l

(Continued from page 2)

"See what it's come to already." said Mr. McOoospick. l-Ie had sud- denly become drunk onthat morsel of incipient rhetoric. His eyes glint- ed and he caressed the table un- pleasantly.

"We've killed cruciﬁxion. an’ burn- in‘ at the stake. the cannibalism and piracy .and polygamy and-—this thing's the same—-an' we'll kill it." His voice rose slightly and Mr. Simp- still shuddered and suddenly left us.

It‘ wasn't so niucli his brief an’ territyin‘ speech," he said later."btit the nasty lilac color he assoonied." Mr. McGoospick at least had con- formed strictly t0 type. .

After supper he confided in us his plan to investigate the schooner (‘itilnare, and Mr. Kimborotigh btirn- t-d to show him the way.

"Don't mention what I'm saying to you." that person whispered, and glanced in the direction of Mr. Art-tiaunibault. "Wait till it's o. little tttirlzer. Don't g0 down by the Ev! l-‘ontl road. on the other side of Brig Pond. On this sidc there's a forty- 1\Z'l‘l‘ cranberry bog. There's a clear path down between it and the pond tii the beach. We'll put you on it with the boat. and theii."- he con- t-ltidccl mysteriously. "nobody will

KilOW where you are." He placed a singer oii his lips. "Wait!" he m\ir- Illllfﬁfl. and vanished toward the car. when I passed him in tlic dusk. hevti- iiig out the largisli canvas bag which lll had guarded since we left Char- lcttt-totvii. and singing to himself. tiiili ~.i zOIINHYIIQI brutal cadence. l. Hitihmls Fifth Hungarian Dance.

Behind tlic house I collided with two >1lﬁtiO\\'§‘ ilgiircs that proved to he Mr. Simpson and Mr. Archaum- baitlt. who labored toward the cow barn under the burden of a large, tub ﬁlled with a mixftire that gave up a wildish smell.

“I\’Iasli!" said Mr. Simpson. nod? "

ding toward Felix. “The littlt- man has a nice copper kettle and a coil

~01 pipc and he's been makin' his own nutriment. Now. since he's loaded up for the winter fi'om tlic Gulnare. he can't abide the taste of it, an‘ I'm assistin‘ him to move it to the cow barn for fear the odour might lead to misapprehension." Be- liind them Felix! oldest son bot-c two large Jugs of the distillate.

"No good!" said Felix. and dump- cd one of them into the mash tub.

"Don't!" said Mr. Simpson. He reached for the other. tasted it with judgment. and balanced it carefully on a shelf. We retired circumspect- ly, and the autumn darkness drifted down over the land and the soundof breakers canic in more loudly from behind the duties to the north.

The next scene was swift and diverting.

We had all been collected by the pianist. Mr. Anderson wreathed in ﬁshing tackle. Mr. McGoospick test- ing a pocket ﬂashlight. Mr. Simpson maneuvering discreetly Lo leeward. and myself.

-Before leaving, Mr. Simpson had insisted on entering the cow barn oncc more. He disappeared in that black cavern and suddenly we were awarc of a moist cough and he came

'Tll.lt again immediately‘. riding on the back of a large white animal that appeared to be iii flight. He was facing the tail, like Mazeppci. and his rubber" boots scented to b: clasp- ctl around its neck. There were mixed sounds of disniotintiiig in the bed of a small brook that cross"d the yard. and lic came back leaJ- itig his jialf-rey by one horn.

"The damn coirs get up tail end ﬁrst." was all he could say. It was a stupendous cow. Mr. Anderson said it was sixteen hands high. I mention this because tvc were to meet it again under trying circum- stances. Mr. Simpson had to offer it a peck measure ﬁlled out of tlic mash tub before he could tiersuadc it to enter the barn again. In the end he left it quite happy. and said that it was really a nice cow. but had been startled. Hc skated that ho, only, was to blame.

Mr. McGoospick did not scc any- thing particularly funny in this epi- sode, and we proceeded toward thi- pond and whatever else tlic night might have in store. We left Mr. Archaumbatilt in a condition of ex- treme bewilderment. The pianist led Mr. Simpson to one of the boats.

