Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-17


agency and stared UP the road harder
than ever.
What are you looking atr'' inquired.
"'In." said he.
And why do you look at the hill7"
Mail" said he.
"OhH said !.
"AhP said he.
rs II the London coachf'
| "Ah" said he
Does It stop here7"
"Ah" said he.
do you ever say anything much besides
'ah'?" 1 inquired
He stopped chewing the straw. and with
his eyes on the distance seemed to turn
this question over in his mind; having
done which. he began to chew again.
"Ahw said he.
| why. then you cam. perhaps. tell me
how many miles it is"
Five" said he.
Il was about to ask how far It was
| to"
The wellsr' said he.
Why-yes. to be sure. but how did you
know that?"
IT'S usel" said he.
What do you mean7"
They all ask!" said he.
WHO do"
| "Trampsl" said he.
"ohi so you take me for a tramp"
| "Ahr said he.
] And you," said I, put me in mind of
a certain Semiquavering Friar."
"Eh?" said he, frowning a little at
the hill.
Panurse, OF course" said /. The hostler
took out his straw. eyed It thoughtfully
and put It back again.
No" said he.
"Mores the pity!" said 1, and was about
to turn away when he drew the nearest
| fist abruptly from his pocket and ex-
tended 1t toward me-
Look at that" he commanded.
Rather dirty" I commented, but
otherwise a good. useful member. make
no doubt"
TITS a-goin'," said he, alternately draw
ing in and shooting out the fist In ques-
ton, ITS a-goin' to NIL your eye up
us TT" said /.
"Ah" said he.
But what for7''
II aren't Semmy, nor yet a ouaver,
an as for Friers," said he, very deliber-
ately. ''why-Frier yourself. says L."
Nevertheless" said /. you are gifted
with certain terse directness Of speech
| that greatly reminds me Of"
'Joe" he called out suddenly over his
shoulder. Mail. Joew
Lifting my eyes to the brow of the hill,
could see nothing save a faint haze,
which, however. gradually grew denser
and thicker; and out from this gathering
cloud. soft, and faint with distance, stole
the silvery notes of horn. Now I saw
the coach itself.
In the midst of the confusion of arrival,
| down came the window with a bang, ana
out OF the window came a flask, and a
hand, and an arm, and, last OF all, a
great, fat face, round. and mottled, and
| roaring as II came:
"Oho-I say damn II! damn everybody's
eyes and bones-brandy! o yoho. house
I say brandy! Guard, landlord. ostlers-
brandy, d. ye hear? 1 say, what the
devil!l Am to die for want of a drop
OF brandy? ohow
| chow, / cannot define) that I was the OBJ
ject OF close and persistent scrutiny
that / was being watched and stared at
| by some one near by. Shifting my eyes,
therefore, from the mottled face at the
coach window, cast them swiftly about
unti they presently met those of one of
| fouf Nutside passengers--a tall, roughly
clad Van who leaned far out from the
| coach roof. watching me intently; and
| his face was thin. and very pale, and
| the eyes which stared into mine glowed
beneath a jagged prominence OF brow.
At the time. though wondered at the
mans expression, and the fxity OF his
gaze, / paid him no further heed, but
| turned my attention back to Mottle-face.
purple Howbeit, in due time. the mask
having been replenished and handed to
him, he dived back into the recesses or
the coach, Jerked up the window, and
vanished as suddenly as he had appeared
But now the four fresh horses were In
and harnesBed, capering and dancing with
an ostier at the head of each; the Driver
tossed on his glass OF rum and water.
cast an eye up at the clouds. remarked
wind. by Geminil' settled his feet
against the dashboard, and gathered up
the reins. And now. too. the guard ap-
peared. wiping his lips as he came. who
also cast an eye up at the heavens. re-
himself up into the rumble.
"All right behindx" sang out the driver
over his shoulder
''All right" sang back the guard
Then let 'em sol" cried the driver.
Wherepuon the ostiers Jumped nimbly
back. the horses threw up their heads.
and danced undecidedly for a moment.
the long whip cracked. hoofs clattered,
sparks new, and, rumblins and crealing,
on went the London Mail with such a
flourish Of the horn as woke many a
sleepy echo. near and far. AS turned
away. noticed that there remained but
three outside passengers; the pale-faced
man had evidently alighted. yet, al
though glanced round for him. he was
nowhere 70 be seen.
Hereupon. being In no mind 20 undergo
the operation OF having my eye illed up,
and, moreover. finding myself thirsty. /
stepped into the Tap" And there sure
enough. was the Outside Passenger star
ing moodsly out OF the window, ana with
an untouched mug Of ale at his elbow.
Opposite him sat an old man IN a smock
frock. who leaned upon a holiy-stick,
talking TO a very short. Fat man behind
the bar. who took my twopsnce with a
smile. smiled as he drew my ale, and,
smiling watched me drink
he you from Lunnon. sirY'' inquired
the old man. eyeang me beneath his
hoery brows as sef down my tankard.
Yes" said l.
Well. think O. that now-rve been
e-Eoin 70 Lunnon THE ave an forty
Sesr-sta1fed or 'ytee. aid, but never