Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

IIo suggestion of idling in his gait, no evidence of the common curiosity over the murder. He walked as one having a definite purpose _ and his gaze ever ranged ahead as if seeking ‘some one. Somehow I could not rid myself of the notion that his presence there at that hour was not the work of chance, and that he believed his errand to be vital. Without further delay we swung through an empty street to where the old American battery— called by us Waterbury’s—was manned by the British. We were halted some distance from the battery and allowed to take our ease while the sergeant hastened to a dram shop west of the battery and back of some redoubts thrown up by our army the year before; The sergeant’s thirst required some time to assuage, but the trip vastly improved and humanized him. When he returned he was _ jovial and permitted the guards to follow his example, two at a time. “We're near Bowery Lane,” I murmured to Bucks. “If we could make it I’d never wait till night. Mother Baff is gone, but Sant remains. One glance and our dish is spo — Cay a. a ead u Ss Ty VR - i Ay Vig ‘ ia’ + | rc ‘ J p * Raa * we . cE _— at, tie 7 a Ce. : x 6 a tay has @)) Ae, ) i try p Ay FBR OR rR 4} aie dy _ whistle with a tickler of brandy. a mate. He aeiee and stretched himself and lazily wandered over to where the sergeant was taking his ease. The sergeant mechani- cally rubbed his eyes but did not resent Bucks good-natured grin. Bucks said: “T’ve been thinking. I’ve got a guinea that’s keen to change itself into beer ’n’ a dash of rum. I’m thinking it would be a rare treat to my friend if he could wet his You're certainly a fine upstanding figger of a man, sergeant, if you'll let me be so bold as to say it. Now one guinea ain’t no good without That guinea would feel more to home if he knew his mate was crossing one ~ end of the bar while he was crossing t’other.” The sergeant frowned heavily, then popped his watery eyes wide open in understanding “and licked his thick lips. Bucks gravely continued: “Tt ain’t no use for us to feel mad ag’in anything but the rebels: If you’re agreeable to show us the way, one guinea will do fine for me’n my friend. Not to put too fine a point on it, t’other guinea is for you, for a sergeant is the backbone of the British army.” : With great alacrity the sergeant straight- ened and commanded the regulars to re- main with the recruits until he had in- Adventure vestigated the dram shop further. With that he curtly ordered Bucks and me to follow him. The shop was empty, and on entering the sergeant halted at the end of the: bar nearest the door,:and as he did so a guinea dropped between his broad red hands. Bucks and I passed to the lower end of the bar and were soon accommodated with some rum and water. We were near a window opening to the west, almost within short running distance of the Lane. The window was open at the bottom, but blocked by several barrels and. kegs. “‘No chance,” I murmured as I sipped my The tapster had returned to the sergeant and was politely inquiring. “‘What’s the news in town, sir? I heard something from a teamster about a murder.” “Old Mother Baff’s been turned off just as she was about to put the town major on the track of a spy.” “‘Mother Baff gone!” “Killed in Canvas Town. Went to her shanty.” “She must a left a tidy pot of guineas.” “She didn’t take nothing with her,” inned the sergeant. _ The*talk touched on Kerry the spy, then the sergeant made a bid for sympathy by telling how hard he had it with so many raw recruits. “Youll have ’em broken in mighty quick,”’ soothed the tapster, pushing for- ward the bottle. “‘They’ll break in or be cracked,” assured the sergeant. The tapster came down and served us and then hastened back and said: “Sergeants have all the ’portant work to do. Officers take life easy.” This met with the sergeant’s hearty in- dorsement. He said: ‘“‘There’s our new captain. Don’t know how he'll take hold. One of the city loyalists. I'll have a hard time teaching him the tricks. He’s Captain Betworth. Just from service in Jersey.”’ “Oh, ho? One of the rich Betworths! Why, sergeant, that makes it silk for you. Help him all you can and he’ll pay you back ten for one.” “Don’t think Pll lke him. He’s too stuck up. Has too many notions,” replied the sergeant, now in a haughty frame of mind. This point was delicately argued by the tapster, who displayed a rare knowledge a ~ Ebhoo (eC) Ks (é Or ) — se 4