Westways

. A pleased sense of the responsibility of his errand went with John as he came near to where Josiah's humble two-storey house stood back from the street line, marked

ssly cautious. Josiah had built a trellis against the back of the house for grapevines which had not prospered. John began to climb up it with care and easily got within reach of the second-storey window. He tapped sharply on the glass, but getting no reply hesitated a moment. He could hear from within the sonorous assurance of deep slumber. Someh

ack in alarm, "anythin

d master, Woodburn, is coming to catch you-he will be

he was appalled. "God help me!-where can I go? I've got two hundred dollars and seventy-five cents saved up in the coun

r, but was in fact not sure, and the man was wailing like a child in distress, thinking over his easy, upright life and hi

rite a cheque for you, can

s,

eque for all of it and

s right." He obeyed like a child, and John who had often collected cheques for his aunt

id Josiah, "and where must I go?

Go to the old cabin in the wood. That will be sa

God, I know! Who set them on me? Who told? It was that drunken rascal, Peter. He told me he'd t

of the threat. "Oh! but you won't-p

hristian man, thank the Lord. I'

id John much relieved.

y-for

old you to

ut was wise in time. He had done his errand well, and was pleased with the success of his adventure and the flavour of peril in what he had done. He l

ed George Grey on his easy conversational trot. She had compromised with her political conscience and, notw

was much liked. John observed, however, that Josiah, who took care of the church, was not in his usual seat near the door. He was at home

a walk and mail some letters, Mrs. Ann called John int

n life that he was modest and direct in statement. He said nothing of

" said Ann quickly; "I

no more. He went on-"He has money in

been saving-

o draw it tomorrow and take it to him in the

y might be questioned. This would never do-never. Oddly enough she had the thought, "Who will now shave James?" She smiled and said, "I must keep

d be mean,

draw on my account and leave Josiah's alone. But he has a right to his own money. I will keep the chequ

e for a fello

ow resolute to take her share in the perilous matter she had started; and after all she was the wife of James Penhallow of Grey Pine; who would da

ng cashier was asked about his sick sister, and then rather surprised as he took the

nd the rest-oh, fifty in

John in an envelope, asking no questions. He se

and thinking of his past and too doubtful future, when he saw Peter Lamb pause near by. The man, fresh from the terrors of delirium

ng to the mills to see my girl-want you to s

d-natured barber-some long-past inheritanc

rough beard," said Peter.

Set down. I'll shut the d

d face. "Head back a bit-that's

ght-go

I'll cut your throat-keep quiet-don't you move. You told I was a slave-you ruined my life-I never did you no

-" The man

-or you are

d!" groa

will take care of you-He is sure. Some day you will do

n who stood looking down at him, the jaw moving, the white teeth sh

you lie, I will kill you. You

d

it? No li

Then Josiah fully r

did

t help me to

was tha

her to set Mr. Penhallow on

got your revenge. I'm lost-lost. Your day will come-I'll be there.

the chair, cast open the door and hurled him out into the street.

ole, the butche

-yard, which had been another means of money-making. He went back and opened the door, leaving the fowl their liberty. When in the lane behind his house, he walked along in the rear of the houses, and making sure that he was unobserved, crossed the road and entered the thick Penhallow forest. He walked rapidly for half an hour, and leaving the wood road found his way to the cabin the first Penhallow built. It was about half after one o'clock when the fugitive lay down on the earth of the cabin with his hands clasped behind his head. He stared upward, wondering where he could go to be safe. He would have to spend some

his belt. He stood still waiting, ready as a crouching tiger, resolute, a man

scared me,

e, Josiah, and he

reckon, Master John, you know I'm th

no

r. You might look after my muskrat traps. I was meaning to make a purse for the little missy. Now do you just g

ll write,

te-I'd be takin' risks.

