Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-02-15


choose against burglars"
| The smile vanished from his face and
was succeeded by a nasty frown. You
forget" he said, that am here as an.
invited guest.
ssWhat, in my chamber?" said hot.
| ly. ~The devil take your invitation
| That i reserve for nayselfr
| He came into the passage. Il be-
lieve," said he as amiably as ever,
that am now within the precincts
of my right and within the rights OF
hospitality"
"As you choose" said | sullenly
sAnd that being so. I will trouble you
to awaken Your host from drunken
slumber, connected / know not how"
MY dear SIR" said the captain,
laughing now quite eheerfully, there
is no concoe ton necessary, ] assure
you. A bottle of whisky or Burgundy
| to his elbow and my young friend
Montgomery asks nothing better And
I trust that you will give me credit
for this, that do not trespass upon an.
other gentleman's cellars"
"No," said /. You keep sober,
grant you," and stalked somewhat az
grily down the stairs.
Montgomery lay where ] had left
him. but lifted his heal upon our en-
trance, glazing with stupid and mis-
cradle eye upon us.
"Ah," said the captain pleasantly,
my young friend is himself again, or
at least wants but a bucket of cold
water!" And he clapped him on the
back in friendly fashion.
"You had better take him away"
| said l CURLY, but at that remark and
after glancing from one to the other
the boys eyes rested upon my face
with look of CONSERVATION, and sud
denly he buried his face in his arms
with a sort of sob.
"Faith, / am in the way here" said
the captain merrily, and without more
ado he shuffied out of the house. leav-
ing me alone with the wretched youth.
l stood for time regarding him with
Indifference. but presently another
mood overlook me- He was honest
and leal, | could swear, but he was an
arrant fool and had very sorry vice.
Montgomery" said 1. you have
been guilty Of a grave breach of faith.
But SO far we are not the losers by it.
and l think if you will take the advice
of your friend, the captain, we shall be
In better condition to discuss this
presently"
He took the hint, turned from me
bIotchy face of shame and hurried with
little dignity from the room. 1t was
half an hour ere he returned and pre-
scented me an air of determination
which / could guess had been assumed
with difficulty. 1t was then that, with
out referring to his own conduct, l ex-
planned in general way the harm he
had done me.
"You have said hard words to me,
Mr.. Greatorex," he said, none the less
hard because they are true"
i appreciated the struggle which had
been contested in the silly head.
"As it turned out, you have done me
less mischief than you think" / re-
Piled
"That is no excuse" he retorted hot
ly. Il have acted like cad, but will
ask you to believe that have the best
will in the world to be your friend
"You could be very good friend to
me- answered, IF you would obey
orders A good soldier, Montgomery,
has a scrupulous conscience while on
duty. Outside that he may be what be
will"
II have done what 1 would all my
| life'' he said modify. And / am all
| the worse for it
THAT IS very likely" said dryly-
"But now you have the chance to
amend
He looked up eagerly. do you give
me another CHANGER he asked earnest
| ~. .Mr. Greatorex, / will ask sno ques-
lions. / don't pretend to understand
| the position But you are free to use
me-
81 am going to trust you," answer
ed him, land in proof of my resolve
win leave you in charge here tomor
row.
An expression of satisfaction lit up
his features.
you will not regret it," he said
"And as for that scoundrel Sercombe"
he paused, with savage look of dis
like-"I will catch him and break his
bottles over his head"
CHAPTER VII.
| UP HAD already resolved that it
would be folly to depend upon
| Montgomery alone. Now that he
On was aroused and upon his guard
had no doubt of his constancy for
few days. But there was no saying
how soon be might relapse. And in
any case / needed a wiser head than