s matter;
and Lucy Munro tells me you will--you made her some such promise."

"Well, now, I guess I must toe the chalk, after all; though, to say
truth, I don't altogether remember giving any such promise. It must be
right, though, if she says it; and sartain she's a sweet body--I'll go
my length for her any day."

"You'll not lose by it; and now hear my plan. You know Brooks, the
jailer, and his bulldog brother-in-law, Tongs? I saw you talking with
both of them yesterday."

"Guess you're right. Late acquaintance, though; they aint neither on 'em
to my liking."

"Enough for our purpose. Tongs is a brute who will drink as long as he
can stand, and some time after it. Brooks is rather shy of it, but he
will drink enough to stagger him, for he is pretty weak-headed. We have
only to manage these fellows, and there's the end of it. They keep the
jail."

"Yes, I know; but you don't count young Brooks?"

"Oh, he's a mere boy. Don't matter about him. He's easily managed. Now
hear to my design. Provide your jug of whiskey, with plenty of eggs and
sugar, so that they shan't want anything, and get them here. Send for
Tongs at once, and let him only know what's in the wind; then ask
Brooks, and he will be sure to force him to come. Say nothing of the
boy; let him stay or come, as they think proper. To ask all might make
them suspicious. They'll both come. They never yet resisted a spiritual
temptation. When here, ply them well, and then we shall go on according
to circumstances. Brooks carries the keys along with him: get him once
in for it, and I'll take them from him. If he resists, or any of them--"

"Knock 'em down?"

"Ay, quickly as you say it!"

"Well, but how if they do not bring the boy, and they leave him in the
jail?"

"What then! Can't we knock him down too?"

"But, then, they'll fix the whole business on my head. Won't Brooks and
Tongs say where they got drunk, and then shan't I be in a scant fixin'?"

"They dare not. They won't confess themselves drunk--it's as much as
their place is worth. They will say nothing till they got sober, and
then they'll get up some story that will hurt nobody."

"But--"

"But what? will you never cease to but against obstacles? Are you a
man--are you ready--bent to do what you can? Speak out, and let me know
if I can depend on you," exclaimed the landlord, impatiently.

"Now, don't be in a passion! You're as soon off as a fly-machine, and a
thought sooner. Why, didn't I