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

Has any one questioned my com
rade, your worship?" inquired the po-
liccman, 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. / have
stood with my back leaning against
the door and the key in my pocket all
the time said the officer, in astonish-
ment.
This is most inexplicable. Did nei.
Their of you hear any noise during the
night!" 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 q lame of fire. c y
claimed the doctor, in angry dismay.
II beg your worship's pardon" said
the principal policeman, coming mp
and touching his forehead TO the mag
istrate.
We'll. Sims, what Is it,"
Il think, sir, as the prisoner could
not have escaped through either of the
doors guarded by me or my cOmrade,
that she must have got out in some
other manner, but that the young wO-
man who stayed with her all night
must know all about it; and, with sub
missich to your worship. l think she
ought TO be made to tell"
oh! ought |? I'd like to see who'll
make me tell anything / don't want
to tell!' exclaimed Miss Tabs. thrown
as completely off her guard as any
passionate person may be if N can
only succeed in making them angry.
Il agree with you" said the doctor.
10 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: l amt no
manner of objection TO your insisting
rs much as eve YOU please" replied
Tabitha, folding her arms, setting her
teeth, and %grinning defiance at the doc
tor.
How did the prisoner escape from
the 2oom?" demanded the latter.
Il don't know replied Tabitha.
You do know, and I'll make you
tell" yociferated the doctor.
Very well, then; make me-"
sneered Miss Tabs.
How did the prisoner escape, l ask
you?"
And / tell you / don't know
Young woman / am sure that you
.in know and you shall be forced to
tell"
Listen TO me, then; | will tell you
what do know, and | won't tell you
anything mre."
THAT is all we wish to hear. Go
on"
well, then, l fell asleep IN that
chair, and when | woke UP my missus
was gone. That's what / know. And
1t stands to reason as that p~erlice. as
kept the passage door, must have come
in while / was asleep and stole her
off,
Young woman, are you telling the
truth
"Ycs. sir: pom my word and honor"
"rhe whole TRUTH
''Lawk, sir, | don't know the whole
truth no more nor Pontius Plate
'Girl. you know more than you
choose to tell; brt | will find a way to
make you open your mouth" said the
doctor sternly.
and l won't open my mouth any
wider for nobody on earth, nor for
nothing tina can be done TO me- I'll
be burked, and made n subject of. and
'natomized in a dissectin room afore
I'll open my mouth any wider for any
body on earth, So there now
Young woman. it il my duty to in
form you that if you know anything
of the escape of the prisoner you can
10 made TO divulge it, said the mag
istratp.
Il dent know nothing at all about
il. and ! won't divulgc anything about
it, said Miss Table, rather inconsist-
emily. Il won't! To save anybody
life, And I'd like to see who'll make
Inc speak when | don't want 10 speak.
Id like to see the church and the state
try to do IL; or the army and navy try
Ia do It,, Oh the house OF commons and
the house of lords try: or the Ftch-
bishop of Canterbury and the lord
chancellor try; or all Of them together
try to make me speak when | don't
want to speak,"
cor hold your tongue when you don't
want to hold IL. you impudent Great
urc!"' exclaimed the doctor in a rage
We'll. I s'pose people can be i'm
percent If they choose To take the con.
sequences, can't they? And here am I
ready To take the consequences. /
s'posc you'n do something dreadful
10 nae, Well, do IL; here | am. ready
TO he made a victim of. or a martyr Of.
~ .: ':.a.aasy CT. But I wont s.iaaE.
l won't speak! ] won't. to please any
body"
"iou are speaking all the time. you
wretch, You are deafenng us with
your speech, IL you would only speak
To the purpose" said the doctor.
Your words. young woman, bcfray
that you 10 know more Of this mat.
ter than you are willing 20 dlyulge,''
said the magistrate graSeiy.
Il have told you what | do know.
sir; that when | closed my eyes my
mistress was still In tho room. and
when ] woke up she was gone.