The Washington herald., 1915-11-28

we'll impressed by their master. This
man was not at all agreeable To look
upon, being ungainly in figure and with
mouth and eyes that did not inspire
confidence and a manner so gruff and
overbearing that the boy wondered where
he could have been born and bred. Nor
was his conduct after he entered the
tavern an improvement ON his stable
manners. With half a sneer on his re-
pulsive face and a voice so high pitched
that it startled the astonished landlady
and sent S-year-old Helen into a corner,
be ordered his supper, with various en-
phatc directions as to its preparation
and injunctions to be quick about it
AT table he was even more unbearabIe
than before. Without waiting TO be
served he plunged his fork into the food
Unfortunately and even committed
the gross bres~aS of etiquette of feeding
himself directly from the meat platter.
This latter was little more than tidy
Mrs. Strong could bear without inter-
ference. SO she lifted the dish and set it
beyond the glutton's reach, regardless of
his scolds and muttered threats, while
she filled a plate generously with the
food and placed it before him. 1t was
plain that he had eaten nothing for many
hours, and the way Mrs. Strongs savory
food disappeared down his famished
throat would have pleased the good
woman had the process been conducted
with ordinary poIiteness. As it was. she
felt nothing but disgust and regret that
her duty as Iandlady compelled her to
keep silent
When he had gorged himself to a point
beyond which no could not go to the ex-
tent Of another mouthful, the unwelcome
guest rose from his chair with a great !
CHATTER, stretched himself and called for |
a lantern. saying that he would take a |
look at his horses before turning in for |
the night. Richard produced the light |
and was about to accompany the man,
but was repulsed by a surIy Stay where |
you are" from the unmannerly fellow, |
who snatched the lantern from the boys |
hand, shuffied heavily across the kitchen !
a
slam bang.
The first thing Mrs. Strong did after
her guest disappeared was to send Helen
10 bed. Then she turned to her son and
asked in a tone that was not free from
anxiety. although she tried her best to
be natural: What do you think of that
nan?"
II think he's a tough one, and 1 don't
believe he got those horses honestly"
eplied Richard.
II don't like his looks myself" she
Omitted. II should think, from the
way he acts, that he must have lived
most of his life in prison. Now, let me
ell you what I am going to do. OF
curse. he may be as harmless as a dove,
nd I hope he is. but I don't intend to
i've him a chance to do any mischief If
can help it I'm going to get Helen
ito the trundIe bed in my room and /
,,.., you to get into my bed. 1 shall I
It in my big rocking chair before the {
replace. 1 can sleep very well in it. and
shall be wide awake If anything should !
isturb me during the night l suppose
e shall all be laughing at ourselves to- !
Il don't believe he's the owner of /
lose grsys," Insisted Richard.
Soon the man r--entereG the house, .
nd in an insolent tone declared that
3 was ready t6 retire. Richard g
GIFTED a candle and showed him into :
lie guest chamber. a big room in the 5
ew addition. with a great fireplace in v
hich cheerful hickory wood fire |
as burning. With grunt of salts :
cton the man flung himself on the c
'mfortable looking bed without even n
moving his coarse cowhide boots
18th polite good night" the boy