The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-07-05
HIRAM'S DUPLICITY.
The Mysterious Tracks in Mrs.
Gurney's Flower Bed.
BY CHARLES r. HARKER.

walked down to the stable at sunrise, I'll set
Hiram on the watch. It's a contemptiblet thing
to do, to be sure. But will not be tortured in
this style any longer don't believe it, but
want to find out for certainty. And If there
is ANYTHING in tiff there is anything and
the speaker shut his lips u pleasantly together
Mr. Gurney, who had been married just two
wears, lived in a snug little place, named Cozy
Dell, few miles from the city. Hiram Nesbitt
friend of his boyhood, was his man-of-all-
work, and his nearest neighbor was comrade
in the war, handsome bachelor, Captain Ken
rick How Mr.. Gurney first became Jealous Of
the captain he never knew. As he had a very
plain face-and was keenly aware of it-per-
haps it was when his pretty wife asked him,
laushingly, once, after social gathering why
he was born SO homely, and why his eyes could
not have been as deep and dark as those of
Captain Kenrick. Perhaps it was when he
learned from Hiram that the gay captain had a
habit of dropping over to Cozy Dell when the
master of the place was absent. But, whenever
it was, Mr.. Gtrney was undoubtedly Jealous.
Hiram, putting the little brown mare into the
buggy, noticed his employers morose look, aid
said in a general way:
:sYou don't believe in lucky days, nor moth
in, do We, Mr.. Quincy? Now, my grandfather
wouldn't no more have gone Journey on FIJI
day, n he'd cut his throat ! Kinder funny, too,
to-day is Friday, now, amt itY
az don't see anything very funny about it,
, said Mr.. Gurney. "But. before start, want
:, to talk with you a little, Hiram"
eyes," replied Hiram, expectantly, buckling
on the reins.
"Weu," resumed Mr.. Quincy, somewhat
nervously, stroking the mares arched neck,
s'SI'H tell you what / want, Hiram-and it's
favor Iywouldn't ask of every man but you
and were boys together"
J YES" reiterated Hiram, in tone which said
that, for his part, he had no desire to deny the
charge,
."it is because you'll keep your mouth shut
about nv asking favor of you that ask it.
What want you to do is this: After you drive
me to the depot, you are to come straight back.
and stay round here all day, till it's time for
you to come after me at night, and tell me who
comes and who goes. Do you understand?
You may work or not, as you please but stay
within sight of the house, keepyour eyes open,
and tell me who comes and who goes. That's
all Willyou do it?"
"sartain," said Hiram, briskly "Td as iefs
no.."
"Wen. then" said Mr.. Gurney, his brow
clearing up, "iumpin. We shall barely catch
the train"
Hiram drove Mr. Quincy to the village, and
saw him of on the cars. But when he came
back to the farm he brought With him bottle
full of poor whisky; and that bottle of poor
whisky kept Hiram Nesbitt stretched out, at
: full length, and fast asleep, on the grass be-
hind the hedge, from the middle of the fore
noon till nearly nightfall.
Mrs. Gurney was fair young blonde, with
limpid blue eyes and skin which had once
been dazzling white, but was now tritie
e, Drowned. She had been belle, and was still
a beauty. She looked exceedingly attractive..as
she stood in the vine covered door way, gazing
out over the fields, with the setting sun throw
ing halso round her fair, stately head.
"Can you see him?" said strong, CHEEKY
voice behind her.
'sSee,him 10, indeed ~ replied Mrs. Gurney,
with pretty air of vexation. "Where do you
suppose he is? Dear me, it's nearly sunset
Katie can YOU drive horse?' continued Mrs.
Gurney, shortly, turning to a bdXom damsel
who was her faithful handmade and, of neces-
sity, a companion as we'll.
iOh," answered Katie. with on easy air of
superiority in that direction, "certaiuly can,
Mrs. Quincy"
"You CAM" said Mrs. Gurney, smiling
"well, I'm ashamed to ssy can't. But if you
can. can go with you, and we'll shut the house
up, and 60 to the depot and meet Frank. 1t
would never do to let him walk home after his
hot day in the city. AS for Hiram, l am
alarmed about him. No distance, nor bolts,
nor bars, could have kept him from his dinner,
and he didn't come to that. There must be
something the matter with him. However,
there is.po time to lose. Will you go|
"Of course" replied Katie. "Fn go right
and put my hat on and have the carriage up
here to the door before you're ready"
Fifteen minutes later. CoZy Dell was basking
in the rays of the sun, with no one about the
place save Hiram, still asleep behind the hedge.
But human figure soon appeared on the quiet
scene, slouching figure with weary gait. 1t
was man with coarse, red beard, and coarse,
red, tangled hair, straying out from beneath
we'll ventilated hat. He was ragged, disre-
putable fellow-in q word tramp and as
he lounged up the path, staring about him, be
munched some food held in one grimy paw.
He shambled coolly up to the side OF the cot
tage, and knocked. But. probably, he had
weu-grounded suspicion that the action would
prove an unnecessary exertion, for, without
waiting. for a response to his summons. he
stepped on the soft mold of the flower bed be-
meath the window, and tried to raise the sash.
1t was securely fastened. With a mumbled
oath. he cast his eyes toward the stable. The
door was wide open. His dusty face lighted.
His tired limbs seemed already to feel the rest
full ease of new-mown hay. He stepped back
to the path, walked to the stable. looked warily
around him, and entered. Then, glancing
around, ard seeing nothing he could convent
emily appropriate, he climbed ladder, gained
the top of the hay-mow, burrowed holein one
corner, and lay down with satisfied grunt.
It was well for him, perhaps, that he en-
sconced himself so soon for hardly had he
passed from sight when there was stir and a
confused mutterlng behind the hedge.
Hiram's long nap was over. He rose slowly
TO his feet, and looked stupidity over the land
acaOe