United States or Switzerland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"A triflin' matter of business, that's all," answered Cai, who chafed under Mr Philp's inquisitiveness; but chafed, like everybody else, in vain. "Orderin' your breastplate? . . . It's well to be in good time when you're dealin' with John Peter," said Mr Philp with dreadful jocularity. "As I came along the head o' the town," he explained, "I heard that Snell's wife had passed away in the night.
Leastways that's how I look at it." "Here, take the darned thing!" exclaimed Captain Cai. His action, however, was less impulsive than his speech: he removed the hat carefully, lowering his head and clutching the brim between both hands. A small parcel lay inside. "What's that?" asked Mr Philp. "It's it's a cuff," Captain Cai admitted. "Belongs to the Widow Bosenna, I shouldn't wonder?"
The bird's mine for five shillin': but Philp shall have him for a month, and I'll bet Philp half-a-crown he don't discover what you've missed. Done, is it?" "Done." echoed Mr Philp, appealing to 'Bias and reaching out a hand for the cage. "Done!" echoed 'Bias. "Five shillin' suits me at any time, and I'm glad to be rid o' the brute." "There's one stippylation," put in Mr Rogers.
I'd have resigned six months ago if it hadn't been for Philp." "Did Mr Philp persuade you to hold on?" "You bet he didn't!" Mr Rogers grinned. "Philp wants the vacancy, and well, I don't like Philp. I don't know how he strikes you?" "To tell the truth," confessed Cai, "I can't say that I like him. He's too inquisitive, shall we put it? though I daresay he means it for the best."
"I said to myself, 'He's beckonin' me in for a chat': and no wonder if 'tis true what they're tellin' down in the town." "Well, I wasn't," said Cai, gulping his brandy-and-water hardily. "But what are they tellin'?" "There's some," mused Mr Philp, "as don't approve of solitary drinkin'. Narrow-minded bodies I call 'em.
He went to the cupboard, fetched out decanter, water-jug, and glass, and mixed himself a stiff brandy-and-water. "Hullo!" said a voice outside the window. "I didn' know as you indulged between meals." It was Mr Philp, staring in. "I heard you tappin' on the window-ledge, and I thought maybe you had caught sight o' me," suggested Mr Philp. "But I hadn't," said Cai, somewhat confused.
No more did I except by sight: but a very respectable woman a case of Bright's disease. In the midst of life we are in death, and, much as I enjoy Passage Regatta " "You have missed it then?" "The woman had saved money, ma'am. There was a walled grave, by request." Mr Philp sighed over this remembered consolation. "She could not help it clashin', poor soul." "No, indeed!"
"Good evenin'!" "Good evenin'," responded 'Bias in a tone none too hospitable. "You don't mind my havin' a word with you?" "Not if you'll make it short." "I've just come from Philp. He's been tellin' you about the Saltypool, it seems." "Well?" "She was uninsured." "And on top o' that, the fools overloaded her." "And 'tis a serious thing for Rogers."
A few small steamers and schooners ply at irregular intervals between Nouméa and the New Hebrides. The English steamers fly the flag of Burns, Philp & Company, the great Australian firm which trades with numerous island groups of the South Seas.
"I'd like to find the joker who wrote it?" breathed 'Bias, the paper trembling between his hands. "I can't tell you who wrote it," said the ship-chandler; "but I can give a pretty close guess who's responsible for it: and that's Philp." "Philp?" "Mind ye, I say 'tis but a guess." "I'll Philp him!" "Well, he's no fav'rite o' mine," said Mr Rogers grinning.
Word Of The Day