The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-09

resounded.
THAT you, Aaron -
faint nobody elsen
Little he knew that Sophronia heard it
all
well, have you did itFr
"Yes. He's done for"
"Where cid you fnd himl"
"Snoopin' around the mill, as poplar as
though he was inspector OF b'iers."
"Haw, haw! What We done with the re-
mainsf'
They're deep. enough where nobody
won't find 'em this hundred year"
Him! that's good"
Sophronia dropped the horn; she stifTened
with horror; here was a fearful murder
| right IN the neighborhoodi But then she
had always expected it. or something like
1t, Of those Miller's. While she stood con-
sidering, Hiram drove into the yard in a
neighbours wagon, the Cheshire boar lying
| ANONYMOUSLY bound therein, squealing
with all his piggish might. Hiram backed
up against the stye, which he had rein
forced at early dawn, and deity slid Mas
ter Piggy over the tail-board, cutting his
bonds as he helped him along, for well he
knew the danger of setting such a captive
| free too soon.
He had just finished the risky proceeding
when Sophronia appeared az the shed door
with her apron over her head.
"H-i-ramw she screamed. ~ want We
10 wait minute! Eve got to go in to Stan
ton. l must, right Of. Won't Barber's
folks let we keep the team spellr"
Il guess So" was the gruff response.
lie knew perfectly well that he had bor-
rowed the team to 20 to Stanton himself
and get a scythe-snath. Such is man!
All the way Sophronia preserved an aw-
full silence; she felt the magnitude of the
situation and revolved her plans in her
mind. WHAT she did when she reached
Stanton, after receiving proper advice IN
| the matter, need not DE detailed. In fact,
| don't know what she did! But the very
next morning Aaron and Joseph Miller
were arrested on charge of murder, and
were brought before the proper authorities
for preliminary examination.
| There was Sophronia, too, who with much
| excitement and many needless words, de-
| poned and testified to what she had heard
On the telephone; a grim smile distorted
Aaron Miller's face, and Joseph mu,tered,
The old fooi!' under his breath; but il
was only muttered, so Sophronia did not
| resent 1t.
| Judge S'opcocl1 was the model Of rural
magnare; TAI, red in the face, pompous,
| crowned with sleek, brown wig, and
tail shiny hat, Tilted slightly askey; he ad
| ministerei justice much as Mrs. Squeers
| administered birthstone and treacle, Sc
verely with spoon. Throwing his head
| back, ciasping his hands over his stomach,
| closing his eyes and pursuing up his mouth
| ne began his queries.
"And you, hum, the-ah, prisoners; what
| have You 10 offer as, hum, aw, re5uttal OF
Miss, ha, Perkins statement" Here he
| opened his eye suddenly, and darted a
judicial glare at tho offenders.
''NothIn'!" growled Aaron. II done it,"
| 'sO-o-ohu'
And with delicious girlish scream a
| pretty, rosy, curly-headed girl rushed
across the courtroom, and flung her arms
around Aaron MIllerS meek; she had just
come in at the door.
ale nevern' she sobbed, addressing as
| founded Judge Stopcock with courageous
scorn. He never he's the best and kind
est and dearest man in the world"
Miss Sophronia prepared to faint.
.'You shut up, Fanv said Aaron, with a
peremptory voice and tender smile.
Go ahead, Jedgei l killed him. and 1
| buried him! now want the hull caboodle
of We to come along and dig him up, SOS 10
no more fuss about it. Joe, did you send
ar,er the teamr'
''Yea-ah" responded Joseph, with
wink, an undeniabe wink! at the deputy
sheriff, bullet-headed Irishman who had
regarded the whole proceeding up TO this
time with subdued chuckles, as an exQuis-
tie joke.
Now Mike roared aloud with laughter.
'.Silencew shrieked the outraged Judge,
growing redder than turkey-cock.
"WeIl, come along" went on Aaron;
there's Slach's omnibus out of the door,
and want the hull posse commonatus to
come out an dig him up, as l said afore;
there's spades enough out there"
I'VE can han'cuf me and Joe, if you
wanter."
This was singular and improper pro-
ceedng, and the judge snorted ans pufFed
a good deal about it; but in a rustic COM
munity the majority is apt to have its way,
and nobody there believed Sophronia's
accusation for an instant Curiosity and
rude justice swept the proprieties and
Judge Stopcock into the corner.
Mike volunteered to sit between the
prisoners with an arm locked i'll each of
theirs on either side, and Fanny Manning,
an orphan niece of the Millers, whom they
naU supporter anu euuCdJeU lOF
the last five years, sat next her uncles
Sophronia, too, went along; no prohi-
bitlon of law or gospel would have de-
TERED her now; the .fnGS of this tragic
business was at hand.
So Judge, and sheriff, and prisoners, and
witness, and as many of the crowd as could
find room in the omnibus" bowled away
that calm September day to Millers' Mills,
the women for once silent, the men talk
alive SO reversed for the time were their
normal usages.
mis- Granger to huml" asked the deputy
sheriff.
''No, she amt" replied Joseph; "she's
gone for good N all. We hadn't an idee
what sort of piece she was till last week,
though she's lived there nigh about three
year She done well by Us, an KEEP her
tracks covered up good; but murder will
out. Case in pint here, We see."
Nike Flaherty choGed down laugh.
so Aaron, he Civ her walkin' ticket |
last week, and writ for Fan to come home |
to her old uncles and run the house, seein' |
she was tit an prepared to leave school |
That's why she's here; aud Lyddy Ann, she |
quit day before yesterday"
In half an hour they drew up at the /
Mills, and Aaron, directing them where to |
find spades. led the awed and curious 1
crowd right into the center of cornfield, |
among the stacked harvest, and, pointing
TO a place where the sharp stubble aud USE |
less hills had been cleared away, said:
Dig there"
How rapidly those spades were piled! |
how eagerly the little crowd watched for
some startling discovery how they all re- 1
coiled; and OIL how Mike Flaherty yelled /
with laughter when the busy spades re-
81. l0l, Of