The Story-Teller.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume X, Issue 909, 13 May 1891, Page 4

The Story-Teller.

A BOX 0^ TREASURE. l i (Continued.) \: \ bat that he would like to see Mr Rut* land on 1 a- piece of business, whereupon ' thY lad directed him to another coal-office a mile off, at which hj was likely to find Mr /Rutland. . , .. ' appeared sufficiently grateful for the information, and departed, highly elated with' his morning's work. The coal office was easj of approach and access, with a common lock on the door, which' epnld be opened with tile Iblade •f a pocket-knife, and Brjne already ■aw a box open before him, with gold flowing out m a broad stream at his fett - ' •-■ • / - ; It was natural, under the oircumiUnces, tbat3ryne shouW; ieek to reward himself for his uncommon diligence and success, and, had he bat possessed the money, he would at once hare treated himself to a stiff glass. He mads bis way back 'to the' Old Town, cohrhced that he deserred the treat, and quita gnable to guess whence it was to come till, m the tioinity of Howie's public house, -he stumbled upon * kindred spirit, m the person of Dan Loder. Loder had money m his pocket, being a man of more daring and energy than Bryne, and the otb'ei had more courage to ask he loan m the light of the saccetf which was to crown him so soon. ; * Gire me a glass of whisky,' he said, 'and I'll gire ye three for it to-morrow.' Loder grinned sceptically, and merely ■aid- ' «How?' ■■■; 'Because I'm going to do some work to-night that'll make me a rich man. Well, not rich, mebbe,' he, haitily ad<led iearing that he had told too mu«h, 'but at least able to pay you back a three pence or a sixpence/ Loder instantly noticed the reservation: and took note of the circumstance, 'Where's the job?' he eagerly inquired. ' I'il help, if you like. * Oh, it's not worth while,' coldly returned Bryne. ' All that's to do I can do that myself. But if yon baren't the money, or don't want to gire it me, it dosen't matter.' Loder had the money, and didn't want to gire it ; but he did want to get at Bryne's secret, and swiftly decided that the most likely means of opening his mouth would be a glass or two of whisky, and therefore hastened 'to assure his belored friend that he was dying to assist him ;tbat he would give him i what be wanted, : and more, and that he would , not have missed the opportunity for a thousand pounds. Bryne, with all the ferronr and s;ncerity of a business man, assured him that he believed him, and was also djing to serve him, and so the two entered Howie's shop, from which they did not leave for two hours, and till nearly all the money m Loder's pocket had been changed into drink .for them both. During the drinking Loder plied his companion m every possible way to get out of him some particulars regarding the job he had m band, but all m vain. Bryne- swallowed they drink and the v flattery with equal gusto, but he was never for a moment thrown off his guard The most of this inter>stinuf conversation wa9 overheard by Howie, who i had put the into a hox adapted for the" l>urpoge, but it led to so little that the publican at last concluded that the work spoken of existed only 'in Bryne's brain, and ha,d been invented solely as a means of getting drink out of Loder. Hoirie, therefore, soon tired of listening, and , did not once think of informing me of the circumstance. He raicrht ' have known Loder better, for that Kgcal would not have parted with a farth- ;- ing but on good grounds. The boldneas of Bryne, and the uncom non elation m his manner, had convinced; Loder that a rare windfall was m prospect. But all his generosity and cunning could not softeii Bryne, who. as soon as the money was done,' bade hisifr'wnd an affectionate good-night, and tottered off to his own home, to have a sleep before going to work. Loder, though he had smiled to the end, felt hurt and aggrieved by Bryne's want of confidence He had plainly offered himself as a partner, and been gently shoved aside ; he now' asked himself if he might not with all fairness try to constitute himself sole proprietor, Bryne's home was m Garraber's Close, and after seeing him home at a respectable distance, Loder sat down m a stair opposite to watch for his reappearance as patiently as Bryne himself bad sat v watching m Duke street. It is the same all the world over — we are all sitting on steps watching for each other to make the next move. Bryne kept Loder waiting much, longer than he himself had been kept m Duke Street. It was after ten o'clock at night when he issued forth and descended the close. Loder followed softly and saw him make for the New Town by the way of Low Calton. Bryne's heal was m rather a muddled condition m spite of the sleep he had taken, for Loder had so managed that nearly all the drink was swallowed by Bryne, and he appeared to have no idea of being followed, for he did no* once look back. He paddled on till he reached Scotland Street, but he did not go near the j station proper. He moved farther down, and, getting over a fence mide for the wooden coal-office, All that pflrt of jblie place was sbroqded m darkMM, tbotig!) tlio flUfcioo itftftijf «<IIJ ji,tm*i * n&mhsi »l Jjjybifs