The Argosy — page 287: what you’re looking at

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The Key of the Church. 273 To keep my restless legs curbed indoors for a whole day and night would be quite beyond their philosophy.” “Well, take care of yourself if you do. There’s not a soul in the place but is all agape for the reward ; and I daresay they will look for you by night more than by day. How about getting you in something to eat ?” “‘ {J don’t know,” he answered. ‘It would never do for you to be seen coming in here at night.” I knew that. Old Bumford would be down on me, if nobody else was. I sat turning over possibilities in my mind. “IT will come in betimes to-morrow morning under the plea of practising, Fred, and bring what I can. You must do battle with your hunger until then.” “YT suppose I must. Mind you lock the door when you come in, or old Bumford might pounce upon us. When I heard you unlock it on coming in this evening, I can tell you I shivered in my shoes, Fate is very hard,” he added, after a pause. “ Fate is?” ‘‘Why, yes. I have been a bit wild lately, perhaps; savage too ; but I declare before Heaven that I have committed no crime, and did not mean to commit any. And now to have this serious thing fastened upon my back! The world will say I have gone straight over to Satan.” I did not see how he would get it off his back, either. Wishing him good-night and a good heart, I locked him safely in, and crossed the graveyard to old Bumford’s in the moonlight. He was seated at his round table at supper : bread and cheese and beer. } “Oh, Mr. Bumford, as I have to come into the church very early in the morning, or I shall never get my music up for Sunday, I will take the key home with me. Good-night.” He shouted out a dozen denials: How dared I think o’ taking the key out of his custody? But I was deaf, and left him shouting. ‘‘What along practice you have been taking, Johnny !” cried Mrs. Todhetley. ‘And how hot you look. You must have run fast.” The Squire turned round from his arm-chair. ‘‘ You've been joining in the hunt after that scamp, Mr. Johnny ;—you've not been in tke church, sir, all this while. I hear there’s a fine pack out, scouring the hedges and the ditches.” “T got a candle from old Bumford’s den,” said I, evasively. And presently I contrived to whisper to Tod to come outside. Standing against the wall of the pigeon-house, I told him all. For once in his life, Tod was astonished. “ What a stunning thing!” he exclaimed. ‘Good luck, Fred! We'll help you. I knew he was innocent. Food? Yes, of course, we must get it for him, Johnny. Molly? Molly be shot!” “Well, you know what Molly is, Tod. Let half a grain of sus- VOL. XIX. S EOMRniilElooe _ SS (CO)