The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-03-26


scnse OF an awful vacuum. n only
I hadn't been such an ass over tina:
shilling We could at least have had
some bread and cheese and tankard
OF brown October apiece at q waysids
inn" He relapsed into gloomy silence.
We'll. we've got to get to Dale
brook somehow. It's no good lying
Gown like the Babes in the Wood for
TIE dicky birds to cover our fairy
for ms with property leaves. Ell. Mon
ty? Wrong time of the year. for one
thing. Besides. Chatterton would be
annoyed. since he's expecting u.s."
II only wcstham were a town. I
friend. and TO part with 1t after all
these years would cut me to the
heart" said the heavy man. pathetic
ally. glancing down with a mournful
pride at this garment Oft must be
admitted great decrepitude. 1t
| seemed mufely to clamor for decent
interment. like unburied dead. TT
would be a wrench. but I almost feel
could bring myself to part with It
| TOT a 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.
II 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 1t 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 q
provincial engagement of some sort.
The sight Of the heavy man walking
Importantly through the streets Of q
small country town on a 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 view-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; II drew business. Monty's
coat. II not Monty himself, was 70
nous; and the heavy man shone will
its reflected luster.
, This must be Westham, Joe."
turn Of the road had brought then
into view OF some scattered houses
, and In the distance q glimpse OF al
, irregular. winding village street will
, matched cottages. IF only I hadn'
> been such fool as to lose that shill
, ing"
oh. hang the shilling! beliey
, the thought OF it will worry you int
, your grave yeti" broke In Joe, imps
tiently. Were not dead yet. Sine
n most villages sport at least one pub
well, there you are. What are pub
for but to provide food and drink
The first pub We strike is going to d
: ditto for U.S."
Its all very well to talk" said tn
heavy man, gloomily, but with thre,
. pence-half-penny in the treasury"
Joe's face was resolute with sudde
determination.
= "Three-pence-half.penny be IL,
!; eered!" he said, firmly. I'm going
= dine. Monty. I'm not going to nut O
!, my ravenous inner man with any mer
. bubbles about three-pence-ha lf.penn,
!. II this benighted village has a pub. .
Il that pub We dine. and dine well. O,
:. ly for goodness sake. Monty. don
: start ladling 1t out in lengths abo,
Lewisham We're and extending you
arm to the pub ceiling" and he IKE
the heavy man with a resoluts ey
"or you'll give the show away, as va
d did to the chap who stood us the ba
cy just now. and queer the who
! blooming pitch. Don't. Monty. as yo
o love me. for II the landlord suspec,
we're a couple of miserable. down.a
d heel. stranded mummers. that will n,
d the kybosh on our chance of dinner
!. ITO 6o Contlnuadl