Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-05-20

a.o1A your must have a trifis
ABOVE my last market-ten shillin9s
the gallon on the brandy, and two
more for the Antigua. Leave vou,
Kegs, and see me again ID sunset
The money in handi the money In
manor there is no trust In my com,
monweslth."
"It shall be so, said Nichol.
And now. Master Cadger, wha,
wiitr You have q scheme TO cozen
dame and wench with gewgaws: !
see 10 In your eye: and You will
swear upon book and cross, II need
oe. they have stood you q wondrous
naro purchase. even at the full three
hundred per cant. excess Won. .uur.
pose 70 exact above the cost: and All
the while 1t has come out OF Rob- :
warehouse as cheap as beroarsi
aims: ha, ha, hal This world thrives
on honestly it grows fat on virtueI
knavery only starves. Your rogue
Ia rags. what has he but his deserts?
let him repent and turn virtuous.
like you and me, Perry, and his torn
cloak and threadbare doublet shall
be fenced and lined to defy ali
weathers. Hark you, master. 7
have camblets, satins, and yelvets
cambria, and lawn-choice commo.
dities all: You shall see them in
the hut"
How came you by so rich an in
ventory, Rob?"
The Cripple turned a fierce eve
upon the mercer, aud with one
glance conveyed his meanininr. Az
be touched the handle OF his dagger
and said In low tone.
Do you forget the covenant be-
tween us2 Peregrine Cadger. YOU
know brook no such question"
The mercer stood for a momen
aoashed. and then replied: AN
idle word. Master Rob, which meant
no harm: as you say, homes ty will
only thrive. You shall find never
knave that is not some part fool.
will into the but to look at the
wares.
DO so. said The Cripple. "You
will find them in the box behind the
door. There is need that you leave
me. so follow him. Nichol. | have
sudden business. masters. which IL
does not concern you to witness.
when you have seen what you de-
sire. depart quickly; leave your
sacks and come back at sunset. I
charge you. have q care that your
eyes do not wonder towards NV mo-
tlons. You know me, and know
that | have sentinels upon your
steps who have power 10 scar your
eye balls ii you but steal one for
hidden glance: awayi'
Tne dealers withdrew into the
hut. wondering at the abrupt ter
mination OF their interview, and i'm
plicitly confiding in the power of
The Cripple to make good his
threat.
The Lord have mercy upon usl"
said the mercer, in q smothered
voice, after they had entered the
door; The Cripple has matters on
hand which il were not for our good
to pry into. Pray you. Nichoi, let
us make our survey and do his bid
ding. by setting forth at once. /
am not the man to give him offence" 4"
The cause OF this unexpected dis
missal OF the visitors was the an
partition OF Cocklescraft, whose
figure. in the doubtful light of the
morning. was seen by Rob at q
distance, on the profile OF the
bank in the neighborhood OF the
Wizards Chapel. He had halted
upon observing The Cripple in COM
pany with strangers. and had made
a signal which was sufficiently in
telligible to the person TO whom it
was addressed, to explain his wish
10 meet him.
Rob, having thus promptly rid
himself OF his company, now swung
his short crutches, almost as rapid
ly as a good walker could have got
over the ground. towards the spot
where the buccaneer had halted.
Steer your cockleshell there to
the right, old worml" said the free
oooter. as Rob came opposite TO the
bank on which be stood. You
shall find it easier to come up by
the hollow"
The plague of q foul conscience
light on youl" replied The Cripple,
desisting from further motion, and
wiping the perspiration from his
brow. is it more seemly / should
waste my strength on the fruitless
labor 70 Chamber up that rough slope.
or you come down to me? You mock
me. sirrahi' he added, with an ex.
preston OF sudden anger; you
know | cannot mount the bank"
You know | can drag you up,
reverend fragment of sinful manii
returned Cocklescraf.. jocularly;
yes, and with all your pack OF evil
passions at your back besides.
Would you hold our meeting Ia
sight from the window OF the hut,
where you have just lodged a pair
OF your busy meddlers-your bump
kin cronies in the way of trade? Il
was such as these that, but a few
nights ago. set bis Lordship's
hounds upon our tracks Come up,
man. without further parley."
TheCripple s feeting anger chang
ed. as usual, to that bitter smile and
chuckle with which he was wont 70
return into tractable mood, as he
said,-
"A provident roguel q shrewd
imp! He has his instinct OF mis-
chief SO keen that his forecast never
sleeps. The devil has made bim a
perfect scholar. There, Dickon,
give me your hand" he added
when he came 70 the steep ascent
which his machine of locomotion
was utterly inadequate TO surmount.
Give me your hand, good cut-throas.
Help me TO the top"