Oxford Democrat., 1906-04-24

"YOu We're stealing, were your he
cried savagely. Il saw you sneak
through my hedge"
II didn't ether!."
Mr.. Carewe ground his teeth. what
were you doing there"
Nothing
Nothing" Knocked Carewe. Moth.
ing! You didn't carry this to the
young lady in there and get her an
swcr?"
"No. sirw answered the captive ear
nestly. "Cross my heart I didn't. I
found it."
Slowly the corrugations Of anger
were leveled from the magnate's face.
| the white heat cooled, and IL prisoner
marveled to find himself u the pres
ence Of an urbane gentleman whose
placidity made the scene Of moment
ago appear some trick Of distorted VI
sion. And yet, curious to behold, Mr.
Carewe's fingers shook even more vio-
lently than before as he released the
boys shoulder and gave him friendly
tap on the head, at the same time smil-
ing benevolently.
"There, there" he said, bestowing
wink upon tie youngster. Its all
right. 1t doesn't matter; only l think
I see the chance of jest in this. You
wait while read this little note, this
message that you found.' He ended
by winking again with the friendliest
drOllery.
He turned his back to the boy and
opened the note, continuing to stand in
that position while he read the two
messages 1t struck the messenger that
after this there need be no great
shame in his own lack of this much
vaunted art of reading, since it took
so famous man as Mr. Carewe such
length of time to peruse little note.
But perhaps the great gentleman was
Ill, for it appeared to the boy that he
lurchcd several times, once SO far that
| he would have gone over if lie had not
saved himself by a lucky stagger. And
once, except for the fact that the face
that had turned away had worn an ex'
preston Of such genial humor. the boy
would have believed that from II Is
sued sound like the gnashing OF
teeth.
But when 1t was turned to him again
1t bore the same amiaDle jocosity OF
mouth and eye, and nothing seemed
| to be the matter, except that those fin
gers still shook so wildly-tOO wildly,
| indeed-to restore the note to its en-
velOpe.
"There," said Mr.. Carewe, put 1t
back, laddie; put it back yourself.
Take 1t to the gentleman who sent
you. see he's even disguised his hand
a tritle-ha, ha!-and suppose lie may
not have expected the young lady to
write his name quite so boldly on the
envelope! What do you suppose!"
81 d'know," returned the boy. Il
reckon don't hardly understand"
"No, of course not" said Mr. Ca
rewe, laughing rather madly. "Ha,
ha, ha. OF course you wouldn't. And
how much did he give you!"
"Yayw cried the other joyously.
Didn't he 80 and hand me dollar"
How much will you take not TO- tell
him that stopped you and read 1t!
How much not to speak Of me ut air.
whats"
"Its a foolish kind Of joke, nothing
more. I'll give you s. never to tell
any one that you saw me today
"Dont shoot, colonel!' exclaimed the
youth. with u riotous ding Of bare feet
| In the uir. III come down"
You'll do it?'
"Five! he shouted, dancing upon the
boards. Five! Ill cross my heart to
die l never hear tell Of you or ever
knew they was sich a man In the
wOrldp'
| Carewe bent over him. mo! Say,
God strike me dead and condemn me
eternally to the everlasting flames Of
hell II ever tell!"
This entailed quick sObriety, though
only benevo.cnce was In the face above
him. The jig step stopped, and the
boy pondered, frightened.
"Havc got to say that!'
Mr.. Curewe produced a bank bill
about which the boy beheld halo.
Clearly this was his day. Heaven
showed its approval of his conduct by
an outpouring Of imperishable riches.
And yet the oath misliked him. There
was q SAVIOR Of the demoniacal con-
tract. Still that was to be borne and
the plunge taken, for there futtered
the huge sum before his dazzled eyes.
He took a deep breath. "'GOd strike
me dead,'" he began slowly, "ff
ever
mo. And condemn me to the ever
lasting flames Of hell