Show AT THE TUfvROF ROAD I I BY BELLE MOSES b Copyright 1896 by S S McClure Co 1 Well if that chap isnt in a swear n humor L never seen one ana Johns laugh sounded distinctly triumphant trium-phant a he took his seat beside Jerry on the boX 1 The individual addressed said nothing i noth-ing but turned a contemptuous glance 1 towards the slander footman on his 1 left 3 he gathered up the reins The I spirited horses needed no touch of the I whip they drew the carriage rapidly along the silent streets The night wa bitterly cold but they were blooded animals and there was fire in their veins Jtrrry had them under fn control however He sat erect looking t look-ing neither to one side nor the other the collar of his sable cap drawn high up over his ears entirely hiding his face in it impenetrable gloom John grew restive under the silence which added to the cold was unbearable unbear-able The murmur of voices coming from the Interior of the carriage provoked pro-voked him once more to speech Listen to that now Theyre havin i hot I can tell yerthat aint billin and cooin You couldnt hide the pepper pep-per an vinegar in there v John jerked his finger backward and downward in his most impressive manner man-ner No not if you was ter swamp i in molasses Without relaxing his lioOd on the reins his companion Jerry turned his head towards Shut up he commanded and there I a something in the strong smooth shaven face which compelled obedience The younger man subsided at once t but i was clear that he still held to his ow opinion for he smiled significantly signifi-cantly once or twice a an occasional angry tone was wafted from below He folded his arms across his slight cxparst of chest and cocked his head on om side waiting for Jerry to speak I Ho wa a smart lad in a small way J and > new the weaknesses of his suj periftr He was sure Jerrys tongue would wag before the journeys end if only in defense of the couple inside II and John wa not mistaken He pre i ontlv came out of his collar and be 1 I I San to talk in an admonishing though conciliatory manner I I was in your I place young one he said breaking a I long nause I would be careful about w meddling with other peoples concerns Id like to know Id lke t what difference it I could make to you if Mr and Mrs i i A1I noW had high words every night of their lives which they dont They get I 1 along as well a any young married t folks and better than most Why man rYe drove for Mr Carpenter thats i Miss Ethels Mrs Arnolds father j over since 1 was a chap your size and rye drove the three Jou Indies In turn first to the church and then for j a whole year after they were married I and this I tell you iS the finest pair of them all I Youre right about that owned i John it isnt the lookin its the action i that sets me aton i You Vi always got your ears cocked I What di you hear tonight ears COeke T > J rr > hdlng beneath his severe as 1 pect a very natural vel curiosity mingled with a great deal of family pride tile of to resent anything that looked on like impertinence on Johns part Jerrvf f wag a Very staunch supporter of the family dignity sUiporter I I heard and reen both asserted bt1 John quite willing to be drawn out I Ol was standin on the ridewalk hole in the carria o door open when they cone down the steps Mr Arnold was a mirrterin to himself w mUterin kinder with a wih black scowl on his face an the mis tress she sad something e very low an he answered mad as thunder Be sU lent just like ono o them fellas sj on the stage an she turned as white as I chalk They both pat into the car i riage an he Slammed the door vou heard him didnt you Well I dont call that real loin Humph said Jarrv you dont I know thingabout It T just listened for pome such tale as that Johnny you must never judge by outside appearances ap-pearances those two dont take on muHi in public Dont they sneered tey sneerei John derisive ly We took on land enough for all the cabbies to hear and grin to their selves You mark my words Jerry that this couple inside aint going to live together in pec an harmony for i long Hark to that now What would j you call in 1 Both were silent Each was straining looked at his companion Well did you hear that now There was a jovial ring in his voice which might have deceived a less astute person than the youthful John I I that dont sound for all the world like I when they were little sweethearts together I to-gether They always had it out like that and made it all up after Thats just the way Miss Ethelthats Mrs Arnold always did call out it carries me away back it seems like yesterday yester-day dayYes just like yesterday and the day before remarked John Its been goin on nigh on to a week I guess Jerry smothered a sharp reply and went on talking for talks sake Mr Winston was the likeliest boy you ever did see and always dead set on Miss Ethel for all they used to have their i little spats pretty regular Mr Winston Win-ston never could bear for any other young fellow to look at Miss Ethel hod get that jealous Humph said John I guess thats whats up now hed like to stick her into a corner ar all them parties they go t and charge ten cents to look and shes kickin agin the traces she aint made of sawdust Ill bet Jerry compressed his 4lips Johns language showed only too plainly his stable origin but he felt that it was his duty to keep the conversational ball rolling as pleasantly as possible in order to drown the discord which ociattonally rang out on the still frosty air Yes Miss Ethel bein the youngest was terribly spoiled when she was little she always liked to have her way which was natural for a baby like her but then Mr Winston was always hot and fiery from the time he was a small chap theyre about even matched I guess That aint a real quarrel dont you believe it You dont know women John they take on right frequent its their habit She an him will make it up before we get home homeHumph Humph grunted John the unbelieving unbe-lieving that there quarrelin aint the patchup kind dont you believe it l wager you five to one them two parts company this night You aint never goin to convince me Jerry that theres a pair of turtle doves in this carriage These fine folks dont fight fair anynow Why in thunder dont he light out with his fist an hither hit-her straight between the eyes Thats the way our sort patch up their rows only the patchin comes after Jerry winced and set his teeth hard a John pointed out his gruesome path to peace I was high time he thought to turn the discourse into pleasanter channels but how could this be done when open war was being waged within with-in earshot and the family honor and dignity compromised before this fledgling fledg-ling of a footman His young masters mas-ters highpitched excited voice be f I r iu i itSs IV < Oi f i sr i rrwv > vMtriOj OXvitJjl I J 111 3 f i rlf i t b fm V l i 1 r L > K i f JOHX TlTRiXED FOR THE LAST TIE JUST AS A FIGURE EMERGED t PKO3r THE SHADOW AM MASTCXED TOWAIID THE CARRIAGE his oars to catch the stifled sounds f om the carriage I was a womans distressed weaning broken by sobs I Thich no one could mistake Jerrys rurged face grew a trifle pale He set his teeth and laid his whip with unintentional force across the unoffending backs of the two horses They started forward with an energy which it took sonje minutes to eubdue at the end of wihlch time he Tas able to speak quite naturally I didnt hear anything 5 wonderful wonder-ful I dont never set myself to listen and spy on people like you do I yioud been born deaf Johnny youd have filled your place better You know shes cryin hard yottrre jUt putting me off Well suppose she is admitted Vel SUDpse Jerry not seeing well how he could dispute this fact I you werent a 1 fool which I cant help i i you are Jchn youd understand people cry for a lot of things sometimes for just nothing at all just as the notion takes em You couldnt tell by that if I theyre mad or glad May be so may b sobut that there weepln dont sound joyful I tell you what Jerry But Jerry was not listening he had graver things to consider than a matter mat-ter of argument with this young jackanapes jack-anapes The sounds inside were very disquieting Jerry had heard them several times before but somehow they had never struck upon his ear so ominously ias now His heat was suddenly oppressed with a strange foreboding what if John were rIght after all Suopose here was an end to peace and harmony c har-mony between those two for whom he Jerryfelt in some odd way responsible respon-sible Had he not openly sanctioned the marriage by assuming i a public role at the wedding festivities and would he not virtually hold the reins for the youthful pair for the allotted year od a day How oould he face the servants Inquiring glances If I things went wrong or prevent John from ins tne jagged ends of dis agreernertiatwre1oreversh4w1ng g teI t foeve wl S 0 L fi themselves under the footmans in j qulsiilve nose And pray what right bad John to be inquisitive He < ant j paid for anything but to sit up there i j beside him with his arms folded and I his mouth shut and to make himself j useful when he was wanted I was I none of his business how the young couple wee getting along least of all to let his gossiping tongue wag for I lack of something lS to do Jerry would have liked to turn upon f his box there and then and shake the i I lad soundly for daring to venture an opinion concerning his bettershe should be taught his placerand there I was no time like the present but prudence was a wholesome element in I Jerrys nature and he argued that such a betrayal of his indignation I would only give Johns chatter a j sharper edge A wiser plan would be to divert his attention as much as possible i pos-sible driving the remainder of their I long drive though how to do this effectively I ef-fectively was a difficult problem for I angry words in the masters deep voice I came to them distinctly words which I carried theirweighit and sting and I could not be misunderstood John glanced furtively at his superior I super-ior but no movement showed the trend I of Jerrys thoughts I was pretty