rd

ere you are-you'

id, "It was Peter Lamb set Mr. Grey on me. He must

e hopefulness of youth-

m s

the captain and Miss Leila-

Master John." They parted at length at the door o

s. Then he stowed his money under his shirt in a linen bag hung to his neck,

r bank. His absence on this Monday afternoon gave rise, therefore, to no surprise, but when his little shop remained closed on Tuesday, his neighbours began to wonder. Peter Lamb wandering by rather more drunken than on Monday, stood a while looking at the shut door, then went on his devious way, thinking of the fierce eyes and the curse. Next came Swallow for his daily shave. He knocked at the door and tried to enter. It was locked. He heard no answer to his louder knock. He at

was safe and by this time far away. Meanwhile, the little town buzzed with unwonted excitement and politics gave place about the grocer's door at ev

of the directors of the bank at the mills and would not be at home until dinner-time. The afternoon train brought Mr. Woodburn, who as advised by

Penhallow, as he settled himself in

s,

having made two good contracts for i

know,

new at W

eplied Billy

what

h's ru

away!

know-he

He rode through the town and on to the mills. There he transacted some business and went thence to

nhallow as he entered,

ce Monday." "He drew out all his money

llow. "Did he draw i

who was well pleased to

hal

e asked. "Josiah could hardly have known how to

earer, I hear," said

ney. No doubt Josiah

aid, "You a

n," returned Swallow

aid, 'no doubt he got it.' I want an apology at on

unaway slave. His master will be here this evening. Whoever warned him i

It is clear that you know all about the matter and conne

id the old farmer who p

d the Squire, "th

t Mrs. Penhallow," said

and a lying, usurious plunderer of hard-working men. You m

d to remember what has

w. "Th

will get if I hear again that you have

after these years, that he should have been discovered in this remote little town seemed to him singular. The man was useful to him in several ways and had won his entire respect and liking, so that he felt personal annoyance because of this valuable servant having be

. "Ah! Grey, so you are come at last. It is not too late to say how very

ess for dinner. At the meal no one for a variety of good reasons mentioned Josiah. The tall soldier with the readiness of helpless

l election?" as

my fear. He wi

. He was silent, however, while Grey exclaimed, "Fear, sir-fear? You surely cannot mean to say-to imply that the election of a black Republican wou

t I cannot have my b

d-a word. Elect Fremon

is safe. There, sir, yo

a very digestible thing-for me, at least-and I am not very convincible. We will di

e returned, somewhat relieved. "

he library, and avoiding politics with difficulty was unutterably bored by the little gentleman's reminiscent nothings about himself, his

enhallow rising threw his cigar into the fire. She laughed, but not in her usual merry way, and cried, "Do smoke

; we can't have any lapse in domestic discipline." Then he added, "I

ames." She hesitate

lave-you-" He smiled. It had fo

sob like a child. "It was-was wrong-" Ther

ht her in his arms and held the weeping face

h, James! To think that my cousin should have

e done it. See what you have saved me. Now sit dow

teously. "You won't think I did wrong-you

do sit down and just merely, as in these many years, trust

d her eyes. "Do smo

r," he said. "And

osiah nor how good he had been to me, and how he got hurt when he stopped Leila's

ive of an escaped slave in Westways, at his very gate! "My charity, Ann, hardly covers this kind of sin

ay. When he spoke of his lost fingers, George was led to suspect who Josiah really was. Then h

recognized J

end, Mr. Woodburn, and George says he was a

nd had already seen Swallow, so that the trap was set and Mr. Woodb

-I let John hear about

with remarkable intelligence-a combination to be found in some of the nobler types of womanhood. He

John went and gave

ght it better to let John see him. How he did it I did

his mirth as he saw her watching earnestness. "Grey, I presume, called on that rascal Swallow, Mr. Woodburn is

ould buy Josiah's freedom-what a

, when he has been his own master for years. You wer

Penhallow looked at his wife. Her sense of the comedies of life was sometimes beyond his compreh

r the whole story. There was worse yet, and he was sure she would speak of it. But now she was her c

you," she said. "I drew out his money with a cheque John made out and Josiah signed. John t

pen book, and she saw in his silence the man's annoyance. She added instantly, "I could not let John dra

