Part 26 (2/2)

There was soe's eyes--a relieved and teasing little sry

”The little shaver!” said he, in disgust

It ritten in the book of the future that Skipper George Ru should fall in with each other on the north coast before the summer was over

CHAPTER XXV

_In Which Notorious Tole” Put Their Heads Together Over a Glass of Rum in the Cabin of a French Shore Trader_

There was never a more notorious rascal in Newfoundland than old Toate There was never a cleverer rascal--never a man who could devise new villainies as fast and execute them as neatly

The law had never laid hands on him At any rate not for a crime of importance He had been clapped in jail once, butcolours by pushi+ng past the startled usher in church and squatting his great flabby bulk in the governor's pew of the next SundayHe was a thief, a chronic bankrupt, a counterfeiter, an illicit liquor seller It was all perfectly well known; but not once had a constable brought an offense home to him He had once been arrested for theft, it is true, and taken to St John's by the constables; but on the way he had stolen a watch fro both in far more trouble than they could subsequently involve him

Add to these evil propensities a deformed body and a crimson countenance and you have the shadow of an idea of old Tole_ in the rain and sought the shelter of her little cabin The cook had made a fire for the skipper; the cabin arlanced up to see that the skylights were tight

Skipper George produced the bottle and glasses

”Now, Skipper George,” said Tom Tulk, as he tipped the bottle, ”'tis a mint o' money an' fair easy t' make”

”I'm not likin' the job,” the skipper complained ”I'm not likin' the job at all”

”'Tis an easy one,” Tom Tulk maintained, ”an' 'tis well paid when 'tis done”

Skipper George scowled in objection

”Ye've a soft heart for man's work,” said Tohed ”Is you thinkin' t' drive me by makin' fun o'

me?” he asked

”I'm thinkin' nothin',” Tom Tulk replied, ”but t' show you how it can be done Will you listen t' e Rumm declared

Tom Tulk observed, however, that the skipper's ears ide open

”Not e repeated, with a loud thump on the table

”No, sir! I'll have nothin' t' do with it!”

Tom Tulk fancied that the skipper's ears were a little bit wider than before; he was not at all deceived by this show of righteousness on the part of a weak hed ”Say no e, ”that it _could_ be done I'm not denyin' that it would be easy work But I tells you, Tom Tulk, that I'll have nothin' t' do with it I'm an honest man, Tom Tulk, an'

I'd thank you t' remember it”