poor work to sit and hu ones self in silence with not even the usual threadbare conversation to beguile the way and there was that devil of a row going on below that made his I blood tingle What was he sparring I a her for anyway j Oh Winston < dearest dont say II j thatr j The sweet voice rose for an instant j I to the height of entreaty but was I soon lost an Choking sobs The sound passed through Jerry like an electric current He faced about suddenly and I trayed titter forgetfulness of time and place and there was no way to warn I himWith With the energy of despair Jerry once more used the whip Once more the horses sprang forward rattling a > t a brisk < pace through the quiet streets The noise of their clattering hoofs was sufficient Jerry found to drown the I voices so he kept the animals up to I speed the winter wind whistling I around him a they cut through i Here was a respite then and while he I handled the reins with the skill of a I master he was busy planning what to do next to divert Johns mind from the occupants of the carriage He I might lash the horses into a furious gallop but that might incur the danger I of a serious rUhaway the horses might stumble and fall on the slippery road and it was hard on the poor things after their good nights work No it was best after all to keep to this even ringing gait i would give John all he could do to look after himself a they jolted over the cobble stones for Jerry I took good care that they did jolt The I young footmans slight figure swayed and bumped incessantly against the coachmans stalwart form I But this sort of thing could not go on forever The horses were panting a they pulled against Jerrys restraining hold They were reaching the outskirts II of the city the Arnolds find old homestead home-stead was at least a mile beyond There were no more cobble stones I The horses hoofs struck soft on the country road Jerry pulled in There I was no use going last now He would 1 gain nothing by it and John was quite j breathless He listened intently for some sound from the carriage There i i was no talking only a smothered sob now and then that cut the faithful faitful I fellow like a knife but the silence was grateful for all ha I The noad stretched ix > out a long moon I lying lit line in before the shadow him with on either pretty hand villas There was a turning somewhere in the distance which meant home and home to Jerrys simple nature was a sacred 1 place the heaven where quarreling and hickerinaarWi no mtoc On ij < < i < < t > l I b well when they reached home At the turn of the road then Jerry stop the carriage The voice Was his masters I struck him like a thunderbolt but with his usual obedience obedi-ence he drew rein sitting erect and almost al-most passive as young Mr Arnold sprang to the ground slamming the carriage door behind him His eyes were blazing with anger his face pale with passion Drive on he said curtly I am not going home Sir asked Jerry upon whom the command fell like a dash of cold water wa-ter nearly taking away his breath He knew John was listening with greedy interest but for the life of him he could not utter another word Drive on I say repeated the young Drve imperiously for Jerry seemed maste unusually slow of comprehension it was too cold a night to bandy words Without you sir questioned Jerry incredulously i j Certainly I am going to walt It will be late when you get home I sir said Jerry respectfully I am not going home I shall walk I I back to the city Any other coachman would have uttered ut-tered an exclamation but this rare exception ex-ception sat apparently unmoved upon cepton perfectly aware that his box though perfecty wae Johns elbow was digging persistently into his side He be night sir Its a freezing gas Is hs slow way and that coat of ga yours is only fit for the carriage I f youve YOrs left anything in the city ill see to it in the morning i Young Mr Arnold stamped his foot impatiently Confound you Jerry Cant you do as I tell you Drive Mrs Arnold home drectly Im going to tramp itso be ofC I Jerry tightened his slack rein preparatory prepar-atory to tghtened start He glanced at John that functionary might have been carved in wood for all the sign he gave I He stooped slightly and his searching eyes looked straight into the angry him I one just bffow If a pity he said Youd better I change your mind sirthe weathers horrid coldyou might II Well I wont interrupted his master mas-ter so drive on I Perhaps youd be goin to walt as far as that little drug store we passed awhile i a-while since sirwent on Terry im i perturbably its there they keep good cigar I youre feelin a bit restless you might have a smoke on your way l back and well wait for you at the turn of the road I may a well give I the hores a breathinspeK any how I The devil you will You trot them straight homedo you hear i Yes sirbut Here Jerrys prerogative pre-rogative of old servitude stood him in good steadI must wait a bit to see mus if you dont come you sometimes are real changeable Mr Winston Miss Ethel now will be