Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-15

Ay. to be sure, e aren't got 30 much |
as our old cati" grinned n third
STAY cried the one-eyed man, peer
Ing up at me beneath his hand. "Is they
whiskers a-peepin' at me over is cravat
or do my eyes deceive met" Which pleas
antry called forth another roar OF laugh
ter at my expense.
Now. very foolishiy perhaps. this non
sense greatly exasperated me. for was.
At that time painfully conscious of my
bare lips and chin. II was, therefore,
with an effort that mastered my quickly
rising temper and once more addressed
myself to Cragg
81 am willing" said 1, 'to accent your
conditions and hght you-for a guinea
or any other man here, for that matter.
except the humorous gentleman with the
watery eye, who can name his own
price" The fellow in question stared at
me, glanced slowly around, and, sitting
down. buried his face in his tankard
Come. Tom Cragg," said l. "a while
ago you seemed very anxious for a man
to tight; well-I'm your man." and with
the words 1 stripped Off my coat and
laid II across a chair-back.
This apparent willingness on my part
was but a cloak for my real feelings, for
1 VIII not here disguise the fact that the
prospect before me was anything but
agreeable; indeed. my heart was thump-
ing in a most unpleasant manner, and
my tongue and lips had become strangely
parched and dry, as fronted Cragg.
Truly, he looked dangerous enough,
with his beetllng brow, his great depth
! OF chest, and massive shoulders; and the
| possibility OF a black eve or so, and gem
eral pounding from the fellow'e knotted
fists, was daunting in the extreme. Still.
the chance Of earning a guinea, even un-
| der such conditions, was not TO be lightly
| thrown away; therefore folded my arms
n md eaA urNNh Oh. n
| could.
Sir" said Cragg. speaking in a very
altered tone, "sir, you seem uncommon
eager for IT,"
"I shall be glad to get It over" said /.
| "If," he went on slowly, 'if 1 said
| anything against-you know who, I'm
sorry for time 'aving the greatest re-
spec for-you know who-you understand
| me, think" And herewith he winked,
three separate and distinct times.
"No, don't understand you in the
| least" said l, nor do / think II at all
necessary: all that 1 care about is the
guinea in question"
Come, Tom" cried one of the COM
pany, knock ~ cad off to begin with"
"Ay, set about m. Tom-cut your CAB
an finish 'im," and here came the clat-
| ten of chairs as the company rose.
Cant be DONE said Cragg. shaking
| his head. 'leastways-not ere"
I'm not particular" said l. 'If you
prefer, we might manage it very well in
the stable with couple of lanthorns."
"The barn would be the very place"
suggested the landlord, bustling eagerly
forward and wiping his hands on his
apron, "the very place-plenty of room
and nice and soft to fall on. II you
would only put of your fghtin' till to-
morrow, we might cry IL through the
villa ges; I would be big draw. Ecod!
we might make a purse o twenty pound
If you only would! Think 1t over
think II over"
Tomorrow l hope to be a good dis
tance from here" said 1; come. the
sooner II is over the better, show US your
barn" So the landlord called for Ian
thorns and led the way TO a large out
building at the back OF the inn, into
which we all trooped.
"It seems to be a good place and very
| suitable," said /.
You may we'll say that" returned the
landlord. ats many fine bout as has
been brought off In ere; the time Jem
Belcher beat The Young Ruffian' the
Prince o. Wales sat in a cheer over in
that theer corner-ah. that was a day, II
you pleased"
IF Tom Cragg is ready" said I, turn
ing up the wristbands of my shirt, "why
| 80 am l." Here 1t was found to every
ones surprise, and mine In particular
, that Tom Cragg was not in the barn
Surprise gave place to noisy astonish
ment when, after much running to ano
fro. 1t was further learned that he hao
vanished altogether. The inn itself. th'
stables, and even the haylofts were ran
sacked without avail. Tom Cragg wal
gone as completely as though he hat
melted into thin air, and with him al
my hopes of winning the guinea and 6
comfortable bed.
1t was with all my old detection upol
! | me, therefore that returned TO the tap
4 ~ AfF1 1rtO A.
the One-Eyed Man. put on my coat, re
adjusted my knapsack and crossed to tn
!. door On the threshold / paused, an'
looked back.
= "If." said I, glancing round the ring o
faces 'if there is any man here who i
! at ali willing 20 fight for guinea, tel
r shillings, or even five. should be yer!
: glad of the chance to earn IT," But. see
ing how each, wilfully avoiding my eye
held his peace, / sighed. and turning m
Q back upon them. set Off along the dark
Q ening road.
: CHAPTER vi.
Evening had fallen. and walked alon
, in no very happy frame OF mind, IN
u more SO. as the rising wind and nyin
wrack of clouds above dhrough which i
watery moon had peeped at htful In
tervals) seemed to presage a Wild night
II needed but this TO make my miser
q the more complete, for, as far as coul
l. tell, IL / slept at all land l was alreao
very weary, 1t must, OF necessity
d beneath some hedge or tree
AS 1 approached the brow Of the hill
i suddenly remembered that must ono
more pass the gibbet, and began 10 stral
= my eyes for It. Presently spied IT, sur
enough, its grim, gaunt outline loomin
d through the murk, and instlnctiVely
auickened my stride so as to pass II
/ soon as might be.
4 was almost abreast of II when figur
s rose from beneath IL and slouched int
d the road 10 meet me. I stopped there an
d then. and grasping my heavy stan waite
it's approach.
10 "Be that you, sir7" said voice and
II recognized the voice of Tom Cragg.
, what are you doing-and there OF a
COIL amt afeared OF im." answere
+ Cragg. Jerking his thumb toward the gil
a bet, II amt afeard O. none as eve
is drawed breath--dead or livin'-exeept
,r be lis 'IEhness the Prince Regent
= "And what do you want with mel
81 opes as theer's no offense. my lord'
p said he, knuckling his forehead. an
~ speaking In a tone that was strane
ID mixture OF would-be comradeship an
W4l