The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-12-19
n promise" / replied confidently )

u promise" replied Confidently
The bolt was slipped back. the dool
opened anf furiinS my huge ambrel
! Ia, stepped inside, the mud dfippius
/ froui my coat and . drop Of blood fall
ms from my scraped chin
certainly presented strange ap
pearanc., but NO stranger than the
scene into which had projected my
sslf Ia the middle of the room stood
scowllns Bridget, her muscular arms
barred to the elbows, q poker la one
hand and q long handled hammer In
the other. feerins over ber shoulder
was Betty, large eyed and trembling,
but undenisnly worthy OF the agent .
sncomlums On her good looks
! shut the door. backed up against
II aud removed the derby from my
head respectfully. whereupon Bridget's
severe face RELAXED. aud Betty, we'd.
turing from her refuge, demanded my
credentials
"The letter you promised to let ns
see." she fsitered.
Laying the derby on ths noor besids
the umbrella. | began a prolonged
search under the suspicious scrutiny
Of four sharp eyes II was nervous
work My garments collectively boast
thirty Ave pockets, all more or less In.
habited by divers articles. After q
fruitless inspection Of twelve became
embarrassed, As I replaced the con
tents Of the twentieth and no means "
Identification appeared a feeling Of
guilt stole over me. At the twenty
nfth Bridget nourished her hammees
and scowled. -
"Arrah. Betty. he's liarl There
amt hide nor hair OF tn letther on
him. bedadr'
II was true, as the thirty .nfth pocket
proved, but L,would not give up.
You promlsed' began Betty. but /
temporized, listening to the storm out.
side.
III you will kindly allow me to dry
my feet In the oven" begged. an ap- |
prehensiye eye on the hammer, "I'll 60 |
through my pockets again. I'm sure
the note is with me-"
Bridget, seeing my wholesome re-
spect for her weapons. relepted, and |
presently Betty presented me with |
pair of socks, red, but dry, Just as | |
had become aware OF another calamity |
only one OF my shoes remained to
me. The other had dropped through |
the bottomless raincoat pocket some.
where on the road.
Bridget grlnned, evidently realizing
my general detection, and without stir
ring from her position In the middle
Of the floor kicked of one of her slip
pers frayed and down at the heel.
Take i'm that, me darlin'. A foine
mate II 'ul be to his wan shiny shoe"
l received her contribution submls.
sively and was STOPPING to put II on
when an overloaded pocket seized the
opportunity to disgorge two trim box
es, one long, one tiny cube.
As they rolled over on the floor Bet.
ty pounced on them, and at once my
character and dark mission stood re.
vsaled. Mis- Smiths spoons,n she
shrieked, the new ones that she had
marked with her initials last week
Oh, Bridget however did be break inf"
The thafe~ cried Bridget
Now, those six spoons, solid silver, l
purchased and had engraved that very
as a Christmas gift for my
unhospitable cousin, but
neither Betty nor Bridget would listen
to the truth concerning either the
spoons or the ring which Betty nert
uncovered
"Rey Day" she read In horror strick-
en tones, while Bridget. ever keeping ,
q restraining eye on me, reiterated,
"Oh, tn thafe" at the top OF her voice.
Nov, see here" began. 'listen TO ,
reason, Will your" But at that instant /
Brldget's gaze fell on the umbrella, !
and my last hope for mercy hlckered
and went out
Betty me darlin', see tn umbrelly."
she howled. "It's Misther Cross sure. :
aad this miserable thafe has made Of
with 1t from tn station"
Betty at once fell foul Of the um- c
Drella with blushlng cheeks. while !
Bridget turned on me. taking a firmer
grip on poker and hammer
"Now. be gone. ye sphalpine. Ye
YIN, thavin' scoundrel, show Us the
bottoms OF yer boots directly"
"Alas," | returned without moving,
4 have none to show, but | do have
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