The Washington times., 1906-07-01

pounds" ses Charlie, beginning his
artfulness as they came near a big
shop. with plate glass and a double
front.
''Eh?" ses old Cook, staring at i'm.
Why, that amt the place Why. you
wouldn't get that for eight 'undred."
Well. don't think much of it, ses
Charlie: 'ff it's worse than that
can't look at It'll can't. indeed"
You amt been drinking. Charlie?"
ses old Cook. in puzzled voice
Certainly not" ses Charlie.
He was pleased to see 'ow anxious
they all looked. and when they did
come TO the shop e sat up a laugh
that old Cook said chilled the marrer
In rs bones. He stood looking In a
'elpless sort o. wcy at his wife and
Emma, and then at last he ses. There
IT IS; and fair bargain at the price.
Il s'pose you amt been drinking?"
ses Charlie.
"Wot's the matter with t7" ses
Mps. Cook fiaring up.
Come inside and look at it." ses
Emma, taking old of his arm.
Not me-" ses Charlie, hanging
back. why. l wouldn't take II at a
gift"
He stood there on the skerbstone,
and all they could do e wouldn't
bulge He said II was a bad road and
a httlo shop, and 'ad got look about
81 he didn't like. They walked back
'ome Ike a funeral procession. and
Emma 'ad 20 keep saying ''H's!' in
Whispers TO 'er mother all the way.
II don't know wot Charlie does
want, I'm sure" ses Mrs. Cook, taking
of 'er bonnet as soon as she got in
doors and pitching it on the chair he
was just going 10 set down on.
IT'S so awk ard" ses old Cook.
rubbing his cad. Fact is. Charlie.
we pretty near gave 'em TO understand
as we'd buy IT."
It's as good as settled" ses Mrs
Cook, trembling ali over with temper
They won't settle TIL they get the
money" ses Charlie. You may make
your mind easy about that"
"Emmas drawn II all out Of the
bank ready" ses old Cook. eager like
Charlie felt 'ot and cold all over.
ia better take care OF it." he ses. in
a trembling voice. You might be
robbed"
so might you be-" ses Mrs. Cook.
Don't you worry; it's IN a safe
place"
Sailormen are always being rob
bed" ses George Smith. who ad been
helping young BIZ with is sums while
they 'ad gone to look at the shop.
There's more sailormen robbed than
all the rest put together"
They won't rob Charlie" ses Mrs.
Cook, pressing 'er lips together. IN
take care o. that"
Charlie tried 10 laugh. but e made
such queer noise that young Bill
made a large blot on is eXercise-book.
and old Cook, wot was lighting his
pipe, burnt is fingers through not
looking wOt e was doing.
You see." ses Charlie, IF I was
robbed, which amt at all likely. it 'ud
only be me losing my own money; but
II you was robbed OF It you'd never
forgive yourselves
Il dessay / should get over IT," ses
Mrs Cook. shifting. I'D ave a try.
at AL events"
Charlie started TO laugh again. and
old Cook. who had struck another
match. blew it out and waited until
he'd finished.
The whole truth Is" ses Charlie.
looking round. I've got something
better TO do with the money. I've got
a chance offered me that'u make me
able to double 1t afore you know
where you are"
Not afore know where I am" ses
Mrs. Cook. with a laugh that was
worse than Charles.
The chance of a lifetime" ses
Charlie. trying to keep is temper. I
can't tell you wot it Is. because I've
promised to keep # secret for a time.
You II be surprised when / do tell
you"
If ] wait TIN then TIL I'm surpris-
ed. ses Mrs. Cook, Il shall ave TO
wait a long time. My advice TO you
Is to take that shop and ha done with
#"
Charlie sat there arguing all the
evening, but IT was no good. and the
idea o them people sitting there and
refusing 20 let i'm have his own money
pretty near sent i'm crazy. 1t was all
he could do to kiss Emma goodnight,
and couldn't have 'e1ped slamming
the front door II he'd been paid for II.
The only comfort he 'ad got left was
the Sydney gals Photograph, and he
took that out and looked at Il under
nearly every lamppOst he passed
He went round the next night and
'ad another try TO get rs money. but
II was no use; and all the good he done
was TO make Mrs. Cook in such a
temper that she 'ad TO go to bed before
he 'ad ART finished. II was no good
talking TO old Cook and Emma. be-
cause they daren't do anything with
out 'er, and II was no good calling
things up the stairs 10 her because
she didn't answer. Three nights run
ming Mrs Cook went off 20 bed afore
3 o'clock, for fear she should say some
thing 10 I'm as she'd be sorry for
afterwards; and for three nights Char
IH made 'imself so disagreeabIe that
Emma told i'm plain the sooner e
went back TO sea agin the better she
should like 1T. The only one who
seemed TO enjoy II was George Smith.
and e used to bring bits out O. news
papers and read EN-, showing 'ow
silly people was done out OF their
money.
On the fourth night Charlie dropped
in and made 'imself so amiable that
Mrs. Cook stayed up and made i'm a
Welsh rare-bit for is supper. and
made i'm drink two glasses O. beer in
stead o one. while old Cook sat and
drunk three glasses o. water just out