Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-10-04

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discovery. The boat was still hiber-
mating keel upward on trestles. 1t
would be very strange thing II tnat
day, of all others. were chosen for
launching her for the summer. Deter
mined, at any rate. to risk 1t, the run
away climbed into a 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 Dox Of moving ma
chine, whereon he slept soundly for
several hours.
When Tom deemed 1t dark enough
for judicious exit the wet earth was
as fragrant as a flower. He shifted 1t
ioyously through the open window by
which he had entered. The garden
path was washed very yellow and bor-
dered BY twin canals. There was mors
ight than he had thought when In the
loft. Still, not soul was In view, and
il. had been lighter yet when he arriv-
H. 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
unaintest 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 breaches 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 courtly bow and said
in high, chirping tones:
II am delighted to see you, sir!
fear my boathouse will have afforded
YOU but Indifferent shelter on so vile a
day. Such as 1t has been, however,
you are welcome to 1t indeed"
"Welcomew exclaimed Tom.
"And why mott? chirruped the other.
"Surely we who have must give to you
who have not, be 1t roof or boot?
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 a glass of negus before you CO."
"But, sir
"Tut! know what you would say
you have trespassed already and have
no wish to trespass further. Very
well, sir; so be it. You shall have your
way and pay the penalty. ! condemn
you to glass Of negus and 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
lamp and fire were burning and ket'
tie singing on the hob.
Hungry" he chirped giving Tom a
playful push in the ribs.
81 had provisions in my pocket"
stammered the youth, in deep embar-
rassment. II shall do very well. ln'
Iced. your kindness
"Tut, sir, tut! You will please me
best by saying no more about that.
You are hungry, and ] 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 today's 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 column about the murder, and,
yes, there was his name. The Adcocks
had volunteered it, together with 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
hackney coachman had told his story,
and here 1T was. But one name was
gratefully absent-that of Harding did
not occur in the closely printed half
column, which so strangely fascinated
Tom that his quaint Samaritan was
back before he had put the paper down.
"What! Feeding the mind before the
body? Well, we'll, to be surew
81 hadn't seen today's paper" said
Tom feebly.
"Aha! know what you were read
ing too" The old gentleman chuckled
as he poured sherry into two tumblers.
II know-I know"
"What?" asked Tom hoarsely.
"fy eyes are good. My eyes are ex-
cellent. You were reading the Hamp-
stead murder" Tom held his breath.
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