The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

18 Jerry made no reply. He stood under the ancient council tree and watched the man stalk away through the woods. He felt, vaguely, that the honors of the skir- mish had fallen to him, but he shrank from thoughts of the aftermath. CHAPTER V. RUBBING THE LAMP. TF was one hour after noon when Jerry walked slowly through the door in the fence. The big buff rooster flapped his wings and crowed arrogantly. The little cow, now tethered in a shady corner of the enclosure, chewed her cud and contem- plated her surroundings with serene com- placency. Denny, “the man with the hoe,” sat comfortably under the low-spreading branches of an apple tree and rested. “Two weeks more, Mr. Hampton,” he called out cheerily, ‘‘an’ I’ll be havin’ rad- ishes out o’ the ground for yer.” Jerry nodded, but a lump rose in his throat and he could not speak. He saw Exmoor sitting on the narrow porch, smoking a pipe which he had found in the house, and he managed a doubtful smile as the guest rose to greet him. “T have had a very comfortable rural morning,” said Exmoor genially. “I have been permitted to feed the chickens, carry water for the amiable cow, and even dis- cuss horticulture with your man. I hope you have had no less agreeable and profit- able a morning.” Jerry’s face answered for him, and Ex- moor became gravely serious at once. “Something has happened, I can see that,” he said kindly, “but don’t feel that you must tell me about it. All I care to know is, if I can help you in any way.” Jerry shook his head. “No,” he said slowly, “I don’t think any one could help me. Thank you, just the same. I’m putting off, from minute to minute, the most unwelcome task that I ever had to perform. I have to tell my grandmother, with very little time to be THE ARGOSY. tactful about it, that we must pack up our things and move to another place. I think I should set about a murder with no more dread.”’ Exmoor groaned in sympathy. “Good lord!” he exclaimed, ‘what a beastly shame! I don’t want to intrude, but can I possibly help you to explain the thing to her? Can’t we figure out some- thing like a plausible story? If you could tell her about it to-morrow, we might spend the night in working up a brand- new illusion for her.” “It seems incredible and impossible,” Jerry answered miserably, “but we have to move to-day—home, farm, everything!” “You don’t mean it!” Exmoor gasped. “Why, that’s impossible, man! No one could force you to such an outrageous thing. You can appeal to the law and get some sort of consideration and protection, ifanin”” “The law doesn’t enter into this case,” Jerry broke in. “I don’t know how it can be done, but I intend to vacate the prem- ises to-night, by hook or crook. I had my first quarrel with my landlord this morn- ing, and I want it to be the last. He or- dered me to get out to-night, and I would not gratify him so much as to fail to do so, or come in conflict with him again through any legal bickering.” “T understand perfectly,” Exmoor as- sured him. “I am enough like you in temperament to see clearly that you have to be away from here to-night. It takes a subtle mind, Mr. Hampton, to know that simple compliance is sometimes a strong weapon against an enemy.” Mrs. Hampton came suddenly to the door. - “Don’t you men ever think of eating?” she asked with kindly sarcasm. ‘Mr. Tar- - Jeton needs good food to bring back his strength, and I’ve spent the morning cook- ing for him, but here you would stand and talk till sundown if I didn’t say anything.” “We're coming this minute,” answered Jerry, trying to hide his melancholy with a smile. ECORMICLOOOLK (C@