Oby and his System 1 1 5 



CHAPTER VII 



OBY AND HIS SYSTEM : THE MOUCHER'S CALENDAR 



One dark night, as I was walking on a lonely road, 

 I kicked against something, and but just saved myself 

 from a fall. It was an intoxicated man lying at full 

 length. As a rule, it is best to let such people 

 alone ; but it occurred to me that the mail-cart was 

 due ; with two horses harnessed tandem-fashion, and 

 travelling at full speed, the mail would probably go 

 over him. So I seized the fellow by the collar and 

 dragged him out of the way. Then he sat up, and 

 asked in a very threatening tone who I was. I men- 

 tioned my name : he grunted, and fell back on the 

 turf, where I left him. 



The incident passed out of my mind, when one 

 afternoon a labourer called, asking for me in a 

 mysterious manner, and refusing to communicate his 

 business to any one else. When admitted, he pro- 



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