The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-13
ICHAPTER XXXv.
ET}VBTFUL FRIEND.

my own personal story at the point
where, on the morning of my con-
cealment by Herzog in the vacant
house at Totland bay, was
alarmed by the appearance of a
man in blue guernsey at the
window of the drawing room. 1t
will be remembered that / was ex-
pecting Herzog to return with a
supply Of provisions, and that on
drawing aside the blind I saw the
stranger instead.
A moments reflection showed
that as he had undoubtedly seen
me before l dropped the window
blind, no good could be done by
refusing to speak to him. He would
possibly go and tell everyone he
met that someone was living In
the unoccupied house, with the re-
sule that should be at once routed
out by the agents or owner. So
raised the blind, opened the win
dow, and beckoned to him. That
. had made no mistake in doing so
was at once made plain by the
credentials he presented-a basket
of provisions and a note, which
proved to be from Herzog.
my dear friend" it ran, "R. M.
is off to London by the first boat,
: and l must stick to him like a
leech. The chase will in all likek
hood lead me to that brave little
lass of yours. So / send the best
substitute l can find at short notice
/ should not be disposed to trust
him too far, but as all these Isle of
Wight fishermen have smuggling
blood in them. they have an hered-
itary antipathy to law and order.
This chap has been told that you
are an absconding debtor HIS
name is Peter Croal."
My visitor. when l finished read
ing, was regarding me out of the
corner of his eye with a furtive
benevolence that was by no means
pleasing 1t was as though he APP
proved of me, not from personal at
traction, but as a possible source
of income.
81 am obliged to you for bringing
me these things. Did my friend
give you anything for doing so?"
! said.
Mr. Peter Croal drew his sleeve
across his mouth and looked
thirsty. I'm a manner of speaking,
the gentleman did. Don't he say
so in the letter." was the tentative
reply, which made me distrust tn
man there and then.
HE doesn't mention the
amount I said, wishing to draw
him out and verify my suspicious.
"Drat him for that retorted the
fisherman, With a fine show of hav-
ing been haf&iy treated. "The gen,
tleman, he give me the money for
the grub and the liquor. and 'arf
crown for myself But, Croal,' he
says, that amt anything like
proper remuneration for a kind OF
secret Job like this. only gives
you arr crown because it's all the
change I've got. I'll put It in this
here note to t'other gent is to give
you a sovereign"
rendered the sum demanded out
of the little store with which Her
zog had supplied me in cashe a
wider flight should be necessary,
but did not believe a word of the
story Herzog had. without doubt,
adequately paid him, and this was
only try on to make the most or
the bit of luck that had come his
way--the thin edge of the wedge OF
blackmail. II this was the spirit fl
which Mr.. Peter Croal entered
upon his trust l could forsee
heavy addition to my existing ana
ieties.
Having spat on and pocketed the
coin. the fellow showed no DISPOSE
ton to go. nor was l, In my impo-
tent position, able to suggest de-
parture. He leisurely scrutinized
the few pictures on the walls, and
the furniture, and then his eye, too
friendly for safety, travelled slyly
back to me again.
Pretty little place--this you've
got here all to yourself, mister.
How long might you be going to
bide in it?" he inquired.
It'll l choose to .leave--or till
you give me away" I said, hoping
to measure his capacity for treach-
cry by the extent Of his disclaimer.
And full measure indeed he gave
me. Such plausible. honey
tongued rascal It has never been
my lot to listen to. He had taken a
fancy to me, he avowed. the mo.
ment drew aside the blind. He
was always one that stood by the
unfortnit."
And then, suddenly, with a Sc
quence of ideas that may or may
not have been accidental, he
added:
''If you was the bloke that broke
Jail Mt Winchester I wouldn't peach,
seaiug what a liking I've took IN va