that worrited if you should take a cold Winston Arnold laughed there was I no mirth in the soundit rang harshly out on the silent world Then without a wordhe turned away abruptlyand headed for the twinkling city in the distance I Jerry touched his hat in his usual fashion but the voice he sent after his master into the darkness was determined I deter-mined against all odds Remember sir that drug store is on the right hand side going back well wait for you at I the turn of the road Then he touched his horses with the whip and the carriage car-riage rolled smoothly onward I John unbent before the wheels had mae a dozen revolutions I Well I never seen the beat of that fur temper he began praps youll I tell me Jerry he was funnin It was wa I the the biggest bluff fur fun I ever I heard about it onthats all Ive got to say I Jerry maintained a dignified silence sience I He knew Johns last remark was a mere figure of speech He had evi dently a great deal more to say Humph went on this worldlywise youth with a wag of his head Ive seen his kind manys the time soft soap afore and brickbats after My eye but he was ragin when 1IYI tramped off Maybe you think hes I comin back yer a innercent as the I babe unborti Jerry them great big fellers your size aint much in seeiii I seein through things praps youre goin to stop at the I I crossroads an make a fool o yoursef besides freezin out the missus I Jerry smiled I I Dont Worry > young One the Missus nS us wont freeze freee and I guess I know the mater bettertlran you do Im going to wail You Im going wait can walk home if you want to I aint keepin you There was a twinkle in Jerrys Jerys eye He was a man of few words but he usually mt straight in a controversy usualy John looked at his immaculate top boots and was silent j i 1 Dopts sient on that head See here Jerry he said returning once more to the charge I bet I charSe yer a fiver the master dont come home this night I aint got too much tin but Im V that certain I dont see no risk Done said Jerry solemnly and the situation in Johns opinion having reached a climax there was nothing for it but to wait results 1 They drove on in reflective silence the ectve sience rest of the way I was not far to the turn o the road When they reached this objective point Jerry headed his horses for home but drew rein beneath some great gaunt trees Youd best get down John and walk about a bit itll unstiff ani your il unstff joints said Jerry with his professional air of command and ou you may as well look in at the carriage window an wel Mrs Arnold that the masters just gone for a cigar an will be back di rectly An look sharp nowdont you be mountin this box again till you see ti the light of that there cigar bobbin along the road Mind what I tell you hnnyand Jerry looked very tel for bidding as he knitted his brows A grunt from John showed his dis hi trust of the future but he executed the orders of his superior to the very let ter and tramped up and down beating I ion tne cold with his wiry arms and I stamping his booted feet striking sparks from the frozen ground Jerry sat immovable looking neither I neiher to the right nor to the left This time of waiting was a crisis in his life and he began to question if he had been wise to stake everything even his pro fessional reputation upon the I reputatonupon way ward humor of his young master but then something had to be done He could not submit to this eternal ques tioning on the part of his subordinate I a mere stable lad who knew no better Yet there was only one way to silence I him and that waythis greathearted I Providence fellow in his simple instinct trusted to I The cold was biting the wind whis i ted fiercely through the trees The I horses pawed impatiently impatenty while the i steady tramp tramp of the young footman I foot-man never relaxed for a single moment mo-ment Jerry listened for some sauna from the carriage His keen ear could occasionally catch a long drawn sigh I but that was all Suddenly there was a halt in Johns rapid measured strides The interrup tion brought the blood to Jerrys heart and for the first time he looked behind him himA A shifting sp rk of light in the darkness dark-ness told the tale Nearer and nearer i came dancing to the tune of a mans brisk walking John turned for the last time just asa as-a figure emerged from the shadow and hastened toward the carriage I All right John said the master cheerily drive on Jerry He flung I his cigar into the road opened the carriage I car-riage door and sprang in I John mounted stolidly Jerry cracked his whip and off they started to the music of the horses ringing hoofs John kept sience until the house loomed up in front Ill pay that fiver Jerry with my next months wages Then Jerry relaxed and laid a hand on the slight shoulder Oh keep your money he said kindly I ant for bidding on a sure thing only hold your tongue next time an trust to your betters with which sugarcoated admonition Jerry r drew up in his best style before the I broad < q libe step ol thel oldhQmc ticvr rj rrie r > > i > |