The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-16


| ingly, as though she were child.
and too uniformed TO greet him as a
woman would. He compromised the
matter by smiling; in return she
frowned.
Il am afraid | intrude," said the
young man, gently.
| We'll, said Che girl, ''if truth is to
be told. [ don't want you here. Why
don't you 90 on up to Mellish's? Your
| legs seem long enough to walk it.
You'd get a decent supper there. |
could tell you how to CO.
The idea that the girl was half witted
occurred to Noble.
'Oh. I'll go early tomorrow. Mildly"
he said jestingly.
For my part" answered MILDLY, Il
| wouldn't stay at all where | wasn't
wanted
The prettiest idiot that ever saw"
thought Noble.
He turned toward the fire and began
to stir the Goals with a long poker.
Meantime he kept his traveling-bag be-
tween his feet. Heavy steps were
heard going about overhead
The girl began to set the table. Soon
she said:
You'll have to move. I'm going to
cook
Then be left the fireside and walked
to the window, carrying his bag with
him. The girl looked over her shoulder
| at him.
you haven't a bit of pride" she
said, "or you'd get out of place where
your very victuals are begrudged you.
There's the door, and straight along the
footpath is the road. Go to the left and
keep on to Mellish's. May be they want
you there
Just then the feet of the elderly man
were heard upon the rough steps that
led from the garret, and he appeared,
smiling
I've fixed You upa bunk stranger"
said he. Guess you can put up with
it for one night
You are very kind" said Noble.
I'm afraid am giving you trouble
Not bit of it. replied Smith. Il
got you into this fix through the horse
dying-Tm bound to see you out of it.
Noble laughed.
The old man sat down near the table,
to which he summoned his guest when
the meal was ready; and shortly a
younger man came in, nodded, and took
his seat.
My son, stranger" said Smith as
he did SO. But all Mobiles efforts to
make talk were frlitless, and soon
after supper he decided to 60 to bed.
''All right. Early to bed is said to
be good for folks, - remarked the elder
man.
He lighted candle, and preceded
his guest up stairs. A hammock swung
between two beams; a couple of blankets
and pillow were arranged in it. The
broken window let in the damp night
air. Bunches of herbs and ropes of
onions dangled from the hooks in the
beams.
Sleep we'll, said the old man and
descended the stairs again.
Noble placed his portmanteau under
the pillow of the hammock and sat
down on an old box. He was vexed by
not having reached the mines that
night, for his mission was to bring a
sum Of money, which Mellish had bor-
rowed at easy interest to tide over a
season of trouble.
1t was in small bills, and the men
were to have been paid from it at sun
Sel. ilS oeIdS III III tdtoc SOlnSlHiHS
like a riot
1t was not his fault, but it was an
moving, all the same.
The best thing | can do is to sleep
and forget it." he said, and had pulled
of his cravat and collar, when whisper
fell upon his ear:
Come here, said voice-"come to
the Window and he saw, appearing
mysteriously at the broken pane the
girls brown face aud great, deer-like
eyes. Come softly" she said come
quickn'
He went to her. She had climbed up
on shed beneath the window, and
stood with her chin on a level with the
sill.
We'll, MILDLY" he said, fancying
this only another outcome of a lack OF
good sense, there you are, eh?n
Yes, I'm here" said the girl in a
whisper. Lift the sash and put your
head OUT
He obeyed
Il want you to come down and go
with me. 'I'll show YOU where the Nell
ishes live. Come / want you to-
I'm go in the morning, Mildly" said
Noble
Morning." said the girl, will be too
late. I'm not foolish; I'm talking sense
Your name is Noble. isn't it?"
Yes, said the young man.
You've got a lot of money in that
bag" said the girl.
What makes you think so?" asked
Noble.
I've heard them talking about you,"
said the girl-'uncle and Sam
''Oh, they're mistaken, MILDLY" said
Noble, carelessly.
Mr.. Noble said the girl, I'm risk
ing my life to tell you this. Uncle and
Sam are ali I've got, and many dis
honest thing I've heard. that makes me
sick to think of, I've held my tongue
about But this is the first murder
they've planned to do
"Murder.' gasped Noble.
They know all about YOU" sail
MILDLY. Last week they robbed the
mail; they've done that before; but this
time they got a letter from you. aud
know Just what you've got there
and she named the sum correctly.
Then uncle got your telegram, offer
ing to take it the Mellishes. So he knew
that you were coming-Mr. Mellish
l.
horse isn't dead: that was all a trick;
Sam took him home. 1t was just to
get you here. After awhile uncle viii
come up to give you some hot drink
it's full of laudanam don't take it
pretend to. When You are sound
asleep Sam and uncle mean to kill you,
and bury you. and keep the money.
There, | swear it."
Great heaven. is it possible?'
gasped Noble.
'.Oh, my God. it is.'' sighed MILDLY.
Pretend to drink the stuff; then, when
he is gone. climb out of the window:
I'll wait for you below. VIII your
Yes" said Noble
He stared ut her. half believing her,
half fancying her mad, and, with a
motion of her hand, she disappeared
from the window.
A moment more and Smith came up