Evening star., 1907-09-01

caiole Dick Ryder
though maybe he might daily with her so that she
deemed so. For women are like some breed of dogs
that run on the quarry by their nose and without
using ewes or wits-the Lord pity them Yet It's
women that oft betray a man into predcament
without any participation on his part, and some
times theirs.
Thus it was with me at the Dun Cow, tavern
with a comfortable hostess in Wiltshire. Twas a
place that had come upon by chance, refuge OFT
the main road in a pretty village grit with trees
You might think this Stoke Fanton was at the
farthest end of the world; quiet and ignorant
IT of what went forward beyond its borders.
Twas in a jaunt from Bath, wheh there hue
and cry raised my heels, that first to earth
there one dark night; and | had ever and anon
was IN those parts. The Dun Cow rickety
house, with oak beams showing in its face, the
which was as tpsy tinkers. But twas com
Portable within, and the woman had way with
her | doubt not she had suffered of a rough hus
band in her time; but she quit of him now,
and well liking and toasted her toes at Also
she had good hand for business rustCs go, and
her tace and figure were engaging, though she was
past her homage.
Well this the witch that must needs set her
self down to charm Not that | wanted much
for encouragement; for look you, tbs an idle place,
the country, and leaves mort of mischief calling
IN the But Mrs Battle comely, and
further, she had done well by me, that was not
ndlsposed to put up my bags and chattels and drink
Of good ale upon occasion. And all the while twas
d convenient hole in which to lie hid.
Twas summer evening the last time | laid
there, very warm and clear and bright, with the
wind purring IN the west, and the odors of these
zephyrs over the countryside. Says Mrs. Battle
when she spied at the door, dropping her broom
Lal It's the Capta1n!"
so tbs, my pretty" said l. "and glad to see a
friendly light kndle those beacons."
Tls Your fine London manners, SIR said She
1--WE do not trust em here" But she brdled and
gave welcome all the same
And conceive me set there within two minutes
d Jug of ale to my hand, and pipe twiXt my teeth
,glng OF Mrs. Battle, and watching her spryly
dance about the room as she smiled and sniggered
and glgged and continued of cooking me tasty
supper. Thinks l. It's earth this fox will rest in
awhile, till his breath be again. Buo presently
through the windows, that open to the
evening perceived the figure of a man stand
ing with an arm upon eglantine that crept about
the lattice; and then he leaned in the sill with
a slow movement, and says he in harsh voice, very
creaky, like rusty saw, and without stirring of his
tace more than rut1e:
Il give ye good eVen,' he says.
Twas squeak like mouse when he said good"
as If he were shying mncingy at 1T like mare with
the WITNESSES.
Robert Maxwell" says Mrs Battle without
turning her head, " It's no way to enter by Win
dow Folks should know more manners than that,
if they be foreigners
Twas spoken pleasantly enough with hint of
airness in it; and the mans broad face stretched
in grin. He was a lump of creature, very hairy
to look
Il was just mindng the honeysuclle," says he
IN his baTbarous voice. 1T should ha been cut
back to the young shoots last summer
Lord! | cannot give YOU any notion of how ,un-
earthly this monster talked nor of his accent, nor
yet of the ginger hair his face, and his walk
that was waddle He entered the doorway upon
his speech, and came in siding.
Il doubt Mary" says he very deliberate, 'if
yon will serve by the wall without. 'Tis an
aspect that likes em not
The great oaf sat there in a chair too little for
his g1rth, and you would have laughed to hear him
talk thus of flowers and trees and trash of that
sort as II twas of any account. Damme! a
might well be ale drawer in d tavern as stick