The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-06

Luckily met, Jack" she said, when wa
cleansed and freshly glowing. ''Now fl
another bucket and sarve me the same"
Cannot you wash yourself!" 1 asked, as
did so.
Lost the knacl, reckon. Stand thee so
an slush the water over me.
''But your clothesl" L cried out; ''they1l bt
soaking wet"
'"Clothes won't be worse for a wash, neither
So slush away"
Therefore, standing at three PAGES dis
lance, sent a buczetful over her, and then
another and another. Six times I filed and
enptied the bucket in all; and at the end she
was satisfied, and went, dripping, back to the
kitchen to get me my breakfast.
'Art early abroad, she said, as we sat to-
getner over the meal.
Yes, for I must ride to Gleys this morn
ing"
''Sha'n't be sorry to miss thee for a while.
Makes me feel so shy-this cleanliness"
So, promising to be back by niShtfall
went presently to saddle Molly; and, follow
ing Joan's directions and her warnings
against quags and pitfalls, was soon riding
south across the moor, and well on MY road
TO the House of Gleys.
by way leading me by Braddock Down, l
turned aside for a while 10 examine the
ground Of the late fight Though by now little
was to be seen but u piece Of eaTthwork left
unfinished by the rebels and the fresh mounds
where the dead were laid; and 50 twas high
noon-and dull cherries day-before the
hills broke and let me have a sight Of the sea.
Nor, till the noise of the surf was in my ears,
did I mark the chimneys and naked gray
walls Of the house | was bound for.
Twas gloomy, savage pile of granite,
perched at the extremity Of a narrow neck Of
land, where every wind might sweep it, and
the waves beat Oh three sides the cliff below
The tide was now at the full almost, and the
spray flying in my face, as we crossed the
head of a small beach, forded a stream and
scrambled UP the rough road to The entrance
gaze.
a thin line Of smoke blown level from one
chimney was all the sign of life in the build
ing; for the narrow lights Of the upper story
were mostly suffered, and the lower floor
was hid from me by high wall inclosing a
eourtlage in front One sJuated ash, with
boughs tortured and bent towards the main
land, stood by the gate, which was locked. A
smaller door, also locked, was let into the
ing. Hard by dangled a rusty bell pull, at
which | tugged sturdily.
On this. a cracked bell sounded, far in the
house, and scared flock of starlings out of a
disused chimney. Their cries died away
presently and left no sound but that of the
gulls waiIing about the cliff at my feet. This
was all the answer won.
I rang again, and third time; and now at
last came the sound Of footsteps shutting
across the court within. The shutter of the
grating was slipped back and a voice, cracked
ss the bell, asked my business.
''Too see Master Hannibal Tngcomb," an
swered l.
''Thy namel"
''He shall hear it in time. Say that I come
on business concerning the estate
The voice muttered something, and the
footsteps went back had been kicking my
heels there for twenty minutes or more when
they returned, and the voice repeated the
question:
"Thy nance"
Being by this time angered, did foolish
thing; which was to clap the muzzle Of my
pistol against the grating, close to the fell
lows nose. Singular to say, the trick served
me. A bolt was slipped hastily back and the
wicket door opened stealtmly.
Il want" said /, room for my horse to
pass"
ThereUpon more grumbling followed, and
n prodigious creaking of bolts and chains
after which the big gate swung stifiy back.
''Sure, you must be worth deal, - l said,
''that shut yourselves in so careful"
Before me stood a strange fellow-extraor-
II I g.,
eve only. and a chin that almost touched his
nose. He wore a dirty suit of livery, that
once had been canary yellow; and shook with
the palsy.
Master TingcOmh VIII see the young man"
he squeaked nodding his head; but is a-read-
ing Just now in his Bible
A pretty habit answered I, leading in
Molly-''f unreasonable. But why not have
said so2'
He seemed to consider this for awhile, and
then said, abruptly:
Have some pa>tv and some good cider?'
"Why yes, u said, "with all my heart,
when / have stabbed the sorrel here
He led the way across the court, well paved
but choked with weeds towards the stable.
| found it a spacious building. and counted
sixteen stalls there: but all we're empty save
two, where stood the horses had seen in Bod
min the day before. Having stabbed Molly,
] left the place (which was thick with cob
webs and followed the Old servant in the
house
He took me into a great stone kitchen. and
brought out the pasry and cider, but poured
out half glass only.
Have care, young man; It's a luscious,
.hick, seductive drink. aud he chuckled.
"'Twould turn the edge OF knife said 7,
tasting it and looking at him; but his one
bleared eye was inscrutable. The pasty also
was molly, aud / soon laid il down.
Hast proud stomach that cometh of far
ing sumpTousIy Y; the beef therein Is our own
killing" said he, Young sir. art man of
blood, ] greatly fear, by thy long sword aud
handiness with the firearms"
''Shall be presently answered I, IF YOU
lead me not to Master TinEcomb."
He scrambled uo brisklv and tottered ont
Of the kitchen into a stone corridor. Latter
him Along this he hurried, mutrering all
The way, ard halted before a door at the end.
Without knocking he pushed 1T open, and.
motioniug me TO enter, hastened back as he
had come.
"Come in, said voice that seemed famil-
lar TO me.
Though, rs YOU know. twas still high day,
in the room where now / found myself was
every appearance Of night; the shutters be
ing closed and SIX lighted candles standing on
the table. Behind them sat the venerable
gentleman whom ] had seen III the coach.
now wearing plain suit of black and read
ing IN great book that lay open ON the Ia
BILE. guessed 10 % be the Bible; but noted
that the candles had shades about them, so
disposed as TO throw the light, NOT on the
page, but on the doorway where / stood.
Ye. the old gentleman, having bid me en-
ter, vent on reading Tor "a while as though
wholly unaware Of me; which l found some
what netting, 50 began:
Il speak, ! believe, 20 Master Hannibal