The Red Cloud chief., 1889-06-07

spoke about it to their acquaintancea, and
the affair made . great stir. People gen.
orally arc fond Of mysteries; bot on condi
ton only that they shall be told finally ~
about them they consent TO suspend their
curiosity during the first act OF the drama,
for they know they will get satisfaction in the
nth act. They must know the last word Of
b mystery. Consequently they began t.
mako inquiries in order to find out what
might have becomeof Mrs. Brownlow; they
were lost in conjecture upon what might
have happened on the day Of her disappear.
ance, between seven O'Clock in tho evening
and three O'Clock In the morning; they
studied the face Of their master when he
went out OF when he returned, and they
found out that he seemed strangely care.
worn. There were crowds Of people before
the house; they discussed the possible
circumstances of the secret drama. Some
jokers invented swhole story which they
told 20 the passers-by, and the policemen OF
that beat had to interfere to make the
crowds move on.
TIE serious people Of the quarter, fathers
OF families and store-keepers, disapproved
Of these gatherings, but thought that
justice ought to take the affair in hand
they limited that it is not to be permitted in
. civilized country that one cause q woman
TO disappear without rendering An account
Of her disappearance. erich people" said
they, shave connections with the police
and they are asked NO questions in q case
where q poor man would be arrested i'm
mediately." On the other hand, people won
dered why the family Of the young woman
had not yet put in IN appearance. One may
not be on good terms with ones children,
but this is not q reason to suffer them to be
murdered without saying a word about it.
| Perhaps the lady's parents did not know
yet what had happened; there ought to be
somebody charitable enough to inform them
Of the occurrence.
And then new crowds gathered on the
sidewalk near the house, with inquisitive
and threatening attitudes. They did not
pay any longer attention to the %injunctions
Of the police, and order in the street be-
came disturbed, SO that one day the chief
OF police presented himself at the house Of
the BrownlOwS "Sir," sWd this clever
functionary, for SON time past there has
been Q serious tumult, the cause Of which IS
not very clear to me. / sent some police
men to disperse the crowd: but new gath
erings are found in proportion as the old
ones are scattered, and / had to inquire into
the motives that brought them together. I
have heard some singular rumors to which
I can not attach the least credit; but l
should like to be in . position 10 answer
them i~nteiligently in your own interest As
well as that Of public order, and I have
come here to ask Of you some explanation,
which will enable me to act in the matter
with propriety."
The chief Of police had had some trouble
to reach the end of this little speech; he ex-
pected to be interrupted at the first words
and his little effort had not been studied
beforehand. But he found himself In the
presence Of acool man, who listened to him
without opening his mouth, and who looked
straight in his eyes. When he had finished
Mr.. Brownlow answered him:
at is . fact. sir, that I have remarked,
too, for some time the crowds Of people
standing before my house. I am ignorant
of the reason thereof; 80 far they have not
done any damage to me and / do not COM
plain. If it binders the travel in the public
street. il there should result any disturb
ance of the quiet and good order of the
neighbOrhood, it is your business to take
the necessary measure to put . stop to such
a state of affairs. For my part, I should be
glad not to have to mix in these crowds
every time I go out or when I come in"
After these words he threw himself back
in his chair like . man who had finished
speaking and had said all be had to say.
"Permit me to remark to you, sir" said
the chief Of police, very politely, "thst the
present situation can not be prolonged.
The gatherings of which you are the cause
are not of . dangerous character; it is .
restrained and local movement; but if
prompt measures are not taken IT will
spread to the n~elghboring localities, and OF
the day when it Is generally known that
there is agitation around your house you
will have the whole city under your win
dows."
II should be sorry, Iassure you, Mr.. Chief
Of Police, if this should give any annoyance
to the city authorities; but it does not con-
Germ me. II there is any disorder in the
street you have at your disposal the means
for its repression. Take your platOons Of
police; if that is not sufficient, send for the
soldiers Ct the National Guard, and il the
will nave it in you power to call out the
artillery. But I do not understand why you
should address yourself to me in this cir
cumstance. What Am I to do?"
"As you ask me, sir, : will tell you plain
". The reason Of these crowds whose Jun
usual presence you have remarked yourself.
in q street habitually 30 quiet, is the disap-
p~earance Of your wife. lido not know what
may have given birth to the rumors which
ws,asEshA. TSHkSy
rs