Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-12-08
"You Ought to Have Been a Burglar,
Sir" Said Mr.. Drinkwater.

self in with as little hesitation as she
| proceeded to beard the poor brute
in his inner lair. And he never even
| barked at her; he just lay whimpering
with his fearful nose between his two
front paws, as though his dead master
had not left him to the servants all
his life.
Blanche coaxed and petted him IN
| til she almost wept herself; then sud-
denly and without warning the dog
| showed his worst side. Out he leaped
| from wooden sanctuary, almost knock
ing her down, and barking horribly,
but not at Blanche. She followed his
| Infatuated eyes; and the back door
way framed dusty and grimy figure,
just climbing into full length on the
cellar stairs, which Blanche had some
| difficulty in identifying with that Of
Cazalet.
well, you really are Swept" she
cried when she had Slipped out just
in time, and the now savage dog was
still butting and clawing 1T his bars.
''How did you come out, and where
! are the enemy?'
1.-THE old way" he answered. Il left
them down there"
"And what did you find?"
''Pll tell you later. can't hear my
voice for that Internal dog"
The dreadful barking followed them
out into the yard, and round to the
| right, past the tradesmen's door, to
the verge of the drive. Here they met
| an elderly man in tremendous hurry
an unstable dotard who instantly
abandoned whatever purpose he had
! formed, and came to anchor in front
of them with rheumy eyes and twitch-
ing wrinkles.
"Why, if that isn't Miss Blanche!"
he quavered. do you hear our Roy,
miss? I ha'n't heard that go on like
that since the night that happened"
Then Cazalet introduced himself to
the old gardener whom he had known
all his life; and by rights the man
should have wept outright, or else
emitted rustic epigram laden with
wise humor. But old Savage hailed
from silly Suffolk, and all his life he
had belied his surname, but never the
alliterative libel on his native county.
He took the wanderers return very
much as though he had never been
away at all, and was demonstrative
only in his further use of the East
Anglican pronoun.
THAT'S long time since we Jared
to see you, Mus Walter" said he;
that's a right long time! And now
here's q nice kettle of fish for you
to find! But I seen the man, Mus
Walter, and we'll bring that home to
him, never you fear!"
Are you sure that you saw him?"
asked Blanche, already under GAIA.
let's influence on this point.
Savage looked cautiously toward
the house before replying; then he
lowered his voice dramatically. Sure,
Miss Blanche. Why, see him that
night as plain as I fare to see Mus
Walter now!"
Il should have thought it was too
dark to see anybody properly" said
Blanche, and Cazalet nodded vigorous.
ly to himself.
Ozark, Miss Blanche? Why, there
was broad daylight, and if that wasn't
there were'the lodge lights on to see
him by!" His stage voice fell sepul.
chral semitone. But see him again
at the station this very afternoon.
did! I promised not to talk about
that-you'll keep that secret if tell
e somethin' but I picked him out
of half dozen at the first time of
askin'!"
Savage said this with pleased and
vacuous grin, looking Cazalet full in
the face; his rheumy eyes were red
as the sunset they faced; and Cazalet
drew a deep breath as Blanche and he
turned back toward the river.
First time of prompting, expect!"
he whispered. But there's hope if
Savage is their strongest Witness"
"Only listen to that dog" said
Blanche, as they passed the yard.
(TO BE CONTINUED)