The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-05-02
the captain, "of gettin' into bad com
pany."
CHAPTER XXI.
Or. Grips Is Incoherent.

4
battered football of fate, DIR. Cripps
was left standing and alone, at Liver
pool street station, he cast about in his
mind as to what was best to be done.
His small share of the spoils of the
Sheffield robbery had been passed into
the hands of a person who had prom
Used to effect a safe exchange; and
Grips was, as usual, remarkably
short of money.
He remembered, too, not with con-
triton, but with something of alarm,
that he had, in a moment of forgetful-
ness, struck a man on a vital spot with
decanter, and left him apparently
| dead; so that there might be conse-
| quences to be feared. On the other
hand, money must be screwed out of
somebody, and he was at loss to
| know to whom to turn for it Wool
witch was a barren country, for the re-
cent tragic events and the stir created
| by the bank robbery had scattered tho
band, and it was quite unlikely that he
would have chance of meeting any
member of it,.
However, the barren country had to
be tried; much liquid refreshment was
necessary for him, and it had TO be OBJ
tanned somewhere. Accordingly, for
nearly a week he haunted those shady,
out-at-elbows places near the river, in
the hope of meeting a friend But
friends were scarce and shy, and, al.
though he met one or two and pleaded
his position successfully, it was hard
and uphill work. At the end of a week
he had come perilously near to spiritu-
Gus starvation, and was, in direct con-
sequence, more sober than he had
been for past years.
His wits being much sharpened, as
mis- brain became clearer, he began 10
think, with rising hope, of Bamberton
from which he had so unceremonious-
ly taken flight. The idea appealed to
him; with growing confidence he re-
membered, in these more sober mo-
ments, that the man he had assaulted
with the decanter had had but a pass
ing glimpse of him, and might not be
likely to recognize him. At all events.
the distance was not great, and Il =
place had a public house-two public
houses, unless his eyes had deceived
him.
Frightened with this thought, and
with the prospects of having a new
field in which to borrow, and finding
that he had sufficient money in his
pocket to pay for the journed, he set
off for Liverpool street, and in little
time was standing-an incongruous
enough figure in the spring landscape
outside the little station which was
within a few miles of Bamherton,
moistening his dry lips with his
tongue, and wondering where he was
to get drink.
In the days-over quarter Of CEN
fury before-when Grips had known
Bamberton the little town where the
railway now ended had been but an
insignificant village, and the railway
(Which had made its fortune) a thing
undreamed of. At the present time.
therefore, the doctor stood on strange
ground; and the past was so far away
that he had absolutely no idea in
which direction Bamberton lay. Di-
vided between the necessity for reach
ing the village and the more pressing
need for refreshment, the little man
| looked about for some promising
STRANGER who might have a kindly
heart and a spare threepence in his
| pocket.
Standing almost at his elbow, and
staring down the road. in altogether as
! gloomy a fashion as himself, was a
| young man, quietly dressed in country
style--a mere lad. Cripps, after glanc-
| ing at him once or twice, edged toward
| him.
Il suppose, my friend" he said; II
| suppose you don't happen to know the
way toward Bamberton, do your"
The young man looked at him for a
moment, and then smiled. II ought
to know the way, sir" he heplied; Il
| was born there"
And most excellent place to be
born in, I should imagine" said Cripps.
Delightful scenery, and-and public
house or two. just-just to relieve the
monotony of things. Er-by the way
they don't seem to have one just
about here, eh?"
Just across the road" replied the
young man, jerking his head in that d.
| rection.
DR.. Cripps began to conceive dis
| like for the lad, as one who could not
understand the true meaning of a
4 hint; but he tried again. Isis the
liquor there worth drinking?" he asked
In confidential tone.
TITS long time since I tried It," re-
piled the young man, carelessly.
Grips saw an opening here: he
laughed feebly, and clapped the young
man on the shoulder. "F1a, ha, very