“Henry. yoti take Mr. McGoospick and land hini on the cranbcrrjj-bog road. Sce those cat-tails?" He press- ed a ﬂashlight. The edge of a jungle of towering rushes that appeared l0 load to the center of the pond, stood reflected in water like niisted glass. Scinctliing crashed in their midst. and vanished. while the reeds wav- cd. Every one started.

"Muslirat!" coittintied Mr. Kim- borough. “Er- 'ou follow the rushes to the right for a quarter of a milc and you'll find a landing of two planks. Ptit hini ashore there and come back quick or we'll miss the ﬁshing. He can see the rest of the way with his light." Henry gave no sign but departed with the apostle. Thc pianist waved a flowery hand in farewell. Presently we heard oars returning. v

“How was it?" we inquired. Mr. Simpson intoned:

" ‘I brought high Hereford. if you call him so.

But to thc next highway. and there I left liini—

He seemed a bit jumpy-W!‘

We clambcred into the two 1118.‘. I with Mr. Simpson again.

"Bill,“ he said with feeling. “you have no idea what's actuatin’ this lunatic, I s'pose There's somethin‘ superhuman about the whole pro- cecdin’. We foregather without" no- tice and we run into ﬁsh. an lnsalu- brlous fanatic. an’ cattle. pree-cisely as if you had to mix ‘em before you could go on." Again I had no ex- planation. I was living in a blind and blissful hope.

"Personally." he proceeded. “l think he's adrift on the wings of the wind. He has certain facts. and he's relyin‘ on human nature to operate as you and I would. For the rest. he's pinyin’ on his stupendous luck ——-tl‘lil8tll1' the high gods to furnish

cntertalnment——whlch," he said.

"they mostly do. This ls a voluptu- ous life. ain't it!" It happened that this philosophy was to be notably borne out.

Appropriately. we rowed toward a red sickle moon that at last secreted itself behind the tree tops on the far side of the pond, and was no more seen. Its light, very faint, it left to add to the general sense of mystery. for we found we were now moving in an increasing stillness. When we cntered.the woods our very pathway vanished. and the boat ahead. rllwed slowly by the pianist, became a slid- ing shadow. We could faintly see the inaudible Mr. Anderson croucli- c-d in the stern. So, with unexpect- ed reeds scrubbing our gunwliales. we were swallowed by the inlet-al- niost invisible channels walled with bull-rtishes and weighted down with silence. Mr. Kimborough moved on iintil we came out on the reach that road. and below the bridge we halt- ed. close by that straggling wood- patli. v

“For me." breathed Mr. Simpson. “I can sce nothing ahead but ﬂsh." and. in ratification we heard the swish oi Mr. Anderson's line. He whispered, "I'm putting on =1 WWW Miller." and we chose to _sit still and listcn to an artist we failed to see.

First. we gathered‘ that he had caught a bat in the an". which was a notable piece of virtuosity. Then beginning with an almost inaudible swirl, we guessed rather than heard or saw a twenty-minute battle with what proved to be a three-pound trout. Even then we were overcome by the spirit of thc place and forc- v bore tn lift a rod.

CHAPTER v.

At this juncture the shadow that had been Mr. Charles Anderson sud- denly ceased to move. and sat with one hand raised. Ten seconds later the pianist slid his boat toward ours and beckoned us in under me shel- ter of the reeds on the bank next t0 the road. _

"Tsst!" lic breathed. Mr. Simpson sighed audibly.

"Now, we begin!" he murmuredi‘ then, zipologcticallyt. “I'm only Sill" by his past record." Mr. Anderson again lifted a. hand and we were still. Our boat was held hﬂlltly by the reeds and Mr. SimDSOH Tecllned serene on the bottom with his back against a thwart. We listened and we heard nothing. and we continued to listen while our senses scouted for any sort of contact. First. Wt °l the rustling density of the inlet, and before my own heart beats suDEr-

‘vetted. the faintest boom of the seas cn the bars to the northward grew and receded with each ﬂaw in the night air. A straggling spruce tree that hung between me and the stars changed its shape conﬁdential- ly a number of times. but I had seen that miracle and was uridismayed. More impressive, one cat-tail moved its head without sound or exPlB-ml"

tion. and, immediately afterwardw

something small and wholly Sub" mariiic crossed the inlct and vlreck- etl the reﬂection of the great con- stellation Cygnus. Herc Mr. Ander- son leaned forward and 588i" be‘ came rigid. and‘ I thought I could hear. a. second or two apart, very faint. hollow thuds, as if a moose might have stamped far away among the trees. Then. in a minute more.

the ' Eeffkiricfwoods: seemed ~to—

awaken. They were ﬁlled with 1m- ccrtairi sounds.

