The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-03
CHAPTER XVI
SEARCHING FOR A CLEw.

SEARCHING FOR CLEW.
The landlord of the Carne's Arms was
somewhat puzzled by a stranger who had
lust been dropped at his door by the coach
from Plymouth. He did not look like either
a fisherman or an artist, or even wander
ing tourist His clothes were somewhat
rough, and the landlord would have taken
him for farmer, but what could any
strange farmer be stopping at Carnesford
fora There were no farms vacant in the
ueighbor hood, nor any likely to be, 50 far as
the landlord knew besides. the few words he
rad spoken as he entered had no touch of the
leyoushire dialect While he was standing
At the door, turning the matter over in his
mind-for he rather prided himself upon his
ability to decide upon the calling and object
of his guests, and was annoyed by his failure
70 do so in the present instance-the man he
was thinking of came out of the coffee room
and placed himself beside him.
well landlord, this is a pretty village of
YOURS; they told me in Plymouth it was as
pretty place as any about, and see they
were right"
ayes. most folks think it's pretty" the
landlord said, although l am SO accus-
toned to it myself don't see great deal in
Eyes. custom is everything. Ihave been
accustomed for a great many years to see
nothing much but plains with clumps of
bush here and there, and occasionally a herd
of deer walking across it. | have been
farming down at the Cape, and so, you see, a
quiet. pretty place Ike this Is very pleasant
to me-"
81 should think it is quiet enough farming
there" the lannlord said. | have heard
from folks who have been out in some Of
those parts that you often haven't a neigh
Dor nearer than four miles away"
That's true enough, landlord. but the life
is not always quiet for all that. It's not
quiet, for instance, when you hear the yell
of hundred or so savages outside your
windows, or see party driving halt your
cattle away into the BUSH"
mo, I shouldn't call that quiet; and that
is what you have been doing"
'Yes, was in the disturbed part when the
Kaffirs rose. Most of our neighbors were
killed, and we had hard time of it, but
some mounted police came up just at the
time. | have had trouble three or four times
before, and it's no use going on for years
raising cattle if they are to be swept away
by the natives, and you are running the risk
of getting your throat cut in the bargain; SO,
after this last affair, locked up my farm
house, drove off what cattle had got left,
and here am"
Eyes, hero you are" repeated the land
land: land hat nextp
"The ship touched at Plymouth, aud /
thought might as well get out there as
anywhere else. Well. there is too much
noise and hustle at Plymouth. I haven't
been used to it, and SO now l am just looking
for a little place to suit me. have been up
to Tavistock, and then some one said Carnes-
ford was pretty village. | said | would
look at Carnesford, and so you see here l
am.
"What sort of place are you looking
forF' the landlord asked. looking at his visi
tor closely, and mentally appraising his
worth.
30, quite little place, should say about
EGO year. I suppose one could get girl to
help from the village, and could live for
another ESQ. That's about what / could
afford"
20, yes, should say you could do that"
said the landlord, thoughtfully. "but don't
know that there is any such place to let any
where about here. There is nice cottage at
the other end of the village just empty.
It's got a good garden, aud is rather away
from the rest of the house; but the rent is
only half-a-crown a week. That wouldn't
do for you"
"Weil, l wanted something better than
that; but still might have look at it. OF
course if took it should want to stay, and
1 might as we'll spend little money in doing
it up to my fancy as pay the extra rent.
By-the-way my name is Armstrong. Per-
haps you wouldn't mind putting on your hat
and showing me this place you speak of.
We have been used to roughing it, and don't
want anything fine."
The cottage was certainly large and
roomy, and stood in pretty garden. But
its appearance was not prepossessing, for it
g. - fhat. 10 hon
in the village inasmuch as it was not, like
them, half hidden by roses and creepers
climbing over it.
E"Yes, it's rough, decidedly rough" Mr..
Armstrong said, 'still there is pretty view
down the valley. Now should save nearly
ETA pounds in rent by taking this instead OF
EGO year house; and il one were to put up
veranda round it, touch up the windows
somehow, and but pretty paper on the walls.
should say that at the end of two years it
would stand me in just the same. That
and plenty of roses and things would make
1t pretty little place. Who is the land
lords'
''The landlord is Mr.. Carne, up at the
Hold. That's the big house on the hill. But
he IS away, at present. Mr.. Kirkland, a
lawyer at Plymouth, is his agent, aud sees to
the letting of his houses and that sort of
thing. His clerk comes over once month
to collects the rents. / expect you would
have to go to him even if Mr.. Carne was at
home. Squire was never much down in the
village in the best of times, and we have
hardly seen his face since his sisters death. "
Eyes, they were telling US about that
affair at Plymouth" the colonist said,
quietly. 'It was bad business. Well,
have you got some pretty sociable sort Of
fellows in the villages l like chat as well
as any man. and should want some oneto
talk to-"
well, don't know that they would be
your Sort" the landlord said, doubtfully.
There's the clergyman-and the Doctor"
30, no. don't want to have to do with
clergymen and doctors-we coionlsts are
pretty rough and ready fellows, and it's no
odds to us what man is. A man stops at
your door. and in he comes, and he is well
come-though he is only shepherd on the
lookout for work; sometimes one of the
kaffir chiefs with nothing on but a blanket
and a leather. apron, will stalk IN and squat
down and make himself at home. 0, no.
It's tradesmen, l mean, and perhaps tie
small farmers round"
"Well, we are pretty well off for that,
MIR. Armstrong There is Hiram Powlett,
the miller. aud Jacob Carey, the blacksmith
they drop in pretty regular every evening
and smoke pipe with me, in what call my
snuggery and there's old Reuben Clathurst
he was the clerk at one time, and is
wonderful chap for knowing the history OF