Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-05-13
PINNEYS SECRET.
p Ho Sheltered tfIs Child OF
His Lost Love.

aerc was some mystery, or something
ong at Pinney's. That was the reason
why the 'neighbors' folks on the porch Of
Barker's store stood motioaless, furtively
gazing at Pinney's place beyond, n though
II was n camera and they were being
"taken" just as they were Old Major
Hawkes. had becnso shocked by the sus-
picion, that he still held extended high his
arLi, which he had meant TO bring down
with adenunciation Of Henry Clay, char
actcrized by tho vigorous emphasis OF Con-
necticut Democracy. But just at that mo
ment the Majors reflections were checked.
There was something wrong at Piuney's.
SO the Major sat In the big arm chair in
the shady corner OF the porch-a spot where
he established himself and watched and
mapped when the days were fno-his
binowy eyes, rolling over billowy cheeks
that curved into a billowy chin and meek.
fixed In melancholy stare upon Pinney's
home yonder.
Judson Guernsey known only rs Jud
GanEy-hnd at the moment boen reading 10
the neighbors' folks from the weekly city
paper eomo dreadful warlil;e thrcatenings
from Mexico, but be now stood transhxol
his hngor ON the line, and actually upon
tho word "bloodshed,n - which he had lust
read as Teachum came up and said that
there was sonething wrong at Pinuev's
There was Jabez Peckham. who had been
nt the instant testing the strength OF a hoe
handle. He still stood leaning upon IT, but
with his eyes turned toward Pinney's place.
or rolling them timidly from one 10 another
OF the group. Even the surveyors men
across the highway on the old canal tow
path halted in their work, forgot that they
were there to prepare 30 bring New Haven
nnd northampton within three hours
travel instead Of three days, aud stood In
suspense by their theodolltes aud chockerod
pO.eS watching Pinney's house.
for Ieachum had just come with strained
eyes and bated breath, and announced that
there was something wrong at Pinney's.
They did not need 10 ask him why be
said 10. or course something was wrong
The little red story house was as
tightly closed rs tomb, and the sun was
three hours high. True, the faded green
shutters, upon which the rain had t.trked
serPcntino trails, and which were bronzsd
at the hinges with rust, had heen rs tightly
closed for twonty years, but there was one
shutter In the window OF tho rear room
that was always thrown open precisely at
sunrise. That WAS tight this morning
Then. too, the corrugated and mossy we'll
sweep hung with its bucket hfgh in
mir, as IL had not done before for twenty
years one single minute after sunrise: for
then y was Pinney's habit 10 como forth
from his house and lower the bucket into
the well for the day But beyond all,
Pinney,s brown and gambrel-roofed store
across the lot, and opposite the canal, was
shut as though II was the Lords day
The same thought was In the mind OF all
OF them, but none dared speak IT, Instead
each, after the silence was broken, ven
tured some suggestion as far away as pos
sibio froHa the dreadful suspicion that bur
dened all Major Hawkes, Whose theory
Of existence was that all Wings ought GO be
suppressed by law, aud that no man who
dept enough ought 20 die. ventured 20 sug-
gest that possibly Pinney's clock had run
down and that be had slept over
III itwasnt for wimmiH' folks aud clocks
most ON ms would sleep over now and then.
IL comes nnt'rnl 10 men folks. aud what's
nnt'ral Il what's best. Now Pinncy. Just
as like a. not, let the big clock run down.
suppose he's got the big clock yet IL
used 10 DO there. When the clock Is rLl.
down, aud there amt no wimmin' 10 bother,
up"
Nobody paid any heed to this suggestion,
and the Major rolled his billowy eyes /
about as though bescarhiDg some one to /
Offer a better. Then Jud Guernsey hinted |
that Pinney might he a liatle under the /
weather. But 10 this Ta..e.uni replied: |
"You've ieased him enough 10 make a.
saint swear, Jnd Gauzyi Why II was only |
last week Fourth Of July night that you |
brought the cannon right under his win \
dow aud touched her on. What hain't YOU |
done 70 sicken him. JudH'
Wall, the rest OF us haven't bcen skit- F,
tlsh about bothcring him first nnd last"
gntic tone.
Jabez Peckham denied tho possibility Of /
ilDney's iilness. "Pinney'g one OF rhar- |
noh's lean kind sure enough but he j. n \
prudent man Ia his yictuals, aud couldn't 4
~ aici-that Is Of his own accord
The vague hint OF these words, ''0f his
own accoId, echoed what was in tho minds
~ all Of them. and was the nearest t. vide.
ING that suspicion that amy dared permit
himself "a make.
IA rr.s f,,llo u, l,,,,, l,ofo,. ., ,,,, an. .,,
gcstod that II would be well 10 make 4
closer inspection than was possible from
The porch Of harkera store. Then Il was
hInted that Tcachuln. by virtue OF ono11f'
having been constable, and Guernsey, n #
10 and examine tho path that lei fiun
side doorof fiuucY house % tbo padl III
door of tho store. that tracks mi9ht
covered. II nny Nfnff npfr. tnIA
'11..'y,er e.e..'f y. WE |''4r