St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-05-02

me his custom"
Now, It's certain enough that hat
l conserved my wits more properly
and that dismal juice was not 81
fluent in my blood, 1 would neve
have risked this place of deviltry
The room was buzzing with sound
and the warmth and the fare pleased
me very well. But where the devi
was / gotten, and who the devil these
cullies might me, and why I was
thus politely admitted to the board
these were the enigmas that float
ed about in my head. Not that wa.
in any embarrassment; for it was
enough for me if was to be enter
tanned thus royalty, waited upor
with the best, and conjoined with 6
high company, such as was scattered
about me-and all without so much
as a single trespass upon the pocket
But by and by my civil neighbol
turned to me.
you are late" says he. 81 sup
pose you were held at the court; OF
do you ride from town."
well" says /, very careful, for ]
am not the man to trip myself over
a word, ''in manner you may say
yes, says; and took draught OF
| the tanker afore me.
"Ah!" he said, and seemed to puzzle
his wits over the reioinder; but ]
conceived he was in no very active
condition Of mind, and it is like
enough that what said seemed from
some corners of aspect to contain a
sensible answer. So he followed
after my example and slipped his wine
meditatively.
His lordship," says he, soon
again, lis in high feather this even
ing"
"You may say that" said I, delivering
a glance towards the head of the
table, where, sat long-faced, hand.
some looking fellow, whom, to say
sooth, l had not yet minded In the sat
isfaction Of my appetite, "he is I'LL.
ing a paunch, warrant" I said, with
laugh.
"Hush!" whispered he, with a
scared look on his face, and glanc.
ing about him, you will be over
heard"
"Overheard!" said. Gam | a wench
that must walk mimmouthed through
her wine and not deal in the kings
plain English? I permit no man to
dictate me upon my language-not II
The fellow stared at me sor time,
and then: "You have a bold tongue. /"
said he, with what [ could perceive
was hint of the ironic. 81 have no
doubt you ply it well. What is your
court?" says he.
The same as yours, says I.
"Oh!" says he, breaking into smile.
Il wear my professions very discerni-
BILE, them"
Eyes, you do" said l, bluntly.
4 am glad / have met you" he
went on, pleasantly, "and shall make
it my duty to pursue our acquaintance.
1t is odd, indeed. And what think you,
sir, of the Fassett business?"
"Ah, you may well ask" says /,
nodding my head. Cad and / see you
are agreed with me. The circumstan-
ces stand SO plain that there Is no de-
NAL. Be sure you are right; I'll war
rant that; and 1 myself am game to
prove 1t with the point" says /, slap
ping my sword.
The gentleman drew away, looking
at me with some amazement, and
presently his face took on an expires.
sion of confusion. and "Quite sol" says
he. And I took Off my gaze from
him and was for letting 1t fall
back on my neighbor to interrogate
him upon the identity Of this fine
cock when its passage along the op-
posite side Of the. table discovered, not
very far from his lordship himself, no
other than the prim-faced gentleman
OF tho-parrt-coiorod chaise that Tony
and ] had ransacked that same after
noon upon the moors.
The Gully turned a trife pale and
WINGED, moving in his seat. Then he
frowned and seemed nightly taken
up with his plate, after which he lifted
his head again and directed a look on
me.
Well" says I to myself, st am
committed to it now; and it's my bear
ing against his, and the best Gre
dentials." And with that feeling that
the matter was passed out of my
hands turned on my neighbor and
says I to him, but still keeping an eye
on the pale,faced BOBBY: who may
his lordship be?" I says.
''You are jesting," says he. Ellis
WELL, says I, trifle grimly, for |
saw the same lordship casting his |
eyes upon the paper. "And maybe you |
can put name on him if 1 can't"
'But-but," he stammered, and |
then: who may you be?" he asked, |
with some suspicion and in another
On. you!" said I; Tive put you
a question and a gentleman should |
need no reminder of his necessary |
for bysthis I saw his lord
ships soft and shining eyes directed |
On us. Whats the cully's name 2" |
I asked.
'"Tis my Lord Jeffreys," he says, in
/ bare whisper. You will believe me,
md l make no shame to admit it, that
ny legs took a tremer at the words.
'EThank'ee," says /. calmly, to my
leighbor, "'Tis well. l have some
business with his lordship."
"Well,' thinks /, an must lay my
back against wall, must; but they