These resolved themselves into many footfalls. at a distance, com- ing from the direction of Eel Pond and the beach. and then. rather cllsc at hand, there was a crack as nt a larglsh bush beingbi-oken. and one second later, detonatmg on our strained nerves, a towering voice broke through the darkness: “Bow! —Baw!—Baw!" Nothing lingering; a business-like, metallic crash of a note that went up to the stars. I saw Mr. Kimboroiigh leap, and my boat. lurched with the bound oi Henry Simpson.

“That," said Mr. Anderson. “is a ycung bulk-about two years old. an‘ vcry baci~cut on the rampage. How'd y‘ like y‘r wife and children to meet him on the road!"

"Ho!" stttttcrcd Mr. Simpson to tlic pianist. "Is this part of the en- tertainmcnt?"

“Shut up. Henry. I'm not Ching Ling Foo; I‘m only lucky." and Mr. Kimborotigh joyfully and frantically rooted in the canvas bag and ap- peared to be svowing objects in the pockets of his coat. Some of tnesc clinkcd like metal. Then there was silence again. and once more we lis- tened. After a minute of apparent. hesitation. the footsteps, several footsteps. resumed and drew near. I heard niuﬂicd and uneasy voices. and. as they came closer. the hard breathing of men laboring under loads. At the some time the bushes parted. and between us and the road appeared a dark and compact ﬁgure ivlth its head toward the traffic. One round ﬂank was nicely exposed and its tall stood at a threatening angle. We barely breathed. for the appari- tion was a ﬁshing rod‘s length away. When the procession was almost abreast oi us I saw Mr. Kimboroughs arm go up. rather slowly. and heard the unmistakable sputt of a high- power air pistol. When I turned he was reloading and ﬁring swiftly. his mouth ﬁlled with patent slugs. There was a perceptible moment. eloquent with the spat of these against the bull's hide. and then a most awful noise shattered the night.

Possibly the bull had been taking breath. I do not know. But practi- cally he seemed to explode. The space that had held him was occupied by n small spruce tree. and the air was ﬁlled with ﬂying mud. Later/he ap- peared to have launched himself clean across the road and into the swamp on the other side.

Sim itaneously. there was a sound of he vy burdens being thrown in the bushes. and the pattering of boots along the wood road. I could count them as they struck the pole bridge on the way to Felix's house. They were moving at extreme high speed. At this instant the pianist and Mr. Anderson splashed over- board into the reeds. hauled their boat up rm arm's length and van- ished. ﬂeeing toward the road. In a matter of seconds we saw the

sweep of a ﬂashlight and heard them

running back, and the sound of heavy objects being dumped in the reeds not. ten feet away. They made a half-dozen trips in three min- utes, then rejoined their ship where they lay panting and overcome with smothered laughter. Mr. Simpson was irate and burned with curiosity.

"Wot in hell—" he began. but Mr. Anderson suddenly froze once more and the pianist braced himself on one knee. The bull, snorting. was coiiilng roimd in ll. circle. and as we listened he crossed the road. plough- ed through the buslies and came to rest within ten feet of‘ the spot. he had stood before. Impossible. but this was the thing as it happened. At that moment we could- hear a larger group of men. also coming up from the Eel Pond beach. talking loud and free and stumbling under the loads they were lugging. The bull also liegrd. for ﬁne earth began to rain on the bushes. When the voices were a hundred feet away he breathed one soft melodious-diape- son note and stepped into the road with his nose pointed for the mag- netic pole. The pianist favored him with one more slug as he went, then smote Mr. Simpson and me on the shoulder.

"Come on!" he whooped. We four pelted up the pathitoward an im- pressive riot. The bull had won and WEIS chivvying the whole mysterious party toward the sea. Within thirty yards the pianist fell over some- thing. " '

t “Here!" he said, and he thrust un- der one of my arms a smooth and nicely shaped barrel, and under the other a forty-pound wooden case that gurgled. "Now, leg it to the boats." I legged it, and behind me pounded Mr. Simpson, breathing hard under a ten-gallon keg. Mr. Anderson also wavered up. dumped his load and sat on it. speechless. Mr. Kimborough bounded in with his arms around a half-grown puncheen.

