Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02

In vain she Demanded his grounds for saving
the boy had gone TO Worcester by the early
train: whether, he sent him-whether he saw
him OF. Hin said David did go, and then took
refuge IN logged silence.
The schoolmistreS was not one TO he PLAYED
with. OF tenacious turn, she followed out
things with a win. She called in the police; she
harrangued people outside the door; she set the
parish in ferment. But David could not be
heard OF, high or low Since the midnight
hour, when that call of his swoke his mother,
ished
There arose a rumor that Jim Bailey could
tell something. Miss Timmens bounced upOn
him as he was going by the school-heuse, con-
yeyed him indoors, and ordered him to make a
clean breast of il. IL was mt much that Jim
had to tell but that little seemed of inheritance
TO Miss Timmens, and he ted il readily. One
thing Jim persisted in--thst the boots he saw
through the skyrreht must have been Davifs
boots, Hill had called them his, but they were
not big enough-not mems boots At all. Hfll was
looking "ghastly white,'' as If he had got a
fright. Jim added, when he said David was gone
off TO Worcester. .-. .-... s..
Perhaps il was in that moment that a fear. of
something worse than had been suspected vet
dawned upon Miss Timmens. Tying on her
bonnet. she came up to Crabb Cot, and asked to
see the Squire.
d" II is getting more serious,v she said, after
old Thomas had shown her in. Z" I think, sir,
Hill should be forced to explain what he knows.
I've come here to ask You to do it," eE2
" The question is-what does he known
Joined the Squire. go. .sk
More than he has confessed said Miss
Timmens, in her positive manner. "Jim Bat
ley stands to il that those boots must, from the
size. have been David's boots. Now, Squire
Todhetley, il David's boots were there, where
was David? That is what's lying on my mind,
sir"
What did Jim Bailey see beside the boots?"
asked the Squire.
F" Nothing in particular :" she answered. "He
said the cupboard door stood open, and hid the
best part of the room. David would not be
likely to run away and leave his boots behind
him."
Unless he was in too great fright to stop
and put them on
81 don't think that, SIR"
"What is it you wish TO imply?" asked the
Squire, not seeing the drift of the argument
wish knew myself" replied Miss Tim
mems, candidly. 90 I'm certain Hill has not told
all he could tell: he has been deceitful over 1t
from the first, and he must be made to explain
Look here, sir: when he got to Willow Cottage
that morning, there's nor doubt he thought
David was in; Very we'll He goes in to call
him; stays bit, and then comes out and tells
young Jim that David had gone to Worcester.
How was he to know David had gone?-who
told him? The boy says, too, that Hill looked
CHASTITY, as il he had been frightened"
David must have gone somewhere, or he
would have been in the ROOM" argued the
Squire. |" He'd not be likely to 20 back after
in the middle Of the night"
s'Just so, sir. Buff Hill did not find him.
why should be come out and assert that David
had started for Worcester? It's the boots that
came over me-" vowed Miss Timmens; can't
come to the bottom of 'em. mean to come TO
the bottom of Hill, though, and make him dis
and Perhaps he will tell you without trouble, ii
you'll be so good as to question him. If he
S wont, IN have him brought up before the
Away went Miss Timmens, with parting re-
mark that the school must be rampant by that
time. The Squire sat thinking bit, and then
put on MS nat and great-coat, telling me |
might come with him and hear what Hill had to
say; We expected to find Hill in the plowed
held between his cottage and North Crabb. But
Hill was in his own garden; We saw him as We
went along. Without ceremony, the Squire
opened the wooden gate and stepped in. Hill
was wa rasing the leaves together by the shed at
He threw down the rake when lie saw us, as if
startled, his red face turning to white. Coming
forward, he began confused excuse for being
at home at that hour OF the day, saying there
was so much to do when getting into fresh
place; and that he had not been well for two
days, had chad a sickness upon him." The
Squire, never hard with the men. told him he
was welcome to be there, and began walking
about the garden.
ct is rich bit of land, Hill, as any in the
parish, and you may turn it to good account if
you are Industrious. Does your wife Intend to
keep chickens"
"wen, sir, suppose she will. The town
bred women don't understand far about 'em,
profit"
Nonsense" said the Squire, in his quick
nience about yeu! This used to be the fowl
house in Hopton's time - he added, rapping the
side of the shed with his stick. "why! you've
been putting paddock on it, HiIl!'
For the door was fastened with a paddock; a
new one, TO judge by its brightness. Hill made
no comment. lie had taken up the rake again
and was raking vigorously at the dead leaves
wondered what he was shaking for.
Have You got any treasure here, that you
should lock it up?''
garden-tOols," answered Hill. I" There's heap
Of loose characters about, and nothing's safe
from EN-"
Putting his back against the shed, the Squire
suddenly called on Hill to face him, and entered
on the business he had come upon. - Where
was David Garth? Did he, Hill, know anything
Hill had looked pale before; said 50; but that
was nothing to the frightful whiteness that took
him now. Ears, lips, neck; all turned the hue of
the dead. The rake shook in bis grasp; his
Come, HILL" said the Squire, 81 see you
have got something to say"
But Hill protested he had nothing to say ex-
eept that the boys absence puzzled him. The
Squire put some home questions, upon the
points spoken of by Miss Timmens, showing
Hill that We knew all. He then told him he
might take bis choice: to answer, or 20 before
the magistrates.
Apparently Hill saw the futility of holding
out longer. His very aspect would have con-
verted him, as the Squire said; if he had com
mifted murder, he could not have looked more
guilty. CHANGING shudderingly around on all
sides, as though the air had phantoms in it, he
n.
II was true that he had gone to the house ex-
pecting to find David in it: and it was true that
when he entered, he foundhim flown. Not wish
ing alarm to get to the boys mother he told Jim
Bailey that David had gone by the early train
to Worcester: he told his mother 50. As to the
boots. Hill declared they we're his own, not
David's; and that JiIn's eyes must have been
deceived in the size. And he vowed and de-
clared he knew no more than this, or where
David could have got to.
"What do you think you deserve for locking
the child in the house by himself?" asked the
Squire, sternly.
Everything that'll come upon me through
it," readily acknOwled Hill. 81 / could cut nv
hands off now for having done it; but L never
thought he'd be really frightened It's just as
if his ghost had been haunting me ever since;
See him a. following of me everywhere"
His ghost!" exclaimed the Squire. "Do
you suppose he's dead?'
81 don't know" said the man, passing his
shaking hand across his damp forehead. al
wish to heaven had let him go of to his grand
mothers that same blessed night"
Then you wish me to understand, HILL that
you absolutely know nothing of where the boy
may be?"
Nothing at all, sir''
" Don't You think it miQhl have been as we'll