Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05

my mistress.
why, what on earth are you talk
ing about, Mr. Pettifer?' 1 said, in the
most natural way in the world. IF |
didn't know you for an abstemious
man 1 should say that mine host S
strong ale at the Hare and Billet had
been too potent or your head"
81 am sober enough, Miss Mary, and
l speak but me facts. There's ESQ re-
ward on Pierre Armand's head for
breaking pris- and killing"
"Oh, that old story I said. break
ing in. Il thought You knew that il
was another Pierre Armand. Ar
mand,' you see, is as common in
France as Smith IS here, and, being
Catholics, you can understand how
every man child there is baptized
Pierre" which is French for Peter,
Mr.. Pettifer.
/ But the description of the man is
the very image of NJ de-
Heart alive! Mr.. Pettifer, it's clear
you have never been in France or you
would know that all Frenchmen are as
, alike as peas in pod"
We'll, that may be; still I have my
doubts, and ESQ is big sum, Miss
Mary, and l should like to help you
earn it; so if ever you should have a
! chance"
I'll remember what you say, Mr..
Pettifer," l interrupted him. BE
sure, I'll remember what you say"
And with a cordial shake of the hand
l left him.
When l got in l sent at once a short
note to Mr.. Eaves: Watch him! He
is dangerous" That was all.
1t was an hour and a half before the
messenger returned with the reply,
scrawled in large, sprawling hand
Il am a-watcb;ng IN, Your obed-
iunt, J. E."
That was wonderful comfort to me.
Yet 1 cried bitterly that l had been so
/ deceived in Mr.. Pettifer, and at the
same time I felt that nothing would
relieve me SO much as thorough
quarrel with my other lover. Such is
what complimentary poet has called
. the sweet unreaSCna bleness of
woman"
Now, it was my custom to go TO the
other end of the village every Tues
day afternoon with my aunt, who had
taken charge Of my little brothers and
sisters since my parents had died. L
was determined to make no exceptions
on this particular TUESDAY, and | was
not to return till my usual time-about
half-past T. And I did not start be-
/ fore my susal hour for leaving, al
! though my aunt had impaired to me
the alaring news that a company of
! troopers was stationed at Thurford-le-
Hope, about mile and a half away
! On my way back through the church
yard I had another fright, for | saw a
figure crouching behind tombstone,
and at once jumped to the conclusion
that it must be some enemy to our
peace. I crept softly behind him, and
saw it was Mr.. Eaves. Before | could
speak he had one hand on my mouth
and with the other he pulled me down
beside him.
Don't make a sound" he whispered
hoarsely. Look
I followed the direction of his finger
upward and presently from over the
square tower Of the belfry l saw a thin
tube projecting. In an instant | knew
that it was a telescope, and it was
pointed toward the Hall.
'He can see into the garden and
into the stables, and he'll know as
much as ues directly" exclaimed my
companion.
what can we do?" I asked under
my breath, with trembling anxiety.
Don't We be afeacd. I'll do un!'
We waited there few minutes in
the gathering twilight, and then the
telescope was withdrawn. The next
moment Mr.. Eaves was walking
quickly over the grass hand in hand
with me-tnis somehow seemed neces-
sary just then for prCtection-to the
church porch We passed in, hid in
the shadow of the stairway to the bel
fry and listened TO the footsteps de-
scending the stairs. AS the last stair
was reached | heard the grating of
key in this staircase door, and the next
moment | saw one of Mr.. Eavess big
brown hands on the key and the other
on the collar of Mr.. Pettifer.
''Oh, good evening, Miss Mary and
Mr.. Eaves! Pleasant evening, isn't it?
I have just been up to look at the
view"
THAT won't do said Mr.. Eaves,
tightening his grip. Parsons orders
were that nobody was to be allowed in
the belfry without his orders, because
so many y.Irngs belonging to the ring
ers have been stolen. Now, ye hain't
no orders from parson, because par
sons away and l seed you take that
/ there key off the hook in Daddy
Macksford's cottage while the lod man
was asleep So, as I'm parsons ward
! en-, you come along O me-"
/ Stop cried the other, resisting
violently "In the kings name, stop!
! There's a murderer up at the hall-a
man with price on his head, and he's
I escaping-he's escaping, and will get
away, and the reward will be lost! In
the kings name, let me GOT
THAT cock ont fight, baw! A likely
tale indeed, Miss Mary, be so good as
/ to shut this door after me, and don't
open it till ask you"
! With that he picked up the kicking
and shrieking little attorneys clerk
and walked up the stairs with him.
I shut the door obediently, and waited
for the event. I mad but three min