Original Eale. THE LTFE AND ADVENTURES OF CHRISTOPHER CONGLETON.

Otago Witness, Issue 559, 16 August 1862, Page 7

Original Eale. THE LTFE AND ADVENTURES OF CHRISTOPHER CONGLETON.

CHAPTER XVIII.

I i}i°rovj;s

THAT MI-SSRS. MI.U,E \ND

SOLLi:nY ARE r-LAYING A DOUULK GAM!

Mr. Odprcrs, whose peculiar madness was phrenology, entertained v*, on our way to the offices of Messrs. Swale and Sollery, with a dissertation on the phrenological development of David Quirk's head Much to Katty's anno_vance ; who evidently took a special delight in hearing her little imn speak, his lecture was brought to an abrupt termination by our arrival at our destination.

_" Xow nv'nd, finis," said Katty, in the middle of the dark pass;i<je, " and let me manage the business in my own way, and Jonn, you keep a sharp look out for their bumps." Both John aud myself signify in <r our acquiescence, we cn'efed the presence of Messrs. Swale and Pollery. As we entered a sudden rustling took place in the room. " Bless my heart and soul !" exclaimed Mr Swale, looking much flurried, and tiv^in"away at his nails. " What brings you back" young man ?" '

In n few hurried words I introduced Kattv to their notice, and informed them that she had nursed me from a baby, and could swear to my identity. " From a baby, from a baby !" mused Mr. bwale, taking no notice of Katty. "Is that door shut, Mr. Sollerv ?"

m Mr Sollery replied by trying one of the inner doors, winch he pulled tight to him. " Dear me, dear me," continued Mr. Swale with a disturbed glance at Mr. Odo-crs who was dodging about him for the purpose of taking phrenological observations. " This is a most extraordinary case. Mr. Sollerv. what do you think of it now ?"

Thus appealed to, Mr. Sollery took a homoeopathic pinch at his neck, and declared for the fiftieth time, that it was the most extraordinay case he had ever met with in his experience. " The fact of it is," said Mr. Swale slowly, —what do you want my lad ?" This last remark was jerked at Mr. Odgers, who had got his fingers in Mr. Swale's hair', and who now started back in great perturbation.

" Come here, John," said Katty, " come here, and keep quiet." " The fact of it i«," continued Mr. Swale in measured tones, «we have just parted from Mr. Quarry."

"I'd quarry him, if I caught him!" exclaimed Katty, indign;mty. # " And," proceeded Mr. Swale, still addressing me, '■ he is perfectly positive you are drowned. Mr. Sollery, I 'am certain that door is not .shut."

Mr. Sollery again went to the door, and this time sat himself down in a chair and kept guard over it.

"Now, if you'll be kind enough to allow me, broke in Katty, squaring her arms, which was her worit when she grew combative. v t llyl ly g °° d woman >" i«^rmpted Mr. Swale, I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance. For all I know, you may be a false witness in this case. There have been such cases, Air. Sollery— there have been numberless such cases. Why, what would be easier than for you," (addressing me) " to come here with a trumped-up stoiy, as Mr. Quarry declares it is, and bring this woman with you a? an accomplice? I do not say you are doino this, but you might be doing it. And this woman might be aiding and abetting you in the transaction. Bless my heart and soul, of course hhe might." "I tell you what," gasped Katty, purple with indignation. l

"Now, my good creature," continued Mr. hw."le, "allow me to conclude. You may poswbly b? ■ a very virtuous and good member ot society, but to me you are a stranger. And upon my word, ma'am," exclaimed he. dartiii" away from Mr. Odgers, whose fingers were aga:n busy about liis head, "if you dont't keep your little boy quiet, I'll turn him out of the room. Without saying a word, Katty walked up to the little lawyer, and taking him by the collar ot his coat, shook him with such herrrtv ~oort will that I thought his head would ihlf off. Very much relieved by this operation, Kattv resumed her scat, and folding her arms, gazed defiant, v at Mr. Swale, who, pale and speechless with rage, was trembling in the most violent manner.

*'^?w, said she, with a great gulp of satisfaction. "If you insult my John again, I'll shake every tooth out of your head." "Mr. Sollcry," cried Mr. Swale, gasping forbrcatn, "lou witnessed this assault I'll bring an action, I will. Go and fetch a policeman." l

•]i Mr. Sollery moves a step, I'll servo him tho same. Sollery, indeed !" exclaimed she. 1 low any Christian can go to bed with such a name is too much for me. Sollery. indeed '" Mr. Sollery, had risen when bidden by his partner, retreated, disconcerted at Katty's speech. J

