Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1888-02-11

the unfeathered biEeds. Suddenly tina
telephone rang: cup and saucer, bread and
butter, fell from her hands. She made
haste to seize the horn.
Within her ear the inevitable .sHuuop'
resounded.
sThat you, Aaron ~
sTain't nobody else.n
Little he knew that Sophronia heard It
all
"Well, have you did it2''
Eyes. He's done for.,
where did you find hfma''
"Snoopin' around the mill, as poplar as
though he was inspector Of b'ilers.''
mains2,'
They're deep; enough where nobody
won't find 'em this hundred year"
HIM! that's good''
sophronia dropped the horn; she stirened
with horror; here was a fearful murder
right IN the neighborhood! But then she
nao always expected it, or something like
| 1T, OF those Miller's. While she stood con-
slderlng, Hiram drove into the yard in a
nelghbor's 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 deftly 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 captive
| free too soon
he had just finished the risky proceeding
when Sophronia appeared at the shed door
with her apron over her head
"H-i-ramp' she screamed. II want "
to wait minutel pve got to go in to Stan
ton. | must, right off. Won't Barber's
folks let We keep the team spell2"
7 guess so,'' was the gruf response.
He knew perfectly well that he had Dor
rowed the team to go 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 be detailed. In fact,
1 don't know what she didl But the very
next morning Aaron and Joseph Miller
were arrested on a 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; grim smile distorted
Aaron Miller's face, and Joseph muttered,
1.-THE old foolp' under his breath; but it
was only muttered, so Sophronia did not
resent it.
Judge Stopcock was the model of rural
magnate; fat, red in the face, pompous,
crowned with sleek, brown wig, and a
tall shiny hat, tilted slightly askew; he ad-
ministered justice much as Mrs. Squeers
administered birthstone and treacle, Sc
verely with a spoon. Throwing his head
back, clasping his hands over his stomach,
closing his eyes and pursuing up his mouth
he began his queries.
'And you, hum, the-ah, prisoners; what
have you to offer as, hum, aw, rebuttal of
Miss, ha, Perkins statement" Here he
opened his eye suddenly, and darted
judicial glare at the offenders.
sNothln' ~ GroWled Aaron. II done it,n
sO-o-oh!"
And with delicious girlish scream a
pretty, rosy, curly-headed girl rushed
across the courtroom, and flung her arms
around Aaron Mller's neck; she had just
come in at the door. .....- .--....0
HE never!" 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, Fan!'' said Aaron, with
peremptory voice and a tender smile.
500 ahead, ledge! killed shim,' and
buried himl now want the hull caboodle
of ye to come along and dig him up, SOS to
hang me right off slick; and not be a. maxim
no more fuss about it. Joe, did you send
arter the teaml"
y 'Yea-ahl" responded Joseph, with
wink, an undeniable wink! at the deputy
sheriff, a 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.
''SilenceE' shrieked the outraged Judge,
growing redder than turkey-cock.
s'Well, come along" went on Aaron:
''there's Slack's omnibus out of the door,
and want the hull posse commonatus to
come out an dig him up, as I said afore:
there's spades enough out there.n
I'VE can han'cuff me and Joe, If you
wanter." ~
This was singular and improper pro-
ceeding, and the judge snorted and pulled
a good deal about it; but in 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 in each OF
theirs on either side, and Fanny Manning,
an orphan niece of the Millers, whom they
had literally supported and educated for
the last five years, sat next her uncles.
bition of law or gospel. would have de.
tered her now; the finale Of this tragic
business was at hand.
So Judge, and sheriff, and prisoners, and
witness, aud 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.
ssMis' Granger to hunt" asked the deputy
sheriff.
s'No she ain't," replied Joseph; "she's
gone for good N all. We hadn't an idee
what sort of a piece she was till last week,
though she's lived there nigh about three
year. She done we'll by US, an KEEP her
tracks covered up good; but murder will
out. Case in pint here, ye see."
Mike Flaherty choked down laugh.
$50 Aaron, he Civ her walkin' ticket
last week, and writ for Fan to come home
to her old uncles and run the house, scent
she was fit an prepared to leave school.
That's why she's here; and Lyddy Ann, she
quit day before yesterday"
IL half an hour they drew up at the
Mills, and Aaron, directing them where to
find spades, led the awed and curious
crowd right into the center of cornfield,
among the stacked harvest, and, pointing
to place where the sharp stubble and use
less hills had been cleared away, said: