People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-05-11
CHAPTER XIV.

Twilight was lengthenlng into
dusk when | came in sight of Snug
gler's Hole, and the motionless figure
of Stephen sitting across the
threshold.
Silent he sat but the cliff was alive
with moving figures, and half a
dozen old CATERS and gammers had
crowded their heads against the mar
row easement and were peeping in.
At my approach they skunk away,
but not far, and | heard broken eiac-
ulations of pity and horror escape
them, as if moved by some deplorable
spectacle upon which they had just
gazed. | did not stop to question
Stephen, but passed in, and saw that
frightful change had come over the
Syrian during my absence. His face
was absolutely livid, and out of that
CHASTITY pallor burned two eyes that
expressed craving and agony such
as pray God l may never see in a
human face again.
He had torn open mis- embroidered
vest as il to gain air, and every few
minutes he was shaken by a con-
vulsive shudder that he strove to
check with the locked arms that he
pressed downwards across his body.
Beside him stood the cup and plat
ter. absolutely untouched.
! turned away and drew down the
blind, shutting out the furtive faces,
white against the dusk, who were
peering in, and then babe Stephen
close the door also, and come in,
also, which he did, and having kin.
died a fire and lights, | questioned
him as to what had gone forward in
my absence.
81 doant knaw what 'un wants, y
said Stephen, in the faint, weary
voice OF one who had not touched
food that day, mot meat an drink
TO- sure, him's got plenty, an
brofed 'un whisky but 'un wouldn't
hat, but It's semmut 'un wants ter
bic bad, an 'un keeps on clamourin'
i that turin lingo t. get I'm"
Has DR. Cripps been here?" ! said.
'lss, an 'un on'y grinned. and
sed yOn chap 'ud be wuss afore 'un
war better, an 'un war comm back
t bide tn night wi ZEE, an 'speeted
Judith an me nd hear summit t
'sprise us afore we was much older. u
Good" / said, intensely relieved
to hear of DR.. Grips intention. and
then | drew my chair to the fire, and
bade Steve take the other. keeping
my eyes turned away from that bor-
rible figure in the background.
Gradually the warmth and rest
overpowered my limbs and | slept.
In my dreams | found myself in an
Indian jungle, with the savage roar
OF some wild beast at a distance
drawing each moment nearer to me.
and | woke at last TO find that the
sound was real, and on glancing at
the clock saw that had slept three
hours.
l sat up, and looked at the Syrian
from whom the last vestige of self
restraint had fallen, and could no
longer control the cries that he had
hitherto By sheer physical force sue
ceeded in strangling.
Him ha' bin clamorin' t me to
wake zee, " said Stephen. whose
features bore more than their usual
impress of pain, "leastways, so
guessed 'un to name. Look ZEE. I'm
thlnkin' him'll be dead by mornin'r'
my box, give me my box
shrieked the Syrian, straining at
his chords as if he would burst them.
Give it to me You can sleep. devil,
while | die here, and you are com.
hitting a murder as she did when
she kept Seth Treloar for twenty
four hours without he stepped
abruptly, and crafty look over
spread his livid face.
But he had said enough. | saw
that he could have bitten his tongue
Oil. 70, the slip.
81 talk madly," he: exclaimed,
mQlxirNU a sunran,a affor4 4bot 7 ao,,l