United States or Mexico ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"They'd know something was up if I was to go around that way, and I'd be a bloody ghost as soon as they could ketch me alone," she said. "Well, good night or is it mornin'? And do take keer of yourself, dearie." And, so saying, Mother Borton muffled herself up till it was hard to tell whether she was man or woman, and trudged away.
"Is Barkhouse here?" "Yes, sir. An' here's Wilson with a message for you." "A message for me! From whom?" Wilson took me aside, and thrust an envelope into my hand. "That come to your room about nine o'clock, I reckon," he said. "Leastways, that's the first we saw of it. An' Mother Borton was there, an' she says she must see you to-night, sure.
After the Turks had made the last of a series of costly but abortive counter-attacks to regain Jerusalem and were finally and for ever driven back, the city was placed strictly out of bounds until Borton Pasha and the medical authorities had thoroughly purged it of all unpleasantness: the Germans and Turks were extremely uncleanly in their habits.
This was the first time I had had chance to demand them of another human being. Mother Borton gave me a leer. "I wish I could tell you, my dear, but I don't know." "You mean you dare not tell me," I said boldly. "You have done me a great service, but if I am to save myself from the dangers that surround me I must know more. Can't you see that?" "Yes," she nodded.
Mother Borton listened eagerly, giving an occasional grunt of approval. "Well, honey; I was some good to ye, after all," was her comment. "Indeed, yes." "And you had a closer shave for your life than you think," she continued. "Tom Terrill swore he'd kill ye, and it's one of the miracles, sure, that he didn't."
We had talked of moving him a few days before you came. When I found that Henry had disappeared I was anxious to make the change, but I could not venture to attempt it until the others were out of town, for I knew I was watched. Then I was assured from Mother Borton that they did not know where the boy was hidden, and I let the matter rest.
My only stipulation is that you shall come down here from the village early to-morrow morning. I may have something of importance to tell you, Mr. Crow." "We'll find his dead body," groaned old Mr. Borton. "Say, mister," piped up a shrill voice, "I'll stay with you." It was Bud who spoke, and all Tinkletown was afterward to resound with stories of his bravery.
But, you see, you'd be of mighty small use in tellin' tales if you was dead; but you might be got to talk if they had ye in a quiet place." "Good reasoning. But Henry Wilton was killed." "Yes," admitted Mother Borton; "they thought he carried papers, and maybe they ain't got over the idea yit.
Either she knew no more, or she was sharp enough to hide a knowledge that might be dangerous, even fatal, to reveal. She was willing to serve me, and I was forced to let it pass that she knew no more. "Well, I'd better be going then," said I at last. "It's nearly four o'clock, and everything seems to be quiet hereabouts. I'll find my way to my room." "You'll do no such thing," said Mother Borton.
This gave me something new to think about, but I said nothing. "Well," she continued, "they says at last that won't do, fer it'll git 'em into trouble, and I reckon they're argyfying over their schemes yit. But one thing I finds out." Mother Borton stopped and looked at me anxiously. "Well," I said impatiently, "what was it?"
Word Of The Day