The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-05-14
BY JOSEPH HATTON.
ACT I'LL.

ACT III.
SCENE 111.-ToR LOVE.
An old.fashioned library, furnished
in black oak and reddish: brown leath.
er; graod solemo.lookiog room, with
carved book leases, and volumes mostly
bound in calf and Russia. Between
two bay.wiudows was a ponderous Ii.
orary table, covered with papers and law
books. The windows, hung with rich
cloth hangiogs, looked out upon lawn
as green as spring, bordersd5 with foil.
age that spread away into the distance,
dense and woody, and rich with autum.
nal color.
Squire Westbury was sitting At the
table writing, aod at the same time
talking to his clerk aud the detective
from Bristows> who; having: dons|boek-
ing, was all the more anxious to show
bis Importance.
"Overzsal is as bad, Sir, as want Of
energy" said the squire. "You officers
are too;spt to jump at coucl1sions::''
II bow to your Worship" said the
officer. "Country practice is, of course,
little different to city work.
"1ndeed! I suppose you mean that
We are slow in the country, that We
take time to sift things, and make up
our minds with great care"
"You put it we'll, Sir; We are oblig-
ed to be quick 10 the city,"
II understand" said the squire. II
ouly desire that you should be eau.
tious at present l do not Gee that city
interference in this matter has been of
any service"
81 "Mr: North sent for me- said tie
detective.
eyes, he is just the sort Of man to
fly off to the city. I wonder he con-
dssoends to live 10 this vilAge at all"
"Can net say
"Now understaud," said the squire,
"ths sarcasm ot7that last remark -rath.
er the muuner Of it than tho remark it.
self-is not lost on me. I am not With:
out Influence in that city Of yours,
magisterial and otherwise, aud I am
oertaioly master here; it is quite op:
tional whether l allow you to remain or
not"
II have no desire, only to DO my dul
ty, your Worship" said the detective, q
little intimidated at the squire's un.
mistakable threat.
"Very, we'll, then every man is to
be considered inoocent until he: il
proved to be guilty. Your pressure
upou Mr.. Meadows strikes me ~ i'm.
proper aud indecent j.; you gave me hia
explanation with Z sneer, sad you
seem to consider tho case settled with
Eliza Smiths evidence. You have 4
grievance even against Mr.. North; who
sent for you, As you say, because he
would not allow you to Gee Miss Mead.
ows and in the absence of the prison
er's daughter, aud without a warrant
you search the prisoners co:tase.''
"lf have exceeded my duty, SIR
said the detective, remembering how
closely the squire was identified witt
one Of the most important n.gisteria
families in the city, "I stand correct
ed"
"You do staud corrected" said th'
squire, looking him straight in The
face; "and my course of action with
regard to your position in the foEes O
the city OF Bristowe will depend upo1
your future conduct in connection viii
this case. Am I not right, JARVIS p
"Certaiuly, your Worship" said jar
Wis, the clerk, who was bound to th'
Westburys by strong tics of affectio,
and interest.
II respect Mr.. Jarvls's Judgment
said the dective, who had only recent
" been promoted into plain clothes, an,
who began to see little plot for put
ting him back into uniform.
The truth is, the squire felt stron
personal interest in the prisoner: HI
could not disguise from himself tn
grave nature of the evidence agains
him, and he was anxious to help hit
for the sake Of bis daughter. At pre-
ent he could not see any chance Of th
smallest excuse fots nososonnitsipx i