“Henry? he gasped, “move your boat nearer the bridge and haul her tip further so we can get this stuff invin a hurry." Mr. Simpson leapt with enthusiasm. He had long ago surmised the contents of these ves- sels. The boat was swiftly ground- ed by the road and he was stand- ing in the bow when something un- forseen happened.

The bull came back.

His heart may have told hini at last where the real trouble lay. He sauntered out of the bushes directly opposite the boat. a gray. medium- sized and efficient". ﬁgure, and head- ed, quite slowly, toward Mr. Simp- son. Mr. Kimborougli, Mr. Ander- son and I were paralyzed where we stood. and the bull began speaking. very softly and distinctly. At. this precise instant. while the situation hung suspended in the air, I was conscious of an increasing and por- tentous disturbance on the other side of the inlet. Before Mr. Simp- son could move and before we were aware of a wild spattering of heavy and uneven footfalls across the bridge, and a towering whitish phan- tom curvetted through the dark in our direction. The bull half-fumed to face this new horror. but was late. I heard a sort of delirious bo-

SANTA EN ROUTE TODAY

Vine hOWI. unlike the Vnote of any ungulate with which I am familiar.

' and this great apparition heaved it-

self, head on, into the bull's ribs. There was a most sonorous whang. and all the air seemed to go out of that animal at. once. Then, locked together. the bull and the battering ram went over the batik into thein- let, just; beside the boat, and the water raised itself ten feet into the air. When I had wiped my eyes they were climbing ashore on the opposite bank, side by side, and in

_ ﬁve seconds they had vanished ut-

terly. Mr. Simpson, a sodden ﬁgure, was dancing beside us.

“Sly? he whooped. "that: was my cow-the one I rode and gave the mash to." A small person joined us, running. It was Mr. Archaumbault. He was stuttering with excitement.

"D'_Goolnare she's onload hees rum in de dark, for get. aﬂoat, an‘ som dese fellas dey pinch a leetle. Dey com troo here. an’ de boo] is chase ‘em. Now-dey gone on my house for get peetchfork. Den dey com‘ back——"

_"Meesta Fret"—he swung on the pianists coatr-"my beeg white cow she's drink himself all de mash-wan tub-She's gone crazee! She's let out two-tfree screech lak d’ Summerside ban’ and ron lak‘ hell down dees r0ad"——-Mr. Simpson shivered.

"Felix," said he, "she ain't crazy, she's drunk. You should have smelt her breath. She's dam’ near killed the bull-an’ she saved my life."

We showed Felix the haul. Franti- cally we loaded it into one boat, un- til, with her crew. she had six inches of freeboai-d, and then rapidly we shoved off and slipped down toward the open pond.

. Even then we had begun to hear sounds of distress in the woods be- hind us, but we were clear away. Rowing furiously, we were almost at the mouth of the inlet before we let up from exhaustion. We drifted to gunwhale until our wind came back. and once more we were shroud- ed in silence. It was most restful. Nobody said very ‘much. Our stu- pendous recollections had us. Mr. Simpson. bolstered around with little barrels. gurgled feebly in the stern of my boat.

_ “Think of that (lcar old soul drink- iii' up half a barrel of mash con- tainin‘ three quarts of neat alcohol. an’ then wadin‘ in an’ savin‘ y‘r uncle's life! Gratitood!" saidlie. “an' all for givin‘ her her ﬁrst drink. Likely she never ivas reely happy before!" He paused. and from far way down the pond a faint wall drifted on the night air. We all listened ,for perhaps two minutes. but thcre was no further sound.

Then another howl came down the- ~

wind’. The pianist rocked his boat ini his glee. Mr. Simpson consider- e .

“Why." he said, “it; might be Mr._

McGoospick coinin' back. Say, that sounds more in anger than in sorrow. don't. it? D'you suppose he's in trouble?" Mr. Kimboroitgh waggcd his hands.

“No." lic murmured. "He's safe," and he sprang once more into action. "Now listen. You keep this boat

a King

tiful sing,

a King.

' ftil sing is King.

' they bring,

.,\ and King.

