The Argosy — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

274 The Key of the Chures. picion arise, and it might betray him. If she saw us rifling her larder, she would go straight to the Squire; and what excuse should we make P” “ Look here, Johnny. I'll go out fishing to-morrow, you understand; and order her to make a lot of meat pasties.” ‘‘But we must get him something to-morrow morning, Tod: he might die of hunger else before night.” We stole round to the kitchen. The supper was over, but the ser- vants were still at the table ; no chance of getting to the larder then. Molly was in one of her tempers, apparently blowing up Thomas. There might be more chance in the morning. Tod was up as soon as I was, and down we went. Not a servant was yet astir. ‘T'od laid hold of a great tray, lodged it on the larder floor, and began putting some things upon it—a cold leg of mutton and a big round loaf. “T can’t take in all ¢hat, Tod. It is daylight, you know, and eyes may be about: old Bumford’s are sure to be. I can only take in what I can conceal in my pockets.” ‘Oh, bother, Johnny! You’d half famish him.” ‘¢ Better half famish him than betray him. Some slices of bread and meat will be the best—thick sandwiches, you know.” We soon cut into the mutton and the bread. Wrapping them in paper, I stowed the thick slices away in my pockets, leaving the rest of the loaf and meat on the shelves again. ‘How I wish I could smuggle him in a bottle of beer!” ‘ And so you can, Johnny. Swear to old Bumford it is for your own drinking.” ‘“ He would know better.” ‘‘Wrap a sheet of music round the bottle, then. He could make nothing of that.” Hunting out a bottle, we went down to the cellar. ‘Tod began to fill it from the tap. I stood watching the process. “I’ve caught you, Master Johnny, have 1! What be you about there, letting the ale run, I'd like to know?” The words were Molly’s. She had come down and found us out. Tod rose up. | ‘‘T am drawing some beer to take out with me. Is it any business of yours? When it is, you may interfere.” I was nobody in the household—never turning upon them. Tod was altogether different. He held his own authority, even with Molly. She went up the cellar stairs, grumbling to herself. ‘‘T want a cork for this bottle,” said bold Tod, following her. And Molly, opening some receptacle of hers, perforce found him one. ‘Oh, and I shall want some meat pasties made to-day, for I think of going fishing,” went on Tod. ‘Let them be ready by dinner time. EOMRniilElooe _ SS (CO)