Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-10-13
THE
Master of the Mine.
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.

BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
One afternoon, about three days after orr
former interview, / was standing at the
mouth OF the mine, thinking things. whom j
was started by the sudden appearance OF
my aunt. She looked pale, rather alarmed;
but ready 10 become very angry.
Hugh" she said, before ! had time to
open my lips, 'where be Awnie?'
Had i been able at that moment to pro-
duce my cousin, she would certainly have
been rated very soundly; whereas, l shook
my head and said, II don't know n the ris-
Ing anger entirely disappeared, and her face
grew paler.
"But you'm seen her to-dayg' she contin-
ued.
mo. When l left this morning you were
all a-bed."
At this my aunt fairly broke down. and
moaned between her sobs, 'Oh, Hugh she's
gone, gonef'
l was fairly stunned, and all ! could do
Just then was To comfort sly aunt, who was
weeping bitterly. When she was more com
posed, | asked for an explanation Of what
had taken place, and she gave II. The facts
were simple enough. After my uncle and l
hdu itit if tuc lnLIic, NY duilt toSt, tAp'tt
ing 10 find the kitchen fire alight as usual,
and Annie busy making things neat for the
day. To her astonishment, the kitchen was
empty, the ashes in the CRATE were gray, and
all was in disorder az it had been on the
night before. She called Annie, but got no
nswer she searched the cottage, but failed
to find her; then, concluding that she had
gone to the village on some errand, she set
about doing the work herself. Several hours
passed away; and, as there was still no sign
Of the missing girl, my aunt began to grow
extremely alarmed. She had searched
through and around the house with no effect.
She now went own TO the village and made
several inquiries but with nc result. Annie
had not been seen by any one that day.
Seriously alarmed by this time, she return
ed 10 the house, and looked again In Annie's
room. Suddenly her attention was attract
ed TO the bed, she locked : II and found
that, although II was In disorder, II had not
been slept In that night.
Having told her tale, my aunt looked at
me, hoping that | might be able to say her
fears for her child We're unfounded. Icould
not; the utmost l could do was to counsel ST.
lenee, and to try to buoy her up with hope.
This | did.
1T may be all right, aunt" / said; ''there-
fore IL will be much better 10 keep our fears
TO ourselves. Don't say anything 20 my uncle;
there will be time enough TO do that when
our last hope is gone"
After some little difficulty, she consented
10 follow my advice, and l persuaded her TO
return home. But the day was finished for
me. After my aunt was gone, l could do
nothing but think of Annie; the worst fears
struggled TO take possession OF me, but i dill
gently thrust them away. / would not be.
lieye i'll of my cousin.
About i've o'clock, my uncle came up from
the mine. and 1 proposed that we should
knock off work for the day, and stroll home
together. My uncle was in singularly good
spirits, and during our walk home he fire.
quently checked his mirth, avowing twas
unnatural, and that something i'll would
come OF il. As he drew near the cottage. my
heart beat painfully, and when we went in
l looked anxiously about me.
Ny aunt was moving about preparing tea,
and she was alone.
"Whar be the little woman asked my
uncle, as we sat down 70 our meal.
saw my aunt's face grow very pale, but
size turned her head away and answered as
carelessly as possible:
"She be- GAVIN out!'
'Beant she coming In to taer'
"Naw"
The answer was conclusive. and the meal
went on, my uncle eating heartily, while I
was scarcely able to sip my cup OF tea. When
the meal was over, my uncle, according to
his usual custom, went to his seat beside the
ire, and lit his pipe.
He had been smoking for an hour or more,
when a scene occurred which | cannot recall
without pain even now. All signs OF the
meal had been cleared away, and my aunt,
with trembling hand, was about to lift down
her work-basket from its shelf, when q knock
came to the kitchen door; then the door was
opened, and in came john Rudd.
He had a parcel for my aunt, which he de-
liyered; he chatted Tor q few minutes, then
he prepared TO go.
His hand was on the latch Of the door,
when he paused and looked back.
Say, mlssus," lie said, ''whar be Miss
Awnie GAVIN To-
Ny uncle looked up curiously; my aunts
cheeks grew as white as new-fallen snow.
'Whar be she GAVIN tor she repeated,
helplessly.
.lss! continued Rudd, II seen her this
maming / Falmouth, but she were In q
mighty hurry and didn't see me. She were
dawn on the jstty, and she went aboard the
steamer for Portsmouth"
Mr.. Rudd paused, thunderstruck at the
effect of his words.
My aunt thoroughly exhausted by the
strain that had been put upon her that day,
sank, sobbing and moaning. into a chair, my
uncle, who had risen from his seat stood
giarlng from one To another.
Presently he spoke.
"What be all this about my Awnie?" he
cried. Speak, some un."
My aunt continued to sob, John Rudd
stared in a mystified name at one and all.
There's nothing TO alarm anybody" l
said; 'its all right"
B.lmy uncle, who was growing terribly
excited, hardly seemed 10 hear me.
IF thar be aught wrong wi my little w0-
man." he cried, tell me; | amt a child to
be petted, nor a fool to be kept L the dark.
Speak. tell me what ii Is all aboutv''
So we told him all we ! ssw, and, putting
this and that together. he gathered at least
one idea-that his child had, for some rea-
son or other, voluntarily left her home. He
stood like a man stupefied, scarcely gather
ing the sense OF the situation, and dimly
wondering why his wife received the news
so violently. In his simplicity, he did not
guess, as yet. that Armies flight might have
its origin In secret guilt and shame.
But when John Rudd was gone. and we
were left to Ourselves, l looked at my uncle
and aunt, both SO changed within the last
few hours, and told them my suspicious OF
George Redruth. To my surprise they were
received wilh blank amazement then with
indignation. My uncle averred that l had
always disliked the young master, and it was
but natural l should credit him with a das-
tardly deed; but he himself refused to be-
lieve for one moment In the young mans
guilt. ] felt convinced OF II, however, in my
own mind; and In order TO make sure, l de-
termined 10 60 up to the masters house and
ascertain II he were from home.
The moment my uncle heard Of my deter
minatlon he resolved to accompany me. On
asking for the master, we were shown into