A CHRISTMAS cAnoL

There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a 1nother’s deep prayer, And a baby's low cry- And the star rains beautiful sing,

k For the ‘manger of Bethlehem cradles A

For the manger of Bethlehem cradles

In the light of that star Lie the ages impearled; Arid that song from afar Has swept o'er the world. Every hearth is aflame, and the beauti-

In the homes of the nations that Jesus

We rejoic’e in the light, , And we echo the song

That comes down through the night From the heavenly throng.

Aye! we shout to the lovely evangel

And we" greet in his cradle our Saviour

its. ﬁre while the

There's a. tumult of joy, O’er the wonderful birth, Flor the Virgin's sweet Boy Is the Lord of the earth. Aye! The star rains its ﬁre and the beau

\

—J. F. Holland

wt

here. You'll know when to move. Charley and I have to clean up this _ Clluntyry a little. Just now it's a ravin mess of professional potato EPOWBrS-practicin’ as amateur hi- Jﬂlllfers. When you move. row to ‘ Felix's landing. I'll be there." They scraped through the lust bank of reeds and disappeared.

“What did he mean by saying we'd kriow when to start?" I inquired.

‘Fﬂlt-h." said Mr. Simpson. “is what you need. Say, Bill. truly, you

- don't think he worked that: bull any

.1 ‘ ~ .- -"i$;i.-'\-5i.\-..t2 v ‘.-

Wﬂl’. do 3'?" I said I did not. and wc sat still again studying the northern stars. ‘ The strain was too iiitich for Mr. Simpson and he pried open one of the cases and extracted a wired bottle. A beautiful pop and he dove suddenly. He came up‘ with o. sigh and I ﬁnished the bottle. which ob- viously hailed from the Epernay country. Now we ivcre prepared for anything that might happen. except what actually did. CHAPTER" V!

_ Far down tnc pond. near a small- ish island we had seen. there was ti. sharp explosion. something hurtled

skyward. then. ll half mile overhcad/

a ﬂash and a deafening bang. Five seconds later there was anoth ' Within the time it took the startled echoes to reach iis, every dog north of St. Peter's swung into chorus. twu great blue herons from a nearby pilc l9“ everYl-lllllg ﬂtld departed, and. more black ducks than should live iii one pond went up with a continuous storm of squawks and ﬂed ovcrotir heads toward the open sea.

‘_'Ships’ signal bombs, large size," said Mr. Simpson, recovering himself ——"but why?" '

"Anyway. I judge that. was our or- ders. We now start." We worked that heavily laden ship into headway and we labored down the pond. Five minutes later we paused m listén to a new manifestation. A fusillade of small-arm ﬁre seemed to be cen_ tered in a wooded point that show- ed dlmly ahead. After this stopped We proceeded without incident ex- cept that periodically we collided with surprising howl that floated out of the north. . t

MF- slmllson shook his head as he strained.

"I can sec that it's likely Mr. Mc- GOO-‘iliilck, but 1 can't so: what he's rendin‘ the air_. about. “ lYou don't spose‘he's afraid of nilce? Bill. I leave it to you: ain't this one of the most voluminous situations that has so far met your inﬂamed vision’) Note! Beneath our lily feet one hun- dred gallons of rose dew ﬁlched from La Belle Frawncc an‘ the Hespcridcs by a bleatin‘ btill. and tcrcd in this-vessel with iiiras se can b}; y‘r left, one hindependen‘ hlnvcsti- gator, iii the middle of a quakin‘ morass. yclpin’ to himself for rcas- ons unknown. On y‘r right, um miles of thirsty cotintr, idc, startled an stirred up and dyin‘ with curi- osity: andaht-tid. that blazin’ luna- tic prcparin sonic iicw and frantic stirprise. I'm vcry, very lmppy 1 reely am.“

Wlicn we slid into the mud at the lﬂlldmil. the pianist and Mr. Aiidcr- SQ" SlPDDcd out of the shadows. Slllcll!’ 11$ promised. The former was bathed in chccrfiilncss.

“How cl'you like the fireworks?" lic chirped. We tried to express our appreciation. His efficiency was un- dimmed. He gave, strongly, the impression of an earnest scientist with much wtork still to do. ' _

Henry.‘ he said, suddenly, “you hear those yells!"

"I'll hear ‘cm in inc slcei," . ' Mr. Simpson. _ "I mid

“W011. you _go get liiin. You took him there. Iin afraid he's irritated about something. Maybe he's 10g; m the rushes. D'yoii think you can ﬁnd him? Wlicn you do, bring hini to the house. but-just not too soon." Mr. Simpson borrowed my ﬂashlight and stepped blithely into the other boat.

