Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS. 123
thought he -was going to indulge in that particular delicacy,
and had no objection to his doing so. When he came out I ■was
disappointed at his showing me, in the palm of his hand, a silver
sixpence he had got in change for the coppers, and -which, with
a knowing wink, he deposited carefully in his waistcoat pocket.
I "was thoroughly in the dark as to what he meant to do with
the sixpence, and I am not sure I did not rather fancy that he
purposed feeing an attorney with it to defend my brother. So
little did I, at that time, know concerning the reasonable
charges of that honest section of the human race.
I was resigning myself wholly into Will Bryan's hands, to do
as he pleased, both with me and mine, when I noticed a con-
siderable stir, occasioned by the appearance of the owner of the
Hall driving rapidly towards the Court House. He was the
principal justice of the peace. Before my companion and
I could reach it, the spacious building was tightly packed,
and hundreds besides ourselves unable to obtain admission.
On each side of the door were two police ofl&cers— embodiment
of authority — declaring positively that every inch of room in-
side was crammed full. " But," said Will, in my ear, "we are
bound to get in." I did not see how he could hope for that.
After a while the crowd shifted a little, and Will Bryan and I
edged on into the neighbourhood of the officer's blue coat-tails.
Almost directly, we were able to reach the door. Will was
obliged to make more than one tug at the flap before attracting
its owner's attention. All at once, the officer bent his head ;
Will spoke a few words in his ear, the ofl&cer opened wide his
eyes, as if he had received a piece of astounding information,
the two shook hands, and next minute Will and I had been let
into the Court House, while hundreds of great strong men
were struggling outside. But I knew our joint property had
changed hands. The Americans talk of the " Almighty
Dollar ! " Tut ! A book might be written upon the miraculous
powers of a six;pence. Will had found out, even thus early,
that the pass-word, the "open sesame," to all places was
a sixpence. In the present circumstances, I felt that my
friend had sunk our money to excellent purposes ; and had
it been six shillings, instead of sixpence, I should not have
grumbled.