The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-02-17


lady. "The fact must be, that he did
know of the murder, though all might
not"
"But it was not known at all to any
one" reiterated the squire; "neither isit
believed to have occurred at that time"
"You must perceive that Mr.. Yorke
must have known of it" coolly contin-
ued Miss Hardisty, suppressing the con-
tempt she was acquiring for the squire's
understanding. at was not a mere vague
rumor he had got hold of, but he de-
scribed the facts, which you have just
said we're correct that the unfortunate
gentleman was killed in his own garden,
close to the gate, and found beaten to
DEATH"
at is very strange" debated Squire
Hipgrave, struck atlength with the points
placed before him by his antagonist. 81
wonder where Yorke heard it?"
"From a man and woman who were
running by the house as he came in,
readily responded Miss Hardisty. "They
told him Mr. Janson was murdered. And
that was before seven o'clock.
Good heavens! it may have been the
very perpetrators themselves! Indeed it
must have been; no one else would have
known it. We must find those people"
continued the Squire in his most magis-
terial voice. 81 wonder if Yorke would
recognize them again.
at was the gardener and his wife at
the cottage higher up. near to Lady
Rich's," interposed Mrs. Yorke.
"Oh-they," said the magistrate, con-
siderably disappointed when he found
the presumed murderers subside into a
quiet, inoffensive couple. long known,
"Tll go up and ascertain where they heard
it. I'd give twenty pounds out of my
own pocket to pounce upon the guilty
men, for Janson was favorite of mine.
Not to speak of the unpleasantness OF
having such crimes happen in the neigh
borhood."
Away went Squire Hipgrave, and was
back again directly. Mr.. Yorke and
Henry were then returning from their
walk.
"Good morning, Yorke. How did you
hear the report last night that Janson
was murdered"
"From the gardener, up there-whats
his name?-Crane," replied Mr.. Yorke.
From Crane and his wife?"
"Well-it's your word against theirs"
hesitatingly replied Squire Hipgrave, in
a puzzle. "They say they never told you
anything about Janson; and fact, did
not know themselves till this morning
that anything had happened to him."
"If they choose to eat their words, that
is no business of mine, said Mr.. Yorke.
Gas / was turning in at this gate last
uight-it was late, for lost my way in
the fog after | left you, and did not get in
till near Crane and his wife were run
ming by from the village in great excite
ment They had a torch with them. /
asked what was amiss, and they told me
Janson was murdered. Nobody,else could
have told me-" proceeded Mr.. Yorke.. 81
saw no one else. and spoke to no one
else"
"Then what do they mean by denying
it2" asked Squire Hipgrave, sharply.
Upon my word, if they were not so well
known, should suspect they knew some
thing about the murder. 1 wish you
would let me confront Crane with you.
"You are quite welcome to do that,
said Mr.. Yorke.
Away went the Squire again, and Mr.
Yorke and Henry leaned over the gate,
watched, and waited for him. Cranes
cottage was within view, and he came
back with the man. Maria and Miss
Hardisty came out Of the breakfast room.
There seems some mistake about this
here business, sir" said Crane. a civil,
respectful man, land Squire Hipgrave
have fetched me down along of him, to SCI
it right"
"The mistake is on your part, not on
mine," haughtily returned Mr.. Yorke
"You went by here with your wife last
night; she seemed in fright, and / in
quired what was the matter"
Eyes, sir, my wife was frightened, fan.
cying she saw thieves in the hedges
she haven't run so fast since her joints
got stiff. When you stopped us, sir
: and asked, told you poor gentleman
had Just been murdered.
Mr.. Yorke looked at Squire Hipgrave
"You hear" said he. "Repeat what you
did say to me-" added he to the man.
THAT my wife was frightened, and W,
was making haste home, for a poor gen.
tleman had been found murdered, dowr
yonder, beaten to death. Them was tn,
words, sir as near as can remember"
Exactly" said Mr.. Yorke.
"But did you say it was Mr.. Janson
> CraneT' resumed Squire Hipgrave, look
ing at the man.
"Law no, sir. couldn't say it, as
have just told you, for
"You did say it was Mr.. Janson," in
terrupted Mr.. YorEe.
81 beg your pardon, sir. was just
c going to say to you night that re
port went as it was a farmer, but yol
! turned short away indoors, and didn'
! wait to hear me; and and my wife raj
home. This morning, when the milk
woman came, she told us about Mr.. Jan
son, that he was murdered and my wifi
!. sat down in chair-though we never be
u lieved it at first-and burst out a crying
for he was more like friend to us than
doctor, a-coming up all weathers to he
! rheumatiz,and charging us next to nothin
e I'm sure, sir, speak the truth, when
say il was not till this morning we hear
about poor Mr.. Janson, and that there ha
been a double murder"
3 IA double murder" echoed Mr.. YorkC
!; his face mixture of establishment an
7 perplexity.
+ "Why, did you not know itY' sal
!, Squire Hipgrave. "Young Louth wa
y shot from his horse last evening, and r
e fed of all he had about him. That wa
what Crane wished TO tell you of; Jan
'e son W as not murdered-at least, not foun
g for hours afterwards"
4, sand Finch was right, after all, whe
she said it was farmers son." inte
d rupted Olivia Hardisty: though YOU
y looking at Mr.. Yorke-''ridiculed it, an
d said IL was Hanson -