"Considcrin' him as the infant Moses," he smiled. "in me you be- licld the daughter of the late Amen- hotcp the Second." and he poled gracefully away into the dark.

"Now." said Mr. Klinborough,"wc have to get every stick of this stuff up, and into the Rolls, and locked in. quicker than you ever did any- thing in this life." Helped by Felix, loyal but still swamped in amaze- ment. we trotted tip-hill under those precious burdens. The distilled liquors sat on the ﬁoor, including Mr. Kimborouglfs semi-puncheon of cognac. On the canvas slip-covers of those somnolent cushions of the back seat, fashioned by J. Roths- child 8a Fils, nestled charming little barrels of sherry and green mint, and above were piled delectable cases almost to the roof. leaving room for one man-to ride in dunner beside them. We stared at the labels, fas- cinated. Even so, we had to strap on the trunk rack four cases of Perrier Jouct and two of Chateau Yquem. wound round many times with ii gigantic black rubber blanke and looking as innocent as three al- ligator suitcases.

Then. al ltogcthcr. and carrying only the two creels of trout. as evi- dence, we went out and sat on the edge of the well-cover by the barn. There we smoked and were very

happy andusatlsﬂed and looked down toward the edge of the pond, watch- ing for the oncoming of the genial Mr. Simpson and his imposing guest.

"Tsstl" breathed Mr. Klmborough and pointed. The woods toward the inlet were still deeply troubled. Flashes of light appeared. moving quickly and occulted by bushes. then Vfllllslléd. Occasionally we heard footsteps itpproaching on the Eel

' catwalk-stealer:

11.. 1

" iii-ti. tt=ii't?s.t-’;1Ttr%C-'il* n%6%i‘€iii-‘£l.."’ t. , ,

. pond road. but always they pvould

die out on grass, seeming to awid Felix's house. Mi'. Anderson lay, ii his face on the ground, 115N111" -

“Now," he whispered, "about ten men crossin’ that ﬁeld in a. hurry. They're gone ‘round this hﬂllﬁe- Then we heard two highly Bcotilih voices, passing behind a fence and uiscussins the “sun-i." and Judi“!!! that the Margaret might be outside and have landed some men; pat which the pianist trod heavily on my foot and remarked:

"What it means is that we've cleaned them out. They have no idea what the row is all about. 8nd they're scared of nothing-but their Presbyterian consciences. So they've gone home to bed. Guns!" he said. And it; was so. Back toward the main road we heard the whinny of one HOYSC. and twice, vaguely. the sound of o. distant. motor car; but we sitw no more lights. Then we reverted again in silence.

In the end. from the direction of the pond. boomed the voice of Henry Simpson, apparently laboring with some one who complained cori- tiiiuously. Within one solemn sec- ond the pianist stood draped in tlic mantle of dignity and commisera- tion.

“What has happened. Mr. Simil- son," he inquired in evident distress. That gentleman pointed tosombre ﬁgure that still dripped audibly and the feet of which squelched as it moved. He had gone past diploni— acy and he spoke as one who has suffered an injury:

“He formulated himself into an island. I don't know how. I put hini on y‘r road. I swear to heaven that when I got to hini he was standin‘ on two lily-pads. usin‘ ‘em like snow-shoes. an‘ wavin’ a cat- tail in his hand." p Mr. Anderson gulped painfully beside my right ear. and went into a. paroxysm of coughing. Mr. Simpson turned his ﬂashlight on the distressful form be- side him. A delicate green garland ivas still festooiicd from Mr. Mc- Cvoospicks waist and down his right leg. Mr. Simpson plucked this oii and ate it with relish.

“Wtiter-cress!" he explained. “Nas- turtititn ofllciiialo-tlic best I ever atc. I wanted to go back for sonic more but lic wouldn't have it." Mr. McGoospick drew brcath.

