Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-01-30

Don including the faSteningS of the
window shutters, which were all found
ecure
Has any IN questioned my COM
rade, your worship" inquired the po-
liceman, respectfully.
Sure enough, no one has done so,"
said the doctor, going and knocking at
the door of the little dressing room.
The officer on guard there unlocked
the door and stood face to face with
the doctor.
Your prisoner has escaped. How
came you to be so careless as to let her
pass?' demanded the doctor.
Pass! On my honor, sir. no one has
passed me the whole night. l have
stood with my back leaning against
the door and the key in my pocket all
the time" said the officer, i'm astonish-
ment.
This is most inexplicable. Did nei-
Their OF you hear any noise during the
nightT inquired the magistrate.
J None whatever, your worship" said
the first officer.
Everything was as silent as death,
SIR" added the second.
This is most Incredible! The girl
seems to have been a sorceress as well
as p%oisoner, and to have vanished up
the chimney in a flame of fire. eX-
claimed the doctor, in angry dismay.
Il beg your worship's pardon said
the principal policeman. coming up
and touching his forehead to the mag
istrate.
We'll, Sims, what is itY"
II think, sir, as the prisoner could
not have escaped through either of the
doors guarded by me or my comrade,
that h must have got out in some
other manner. but hat the young wo-
man who stayed with her all night
must know all about 1t; and, with sub
mission to your worship, l think she
ought to be made to tell"
"Oh! ought II I'd like to see who'll
7 make ME tell anything | don't want
TO tell!' exclaimed Miss Tabs, thrown
as completely off her guard as any
passionate person may be IL n can
only succeed in making them angry.
Il agree with you," said the doctor,
To The policeman. Then, turning TO
Tabitha. he said: Young woman you
have betrayed yourself. You evident
ly know something of this mysterious
escape of the prisoner. And we must
insist upon your divulging all that
you know"
Very well, Insist away; | amt M
manner Of objection to your insisting
as much as ever you please" replied
Tabitha, folding her arms. setting her
teeth, and grinning defiance at the doc
tor.
"fiow did the prisoner escape from
the room?" demanded the latter.
Il don't know" replied Tabitha.
You do know, and I'll make you
tell!' vociferated the doctor.
Very well. then; make me-"
sneered Miss Tabs.
How did the prisoner escape, 1 ask
you?"
And | tell you l don't know"
Young woman. / am sure that you
do know and you shall be forced to
tell
Listen to me, then; | will tell you
what | do know, and i won't tell you
anything mre."
THAT is all we wish to hear. Go
on"
chair. and when | woke up my miSsus
was gone That's what | know. And
ii stands to reason as that perlicc, as
kept the passage door. must have come
in while l was asleep and stole her
Off"
Young woman, are you telling the
TRUTH
Yes. sir; pom my word and honor"
''fhe whole TRUTH"
"Iawk. sir, | don't know the whole
truth no more nor Pontius Plate"
Girl. you know more than you
choose to tell; but | will find a way TO
make you open your mouth" said the
doctor stcrnly.
"And | won't open my mouth any
wider for nobody on earth, nor for
nothing that can ba done to me. I'll
he burked, and made a subject Of. and
'natomiZed In a diSsectin room afore
Iol open my mouth any wider for any
body on earth! SO there now!"
Young woman il is my duty to in
form YOU that If you know anything
of the escape of the prisoner you can
he made 10 divulge it," said the mag
istratc.
Il don't know nothing at all about
il. and | won't divulgc anything about
it, said Miss Tabc, rather incOnsist-
emily. II won't! to save anybody'is
life, And I'd like to see who'll make
me speak when l don't want to speak.
I'd like to see the church and the state
try to do ii: or the army and navy try
to do IL; or the house OF and
the house of lords try; or the Ftcll-
bishop of Canterbury and the lord
chancellor try; or all of them together
try To- make me speak when l don't
want to speak,
'Or hold your tongue when you don't
want to hold 1t, you impudent Great
ure." exclaimed the doctor in a rage.
well. | s'pose people car be inn
percent il they choose to take the con.
sequences, can't they? And here am |
ready to take the consequences. |
s'poSe you'll do something dreadful
TO me. Well, do it; here | am, ready
to be made a victim Of, or a martyr of.
or ii 'natomy OF. But l won't speak.
L won't speak. ] ~cn't!. 10 please any
body"
"You are speaking all the time, you
wretch. You are d%eafening us with
your speech, IL you would only speak
10 the purpose said the doctor.
Your words. young woman, betray
that You do know more of this mat
ter than you are willing TO diyulge,''
said the magistrate grayely.
II have told you what | do know.
sir; that when ! closed my eyes my
mistress was still In the room. and
when j woke up she was gone"