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


the gallon on the brandy, and two
more for the Antigua. Leave your
kegs, and see me again az sunset.
The money In handl the money In
hand there Is no trust In my conn
monwealth.
1T shall be so. " said Nichol.
And now, Master Cadger, what
wiltf You have scheme to cozen
dame and wench with Rewgaws;
see IL In your eye: and you will
swear upon book and cross, II need
|sbe, they have stood you o wondrous
hard purchase. even at the full threa
hundred per cent. excess you pur-
pose to exact above the cost; and ell
the while II has come out of Roh's
warehouse as cheap as beggars
aims: ha, ha, hal This world thrives
on honesty II grows fat on virtuel
knavery only starves. Your rogue
Ia rags, what has be but his deserts2
Let him repent and turn virtuous,
like you and me, Perry, and bis torn
cloak and threadbare doublet shall
be fenced aud lined to defy ell
weathers. Hark you, master,
have camblets, satins, and velvets,
cambria, and lawn-choice commo-
dities all. You shall see them Ia
the hut. !"
How came you by so rich an In
ventory. Rob2n
The Cripple turned o fierce eye
upon the mercer, and with ona
glance conveyed his meanining, as
be touched the handle Of his dagger
and said In o low tone.
DO you forget the covenant be-
tween us2 Peregrine CadRer, you
know brook no such question:,
The mercer stood for momen
abashed. 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 hut TO look at the
wares.
do so, said The Cripple. "You
will find them Ia the box behind the
door. There is need that you leave
me, so follow him. Nichol. / have
sudden business, masters, which ID
does not concern you TO witness.
When you have seen what you do.
sire, depart quickly; leave your
sacks and come back at sunset.
charge you. have care that your
eyes do not wonder towards my mo-
tions. You know me, and know
that l have sentinels upon your
steps who have power to scar your
eye balls II you but steal one for
hidden glance: awAyl"
The dealers withdrew into the
but. wopahripG A the ahrupt ter
On q tel saA la 60
plicltly coniidlne III the power 81
The Cripple to make good bis
threat.
THE Lord have mercy upon usIp
said the mercer, In snothered
voice, after they had entered the
door; The Cripple has matters on
hand which II were not for our good
to pry into. Pray you. NiChol. let
US make our survey and do his bid
ding. by setting forth at once. I
am not the man to give him offence. 4
The cause Of this unexpected dis
missal OF the visitors was the ap-
partition OF C0cklescraft, whose
figure, In the doubtful light OF the
morning. was seen by Rob al o
distance, on the profile OF the
bank 10 the neighborhood OF The
Wizards Chapel. He had halted
upon observing The Cripplein com.
pany with strangers, and had made
signal which was sufficiently In
teliigible TO the person TO whom II
was addressed. to explain his wish
| TO meet him.
Rob, having thus promptly rid
himself OF bis company, now swung
bis ghort crutches, almost as rapid
ly as good walker could have got
over the ground, towards the spot
where the buccaneer had halted.
steer your c0ckleshell there TO
the right, old worml" said the free
booter. as Rob came opposite TO the
bank on which be stood. You
shall find u easier TO come up by
the hollow,
THE plague Of q foul conscience
light on you'll replied The Cripple,
desisting from further motlon, aud
wiping the perspiration from his
brow. rs II more seemly should
waste my strength on the fruitless
labor t0clamber up that rough slope,
or you come down TO me? You mock
me, sirrahI" he added, with an ex-
PRECISION OF sudden anger; you
know cannot mount the bank"
"You know j can drag you up,
reverend fragment OF sinful mani
returned Cocklescraft. jocularly;
yes, and with oil your pack OF evil
passions at your back besides.
Would you hold our meeting In
| sight from the window OF the hut,
where you have just lodged pair
Of your busy meddlers--your bump.
kin cronies 10 the way Of trader II
was such as these that, but few
nights ago. set bis Lordship'g
hounds upon our tracks Come up,
man. without further parley."
TheCripple 8 heeting chang.
cd. as usual, 10 that bitter smile and
chnckle with which he was won't 70
return into tractable mood, as be
said -
"A proyldent rogueI shrewd
impl He has his instinct Of mis-
chief 50 keen that bis forecast never
sleeps The devil has made bin q
| perfect scholar. There, Dick0p,
give ne your hand" be added,
when be came 10 the steep ascent
which bis machine Of locOmoti0n
/ was utterly ipadeouate 10 aurmount.