The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-03-26

rense OF an awful vacuum. Il only
hadn't been such an ass over tina:
shilling We could at least have had
some bread and cheese and tankar,l
OF brown October apiece at a waysid,.
inn" He relapsed into gloomy silence
well, we've got to get to Dale,
brock somehow. It's no good lying
down like the Babes in the Wood for
the dicky birds to cover our fairy
forms with property leaves, eh, Mon.
ty? Wrong time Of the year, for one
thing. Besides, Chatterton would be
annoyed, since he's expecting u.s."
If only Westham were a town. I
could pawn my fur coat. It's an old
friend, and to part with it after all
these years would cut me to the
heart" said the heavy man, pathetic.
ally, glancing down with q mournful
pride at this garment Oft must be
admitted great decrepitude. II
seemed mutely to clamor for decent
interment, like unburied dead. 1T
would be wrench, but almost feel
could bring myself to part with it
| for good, square meal.''
Joe laughed. He had known that
coat almost as long as he had known
Monty, and for fifteen years he
scarcely remembered ever seeing the
two apart.
1t was the opinion of most members
of all the companies Mr.. Herbert Mon
tague had ever played in that he
couldn't mum for nuts" and it was
possibly largely due to the remarkable
fact that Monty wore this coat in all
weathers, winter and summer alike.
that he could generally be sure of a
provincial engagement of some sort.
The sight of the heavy man walking
Importantly through the streets of a
small country town on sweltering
day, clothed in fur like an Arctic ex-
plorer, usually followed by a rabble
of urchins, was sight for gods and
men, and-what was important from
managerial point of yiew-adver.
tised the show.
When it was known that Monty was
coming to the town in the next weeks
show, people began to talk of his well
known eccentricity; they looked out
for his appearance on the Monday
morning; jokes circulated at the pub.
lie bars; it drew business. Montv's
coat, if not Monty himself. was ia
nous; and the heavy man shoue with
its reflected luster.
This must be Westham, joe" A
turn of the road had brought them
into view of some scattered houses.
and in the distance a glimpse of an
irregular, winding village street with
matched cottages. IF only hadn't
been such fool as to lose that shill-
ing"
"Oh, hang the shilling! believe
the thought of it will worry you into
your grave yeti" broke in Joe. lima.
tiently. Were not dead yet. Since
most villages sport at least one pub
well, there you are. What are pubs
Tor but to provide food and drink?
The first pub we strike is going to do
ditto for u.s."
Its all very we'll to talk" said tbe
heavy man. gloomily, "but with three.
pence-half-penny in the treasury"
Joe's face was resolute with sudden
determination.
"Three-pence-half-penny be liz.
gered!" he said, firmly. I'm going to
dine. Monty, I'm not going to put off
my ravenous inner man with any mere
bubbles about three-pence-half.penny
II this benighted village has a pub. at
that pub we dine. and dine well. On
ly for goodness sake, Monty. don't
start ladling it out in lengths about
LeWisham We're and extending your
arm to the pub ceiling" and he fixed
the heavy man with a resolute eve.
"or you'll give the show away, as YOU
did to the chap who stood us the bac-
cy just now. and queer the whole
blooming pitch. Don't, Monty, as vol,
love me, for if the landlord SUSPECTS
we're couple of miserable, down-at.
heel. stranded mummers, that will mt
the kybosh on our chance of dinner I"
ITO Re con$inu.a1