“This man didn't leave me on any road. He lcft me on an islandwitli

just. room enough on it for one duck '

blind. He-—" Mr. Kimboroiigh main- tained that face in sadness. ‘

"Mr. Simpson is a stranger hcre. It was my fault. I told him. Henry. you turned in too soon. I never thought you'd find tlie blind. ‘The road begins oii the point. I'm fright- fully sorry~but you must change at once." and he led on to the house. coiidticting Mr. McGoospick by an arm. shed his wet clothes his teeth were chattering audibly. and the spirit seemed to have utterly gone out of hini. As I passed Mr. Kiniborottgh whispered:

"Get me some quick!" I left a qzuirt pitcher on a

bench outside. caught his inspired '

eye and departed. Wlicn I entered once more to lcavc my wet boots. he was holding Mr. McGoospicks pulse with one hand and with the other tlic Archaumbiittlt alarm clock. which

. iorttinatcly had a second llﬁlldbﬂllti

he was arguing something about pneumonia. As I went back Iheard hini say. “Don't risk your life. man: what. you must have is this" -—iind he removed from the stove a brcw to which I saw hini add molasses and co\v's milk. Hc also borrower! a blanket frotn Mrs. Arcliatinibuult.

The struggle was on, illltl I joined the rcsi. in the front. room for ill)‘ own peace of mind.

Oncc, half ati hour later, lic call-

ed me otit to get hini an old pair of trousers from his canvas bag in tht: car. As I tlclivcrctl tlicm, he and Mr. McGoospick. glassy-eyed, were gazing at each QUILT across the kit- clicn stove. each with another brown tuinblcrfttl. The pianist was remark- ing conﬁdentially: “I know Felix, you know Felix. It's the only way you'll cvcr get your money." and whilc Mr. McGoospick nodded doubt- fully. "William," lic said. hailing me. "tell Felix we ivant to talk to him." I lcd hini ottt. Mr. McGoospick grcctevd him with n most human smile and hiccuped once vcry slight- y. "Fclix," said tlic pianist. "I've had a long talk with Mr. Mcﬁoospick. We spokc of tlic balance you owc liiiii, and I hiivc persuaded hini that it would bc a good thing for you if he would take with him the two bar- rels of runi you found on the beach. They could jiossibly be ttirned over io—ah-soiiit: drug store, or sold elsewhere for medicinal purposes. In return. Mr. McGoospick would give you n receipt in full for the balance of his account." He turned his re- gard on that gentleman. who start- ed slightly, but acquiesced. Mr. Ar- chauinbaults emotions. however. seemed to be beyond expression, and he sat without sound or ‘movement except that his irate eye traveled from one face to the other. At this point Mr. Kimborntigh favored him with one stony wink. Even then he recovered his speech and his faith slowly.

“Mﬂ‘~WﬂY!" he said at last. Mr. McGoospick nodded heavily. The crisis had passed. The pianist re- laxed visibly and moved once more into action.‘

"You." he said to me, "help this gentleman to get the rest, of his clothes again. Felix and I will dig up the barrels and put them in c car. It. will take a few minutes-Pa id he smiled sweetly in return.

"Write him a receipt," he suggest- ed, as he went out, and that person borrowed a leaf of n note book from nie and did so, still smiling. Then. with some trouble. he resumed his largely dry garments. drank up the last oi‘ his drink and-suddenly slept.

After twenty pregnant minutes Mr. Kimborough returned. pleased and inrspiring, the sleeper was wakened with difficulty, presented MrfArch- aumbault with his receipt. and was attended to his car where he ran his hand over the two small casks buried in rugs and approved the dis- positions. All troops were called out lo witness his going. He shook Mr. Kimboroughﬁs and Mr. Archaumﬂ

In tlic back kitchen where he

rum from Felix. .._

baultfs hands ‘with fervour. From Mr.

Simpson he. parted with some cold- rtess. when his tail light mid faded the piahist drew breath. . "Farewell!" he said. “Say, he was so suhk in hlsown troubles he never mentioned the ﬁre works. He's an illuiéioriist. ‘I had ' ﬁve separate storieiready for him. none very goodﬂlyut/noinatter, he's gone." He sighed. and we went into supper. Therohe ﬂung himself on Mr. Ar- chaumbaulfs telephone. a. many- party circuit with which he wrestled for a time.- Finally he reached some- one in Charlottetown named George, who seemed to be in an official cap- acjtynl-Ie, communicated brieﬂy:

CHAPTER Vii

"Say! Listen. this is not. a. joke. Peter McGoospick/‘is on his way to town by the Lot 48 road. He has two barrels in his car that may con- tain rum-—I don't know. And listen! For prime. facie evidence, to save opening the barrels, you might; ﬁnd two bottles under the right. side of the rear seat-" we could hear yells coming over the wire-"Tlianks, me dear," he resumed. “Cotigratulate rnc later!" and he hung up.

