingly, I left i'm
an cut on ere as ard os I could"
You're a good fellow" said Philip,
gratefully. II must go on to The
Three Watermen' at once, and trust to
luck to bring me safely out of It
again. II you will come on later =
take your lodging there in the /
nary course l shall be glad; / mignl
want to have such a friend near me,
But. should you e me there, don't
recognize me, or take the faintest no
tice Of me, unless / call upon you to
do so. Will you undertake to carry
out my wisnes?"
Captain Peter Quist though evident,
ly much disturbed In mind, nodded
slowly in token that he would do as
he was asked, and Philip Chatter set
out alone for "The Three Watermen."
Guessing that the late Dandy Cha
ter was probably well acquainted with
the house and it's inmates, Philip, for
his own protection, determined to put
oa q moody, suiica a-einaaHof, Ii 10
lounge at the bar or the place until IN
was accosted by some Que; he felt
that he could take his cue more read
lily If he led those who imagined they
knew him to speak first.
In pursuance of this plan he roughly
pushed open the door with his shout
der and lounged into the place-look-
Ing about him with an air that was
half-insolent, half quarrelsome. Max
ing his way to the bar. he gave a curt
nod to the man behind 1t, and gruffly
ordered some brandy.
The man who presided there regard.
ed him with a sort Of obsequious leer;
n LOOK the opportunity TO lean
across the bar and whisper, huskily,
"All gone u~psta,Ts Mr.. Dandy"
What the dickens do | care where
they've gone?" asked Philip. roughly.
They'll be expecting you, Mr.. Dan
dy." ventured the man, after a pause.
We'll. let them wait till l choose to
go" said Philip, in the same reckless
manner i've been looking for the
count"
And he amt come" replied the
man. 'They expected he'd come along
with you. There's something big
afoot"-the man leaned over the bpr
to whisper this-"hadn't you better 50
up and see them, Mr.. Dandy?"
AS a matter of fact. that vas pre-
cisely what Philip Chatter most desired
to do: but, in the first place. he did
not know which way to turn or where
to go: and, in the second, he had no
intention of presenting himself before
whatever company might be expecting
Dandy Chatter, In such a place AZ that.
mannounced and unprepared. There
fore. trusting to the good fortune