It will end here-so you may be quite at ease." Of this he was not altogether certain. He understood now why she had not given him of her own money, but Ann was clearly to

at slavery was wise and right. I had to believe that-to think so might exact from me and others what I nev

o to church, I have a creed of conduct. To-day I lost my temper

t the ban

in life are not always our masters, and sometimes ought not to be. Let that comfort you a little. You know that to have been a silent looker-on at the return to slavery of a man to whom we owed so much was

n he wondered how long Mr. George Grey would remain and if he would not think it necessary to speak of Josiah. As concerned John, he

Mr. Grey's conduct in the matter of the runaway was as satisfactory to the Maryland gentleman, whose sense of duty had created for him a situation which was increasingly disagreeabl

ve arrived in the afternoon, and would have arranged with Swallow for a consultation in which Mr. Grey would be expected to take part. It was plain that he really must talk to the Captain. He rose and went slowly d

ained to his cousin that letters from home made it necessary for him to leave on the mid-afternoon train. Never did Ann Penhallow more gratefully practise the virtue that speeds the parting guest. He was sorry to m

t, she expressed all the regret she ought to have felt, and as the carriage disappeared at a turn of the

me, and if there will be a difficulty with James on my account." She sat long in thought, waiting to greet her husband

on the rector and dismounted, leaving his horse to be led home by Pole's

you may suppose. He was not quite pleasant. He seemed to have been so mixed up with this sad business about

lcome. Ann would no doubt explain. "What put Grey on the track of Josiah as a runaway

f Peter's threats. "I may do that reprobate injustice, but-How

ne to-day; we can tal

asure," s

he was almost in collision with Swallow and a large man with a look of good-humoured

hed I was with you." As Penhallow spoke the two men shook hands, Swallow meanwhile standing apart not over-pleased as through the narrowed lids of near-sight he saw that the two men mus

this was the master who had been set on Josiah's track by Grey. It was but for a moment. Then he drew up hi

to have been a fool's errand. He has slipped away. I suppose that Grey as usua

ughed. "He w

r a few days, I have missed him for three years and more."

e says I spoiled him. She says he owned me quite as much as I owned him-a darned ungrateful cuss! I came here pr

ms made to create irritation even among people who really are not actively hostile to slavery. If it became necessary to enforce it, I beli

tives and hunt the man down. I will not; I sh

ing a chance to speak. "Some one warned the man, and i

r. Swallow ventured to connect me or

s not of a mind to go further, and had paid in good-humour a bill he thought excessive. Grey had made it all seem easy, and then as Swallow now learned had gone away. He had also written to his own overseer, and thus among th

ith the case, the Squire returned, "Then, as you are through with

, but I leave by

will send for your bag and se

ed wife, and his comrade's urgency, decided Woodb

of a dissatisfied client, and the two ex-soldier

enhallow said, "Before w

is it,

othing of Mrs. Penh

er of you nor of Mrs. Penhallow did he say a word in connection with this bu

s sure you would have heard from Swallow. Now if you had taken what I presume was his

Jim?" said his co

and enabled him to get away. Now don't say a word until I have done. Listen! This man turned up here over three years ago and was soon employed about my stables. He broke his l

, Jim. Damn Grey!

gabbled. But are

our barber-and I shall hold my tong

if Grey has left any. I shall say a word to Mr

t ready to dine. He told her in a few words enough to set her at ease with the new guest. Then Mark Rivers came in and John Penhallow,

ly silent, and reflected half amused that she had lost the right to express herself on the question which was making politics ill-tempered but was now being discussed at her table with such well-bred courtesy. John soon ceased to follow the wandering talk, and feeling what for him had the charm of romance in the flight of Josiah sat thinking over the scene of the warning at night, the scared fugitive