“Thatﬂ he said, “puts it all on a strictly proper and legal basis. We will now eat." We inferred that the man oritthettelephone was a Gov-

ernment: inspector. but with a flnc

senseY-of humor. -

Weatealmost in silence at first. for the time had been long and the Strain had been great. and now thcrc was peace and we were ravenitig. Roast. pork and Chambertin may seldom meet, but. on that, evening umyfcombined generously and our speech slowly returned.

Mr. Anderson broke through ﬁrst. For two hours he had uttered no word thiit anyone remembered. Now. after having‘ drunk like watt-r one more large tumbler of that garn- et and blissful ‘beverage, he heaved with emotion. Even Mr. Kimber- otigti as having some difficulty with -. co 1e.‘ ‘and his eyes shone. Mr. Simpson regarded liiiri with disfavor.

“Tell, or .I'll kill you!" he grated.

“I-Ienry," he murmured. smiling, "I presume- you mean Mr. McGoos- pick's prlvatc road through the cran- berry bog. There is a cranberry bog -forty acres-but no road. The duck blind I built myself with these-and Felix. It. is on an island completely surrounded by water-cress, as you n ted." MrfSimpson's glance soft- c ed.

"You marooncd him for his own salvation an‘ made inc the sacriﬁce.“

"I thought of his jiarcnts," stiitl the pianist.

~‘NUW'7> the” bull," Simpson.

"Henry, tloirt be an elepliantinc ass. The bull ivas provided by Ilcavcri. like your cow, though I did not have tn tlebaitch him with nioon- shine ﬁrst to make his assist. Ikncw tlic Guliiare would unload. l-KHB-W- sonic of tlic stuff might. be lifted. I

avast-going to shoot the fireworks. trusting to their action on the illog- ical human mind. Anything else?" Mr. Simpson pondered.‘ , “Only this last business. which is humorous."

Mu. Kiniborough grinned small boy.

"The two barrels now accompany- ing Mr. McGoospick along the Lot 48 road contaln~wateiz I ﬁlled ‘cm. The runi that was iii them is at pre- sent in a large barrel"—-he indicated thedlrectioii to make his point clear —"in the cow barn—I put it in- and Felix has his receipt in full."

"lii return for the water!" said Mr. Simpson. brightening. Then immediately he was borne down again with disappointment. '

“Then they won't. get him!" Mr. Kimborough arose and executed a brief and stately step.

"Oh-btit-thcy-v.'ill," he beamed. "you forget the bottles. They coii- tain thc ﬁncst Dcmerara. We had to contribute something!" Mr. Siiiip- son sat silent for some time. then smiled on the whqle company.

"Bill." lic said to mc. “its I nich- tlont-d before. I'm vcry.,vcry happy. Would you hand inc another bottlc of that stuff?"

At this juncture Mr. Felix Arch- auinbault, who had been listening, facing rapidly toward each speaker. and drinking, as Mr. Simpson put it,- “hend down. like ll. horse." HOW visibly concluded that. the evening was ﬂawless, and his ultimate Gallic temperament plucked him from his scat baa leaf is lifted by autumn winds. Hc drew from its case i1 rosin-dusted ﬁddle. seeing which. Mr. Hiniborough solemnly opened a large ihelodeon, which machine can never bc wholly out of tune. Then ensued for an uiiguessable time a concert that ran from laughter to tears. Some incredible faculty at l one incmcnt recalled the four hun- dred pipes of the massed bands at Olympia. and these passed, leaving one ridiculous. if dying. artist that". played until his last breath. some- wlierc behind brackon and amid falling waters. In a. little, Mr. Ar- chaumbault. awe-struck. stood out. and remained standing. swayinS sllghtlybut otherwise, rigid; and the pianist, using all stops. called out; the gaudy if unsuspected faculties of that abused instrument. Incidental- ly, he chose to tell the whole his- tory of Scotland in song. He closed. as ever. in profound silence, with Archiiumbatilta of all sizes. and vari- ously clothed for the night, ﬁlling all available - penings.

_.,T'_{_

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