Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-06-14
CHAPTER XVI.

leases of the various farms On the es-
tate Mr.. Slime felt himself very
cruelty used, and, as he of course did
little plundering in the direction in
which Cyril Kingsley was inquiring,
hated that young gentleman with
virulent hatred beyond description
While he was smoking his pipe
and gulping down his grandmother
of which he was a little too fond.
and of which he had already partaken
rather freely--he was cudgeling his
brains for some plan Of injuring,
Cyril, and, If possible, Of ousting him
off the estate.
In the olden times-those glorious
old times.--Mr. Slime would have
gone out In the dusk with a gun,
waited behind a hedge for Cyril to
pass, and settled the matter there and
then; but in these miserably. effemi-
nate days you cannot shoot a man
you dislike without people making a
fuss about It,
Il should like to see him lying at
the bottom Of the mill-pool, snarled
Mr.. Slime, to himself. She's bad
enough poking and prying; but him
yahl"
And he brought his fist down on
the table with an angry emphasis.
The noise prevented him from hear
ing the opening of the door, and it
was with start and half-frightened
face he looked up 10 see Philip Dyce
standing in front of him, on the
other side of the table.
1t was wet night, and the wind
howled--as it has a habit of bowling
in this delightful climate-round the
house. and Philip Dyce wore long
riding cloak, above which his intel
lectual face looked proud and master
full.
There was something about the
paleness of the face and the hard
smile on the thin lips that made Mr..
Slime vaguely uncomfortable.
He got up and dragged a chair to
the table, however. and said. Good.
evening, Mr.. Philip" with cordially
rather oyerdone.
'Good-evening, Slime" said Philip
Dyce. Enjoying yourself, Ell? Not
hard at work at the accounts?"
Slime WINGED at the significant sug-
gestion, and rubbed his hands I'M
easily.
Yes, SRA pipe and glass"
FILLED several times said Philip,
with a sneer: you are rather fond of
lifting your elbow. my Inenu.
Slime smiled uneasily.
Perhaps you viii take a glass your
self, sir; it's miserable night?'
Philip declined, with q wave of his
hand. and Slime returned from the
cupboard without the glass he had
gone to fetch.
Anything happened, Mr.. Philip
asked casting up his narrow eyes at
the others face.
Happened; no" said Philip Dyce.
Il was out for walk and seeing the
light, dropped In, thinking might
be able to help you with your &C,
counts. Do you make as many mis-.
takes as you used, chr"
Slime trembled This was the first
time since the night he had signed a
self-damning paper that made him
Philip Dyce's slave forever, his mas.
ter had referred to the guilty secret
between therl.
No" he said, with a siekly smile,
which grew malicious and spiteful.
Little chance, now, Mr.. Philip"
Oh said Philip, watching him
keenly as he replenished his glass
and lifted 1t to his thin lips with a
trembling hand, "the mistress ex-
amines her accounts too closely"
Somebody does" said Slime, sui.
lenly. "A man cant say his souls
his own, what with one or the other
ferreting and prying about the place.
II 1t isn't the mistress IT'S the cursed
jack-a-napes at the farm
What my friend Kingsleye" said
Philip.
Your friend" echoed Slime, with
a grin. Not much friendship lost
atwixt you two, Mr.. Philip, anyone
can see"
AS how?e
tits pretty plain replied Slime,
not sorry, perhaps, to get a chance OF
saying something disagreeahle to the
man who held him so tightly. 1T isn't
likely as gentleman like you would
be pleased to see nobody knows
who like this Kingsley stepping into
his place. In the old times, Mr.
Philip, you used to be everything al
the Abbey. now it's the manager o,
the Home Farm, They tell me-
leastways it's all over the place
that he's got the upperhand Of thS
young mistress, and that he dictate:
what horse she's to ride AT any rate
he won't let her ride the one yor
ggave her, Mr.. Philip"
Philip sat on the edge OF the table
and looked at his slave with nasty
smile upcr his lips.