The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-28

DTedklASt. ana lnomdS Er1chSen made
good his escape.
Tom had his breakfast In the beautt
full early sunshine beside the rivers
brim.
i Overnight he had avoided the tavern
but not the pastry cooks shop. so be
had made his supper in the empty
house and was still provisionea. More
over, his pocket was still weighted BY
poor Blaydes' broken watch, nor could
he make up his mind TO pitch into the
river his only asset, and one to which
he was SO justly entitled. He was
/ clear OF London now; the early sun
gave him confidence and pluck. He
would pawn the watch in one OF these
Thames valley towns and then get
back to London and the docks by riv-
er and in new habiliments. 1t was
Saturday morning: he would wait I'M
til that best Of times. Saturday night,
but first he must find a place to hide
his head in during the day.
He found one in the boathouse Of a
small, new. white brick villa. with a
narrow garden leading down to the
rivers edge. The boathouse had an
open window. Hardened by his ex-
tremity into incredible alacrity In such
enterprises. Tom was through it in a
twinkling and well pleased with his
discovery. The boat was stin hiber-
mating keel upward on trestles. It
would be a very strange thing If that
day. of all others, were chosen for
launching her for the summer. Deter
mined, at any rate, to risk it. the run
away climbed into little loft which
might have been made for him and
settled down for the day. He rolled
himself up in several folds of straw
berry netting and made another quaint
pillow Of the box Of moving ma
chine. wherein he slept soundly for
several hours.
When Tom deemed It dark enough
for judicious exit the wet earth was
as fragrant as flower. He shifted 1t
joyously through the open window by
which he had entered. The garden
path was washed very yellow and Dor.
dered by twin canals. There was more
light than he had thought when In the
loft. Still, not soul was in view, and
it had been lighter yet when he arriv-
ed. 1t was necessary. however, to get
out of the window legs first and back
ward, and when Tom had done so and
turned around he beheld standing on
the yellow path between the two ca
nails and quizzically regarding him the
quaintest and the tiniest old gentle
man he had ever encountered.
He was certainly not more than five
feet high, but he carried himself SUI
perbly and fixed the intruder with
steady, jocular, light blue eye which
inspired respect before fear. He SEEM
ed, indeed, the essence Of contempla-
tive geniality, but it was his powdered
hair, black knee breeches and white
silk stockings that gave him the pic
ture book appearance at which even
Tom found time to marvel. But he
marveled more when the old gentle
man made him a courtly bow and said
in high, chirping tones:
Il am delighted to see you, sir! I
fear my boathouse will have afforded
you but Indifferent shelter on SO vile a
day. Such as it has been, however,
you are welcome to it indeed"
"WeIcomer exclaimed Tom.
"And why not:s chirruped the other.
"Surely we who have must give to you
who have not. be 1t roof or boots I
am sorry, however, to see you bare
footed, for you will permit me to OBJ
serve that such stockings as you have
on are worse than none. If you will
have the goodness to come with me
you shall be shod afresh and join me
in glass Of negus before you CO."
But, sir
"Tut! know what you would say
you have trespassed already and have
no wish to tfespass further. Very
we'll, sir; so be 1t. You shall have your
way and pay the penalty. / condemn
you to glass Of negus and a new pair
of shoes"
And with the utmost bonhommie the
tiny gentleman drove Tom before him
to the house and through open French
windows to a basement room where a
lamp and fire were burning and ket-
tie singing on the hob.
Hungry" he chirped. giving Tom .
playful push in the ribs.
Il had provisions in my pocket"
stammered the youth. in deep embar-
rassment. II shall do very well. In
ueed. your Kindness
'"Tut, sir, tut! You will please me
best by saying no more about that
You are hungry, and I shall order you
something upstairs. But here's the
sherry and there's the boiling water.
You can brew your own negus while
I am gone, and this is todays Adver-
tiser. Make yourself at home, beg"
And, with twinkling eyes and brisk
gestures, the little old gentleman de-
parted. of all Toms good Samaritans
assuredly the prince and king.
No sooner was he alone than Tom
caught up the Advertiser and found
half a column about the murder, and,
yes. there was his name. The Adcocks
bad volunteered it. together with a full
description, whose accuracy tempted
Tom not to wait for his supper, but to
rush through the open window and
swim the river in his clothes. Yet there
was more that must be read. The case
against him was stronger than ever |
The threatening letters had been found
among the dead mans effects. The |
coachman had told his story, I