"See here, Wiles," he said, relaxing his dignity
with the perspiration that oozed from every pore, and made the collar of
his shirt a mere limp rag. "See here, WE"--this first use of the plural
was equivalent to a confession--"we must get them papers."
"Of course," said Wiles coolly, "if we CAN, and if Thatcher doesn't get
wind of them."
"He cannot."
"He was on the coach when I lost them, coming East."
Mr. Gashwiler paled again. In the emergency he had recourse to the
sideboard and a bottle, forgetting Wiles. Ten minutes before Wiles would
have remained seated; but it is recorded that he rose, took the bottle
from the gifted Gashwiler's fingers, helped himself FIRST, and then sat
down.
"Yes, but, my boy," said Gashwiler, now rapidly changing situations with
the cooler Wiles; "yes, but, old fellow," he added, poking Wiles with a
fat forefinger, "don't you see the whole thing will be up before he gets
here?"
"Yes," said Wiles gloomily, "but those lazy, easy, honest men have a
way of popping up just at the nick of time.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167