W hat do you mean," cried Mr. Swale turning upon me. "What do you mean by bringing this woman into the place ?" "Don't you answer him, Chris," said Katty. 1 m a match for him, and more than a ma*ch He bring an action ! l'ts my opinion," she continued, addressing Mr. Swale, "that you're a precious rascal, and if you're one, there's a pair oi you. Sollery, indeed 1 Ah ! you may bite your nails, you contemptible whippersnapper. You won't bite no good out of 'em. ° Allowing herself a few moments to cool Katty treated Mr. Swale to another of her defiant looks. I was not at«all sorry at the turn awairs had taken, as it had been my opinion for some weeks that Messrs. Swale ami Sollery had been playing with me. They certainly did look at this moment very much like a pair of precious rascals, and I could not help laughing at the evident fear with which they watched Katty's every movement. Between her and the door Mr. Swale evidently was in an agony of desperation. During the shaking that Katty had administered to him, I had seen the door opened gently about an inch, mid a pair of eyes glittering through. But they JiaJ disappeared immediately they encountered mine, and I caught myself speculating wiio on earth it could be concealed in the room. Whispering this circumstance to Katty, I told her I thought we were being watched.

'•You wait a minute, Chris," she exclaimed aloud, " and I'll have him out. I dare say it's another of the precious vermin. What does he want a sneaking about in there for. That's what I want to know, and that's what I will know And so saying she rose and walked towards the door.

-1 11 bnr.g an action for trespass," shrieked Mr. Swale, striving lo arrest his progress. Do you know what you are doing woman? I call you to witness, all of you, that I protest against tiiis creature searching mv promises." ° J

Uttering the word " creature " in a tone of the most unmitigated scorn, Katty swung him aside, and almost had her hand on the handle of the door, when a voice exclaimed, " Stay my good woman, don't put yourself to any unnecessary trouble. Allow me to introduce myself, and Mr. Quany again made his appearanrc upon the scene.

I was not much surprised. I comprehended in a moment that he was in collision -with Messrs. Swale and Sollery. As for those gentlemen, they perceiving that their rascally scheme was discovered, and not being in bodily fear now that Mi*, Quarry was by them,

put on a swaggering loo!;, and returned Katty's defiant glances. "Who is this chap, Christopher?" asked Katty, directly.

I told her that Mr. Quarry was the chap, whereupon she favored him with a withering glance of dis-gust. " A ml Avho may you be, my rampant friend ?" inquired Mr. Qn'ii'ry.

'"lf.wu ple-isA.-, sir," replied Kalty, courtosying wuh uock humility, '• my name is Katty Odgers, and I hope jou'vu "boon well since the time I saw you wit ! i Mr. t-jhaiples, a lottin out this poor lad's furniture, and a swindling him out of his money."'

The prodigious civility with which she uttered these words w?s amazing, I never thought she could do tho genteel half so well. Notwithstanding Mr. Quarry attempted to lookvery much at his ease, 1 could see that he was internally much disturbed.

" I suppose," he remarked, turning round to Mr. Swale, " you are perfectly satisfied that this is a bare-faced emlea\ or to extort 'money from me."

"I think there is no doubt of it Mr. Sollery," said Mr. Swale.

"Xot the slightest doubt," rejoined Mr. Sollery.

" I daresay, my good woman," continued Mr. Quarry, addrosing Katty. '• that you would be willing to take fi\ c hundred pounds — yes, for the sake of argument, wo w ill say five hundred pounds to compromise this affair. But if you think you w ill ever get a j cuny out of me, you're mistaken. As for this young villain," (indicating me) •' I'll have him sent to the House of Correction if he troubles me any more. You drowned ! you ne\er were born to be drowned, my young spark. You'll go to the gallows. Let me advise all of you mfw to pack off, and try some hotter game than this. Upon my soul, it won't pay you, and so you'll find." -

Katty here rose, and trembling in every limb, arranged her shawl, and bade us come away, as we could do no good stopping there. "And mind," she said to Mr. Quarry, ''as sure as you've got a nose on your ugly face, you shall pay for this. Come along my dears."

" Oh, yes, come along my dears," mimicked Mr. Swale.

Katty making a step forward, caused him to beat a precipitate retreat, in the execution of which he stumbled over bis partner, and sprawled along the floor, a perfect picture of rascality. With a contemptuous '• Bill ! ' Katty swept us out of tho room, holding her head very much aloft until we reached Cannon-street. At that point she requested me to conduct her to a pastrycooks, and when her wish was complied with, burst into a violent flood of tears.

" I couldn't help it, my dear," said she, when she had recovered herself. " It's done me a world of good, aud now we won't talk of anything tili to-morrow. You shall take me to the theatre to niiiht."

So that night, I conducted Katty and her John and Samuel to the theatre. It was not to the Royal Columbia ibis lime, but to a better description of house. I did not derive half the gratification from the performance that I did from the contemplation of Katty and Samuel. Samuel's awe at anything tragic, and Katty's blniekh of laughter a', anything comic, filled me with the most intense delight^ and caused us to become quite conspicuous characters with the audience. And thus finished the most eventful day thai had occurred in my existence for some j cars.