The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-04-25

until they had declared their religious
preferences by attending either one
or the other Of the two churches.
Not that they had any objection to
calling upon any who might ultim-
ately belong to or attend the other
church, but for much better, or what
seemed to them much better, reasons.
A week, therefore, must elapse be-
fore the villagers could learn much
more than they already knew OF the
Judsons.
The following Sabbath was cold
and wet, and again the Judsons re.
mained ut home. Later in the week,
however, came an opportunity that
Mrs. Jones seized with alacrity. The
weather grew warm and pleasant,
hammocks were swung, garden chairs
placed about the lawn, and the two
ladies of the Judson household took
possession of them. Behind thecedar
hedge that separated the premises Of
Mrs. Jones from those Of the myster-
icus family Mrs. J|took her sta
tion, and, crouching thee, herself
unseen, liJened to their converse
ton.
That night she whispered a strange
tale into the ears of her crony, and
invited her to join next day in this
surreptitious pursuit of knowledge.
"Of course there must be more
than one witness, you know" she
said, Gin case they should say any,
thing to criminate themselves"
"Ofcourse," assented Mrs. Casper,
land, though l don't like to do such
Q thing, l suppose it is my duty and
l will"
Early next morning, therefore, the
two secreted themselves behind the
hedge, and an hour later the two la-
dies, unconscious of their close prox-
unity, took possession of u chair
and hammock not three yards from
where the two women crouched.
Scraps of conversation from time
to time reached the ears of the list
eners, but for the greater part Of tho
time the ladies were silent, apparent
ly reading, as the occasionalrustleo of
paper testified.
1t was nearly noon before anything
worthy OF note occurred; then the
youngest of the two ladies made q
remark that caused Mrs. Jones to
clutch Mrs. Casper's arm with q grip
that was painful; but that heroic fe-
male, suppressing the scream that
rose to her lips, and determined to fol-
low duty whithersoeveritlnight lead,
turned upon Mrs. Jones u glance OF
grim delight, and bent nearer to the
hedge to catch the next words that
might fall from the speakers lips.
At length the ladies retired to the
house, leaving the two crampetl
watchers free to creep away unseen.
81 never would have beloved it,
never!" exclaimed Mrs. Casper, as
soon as she was sure she would not
be overheard. ooh, the horrid
wretch! That pretty little grill And
to think the hardened brute could
speak of it SO coolly!"
1t is worse thnn thought, sold
Mrs. Jones. II heard her say yes
terday that she had written to the
child's father, saying that she could
support her no longer; in fact, l
heard her read the letter, but she
hasn't given him time to answer vet.
But our duty is clear. We must de-
nounce them to the authorities.
They will be arrested and we shall
be important witnessed We will go
at once"
As the two passed the house where
the mysterious flmily had taken up
their abode they saw the two Indies
out in the yard Mt the back of the
house, evidently examining the turf
under a low, spreading tree.
"rhere! they're looking out a place
now!" whispered Mrs. Casper, .'that
must be the tree. Isaw her out there
Yesterday playing with her doll.
The poor little inmocent!"
"Wouldn't it be best for one of us
to stay and watch them? They
might run away remarked Mrs.
Casper, after IL moments y silence.
"No," replied Mrs. Jones. "They
don't know" of course, that the
crimo is discovered. That is what
they couldn't do in the city! How
lucky that We have found them out.
We might have oil been murdered in
our beds"
Late in the afternoon small sroup
Of pedestrians might have been seen
hurrying up the street toward the
dwelling occupied by the Judsors.
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Casper, each
wearing n mildly triumphant mir,
led the party. They were followed
by the sheriff and his deputy. AS
they reached the gate the burly form
of the sheriff pushed past Mrs. Jones.
II will go first. you please" he
remarked, authoritatively. They
passed through the gate and
approached the two ladies', who
we're again seated-onc in garden
chair, the other in II hammock under
the trees, where they had parsed the
morning hours. They nraS
gaMzed M 9ingly ct ,t|'al