Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-07-30
ev wInnIAM T. NICHOLS.

"Sakes alive. what's keepin that
Hiram?"
There could be no mistalxing that
voice, which penetrated my Office,
though the speaker was out of sight. L.
was not a voice of smooth tones and
delicate infections, yet it was attrac-
tive IN homely, everyday sort of way,
therein resembling its owner. Now
and then it grew sharp, when circum-
stances were particularly trying, but
| 1T never suggested nagging. At this
particular moment there was in
/ it note of anxiety, which reused
me from pleasant after dinner half
doze to throw up a window and
send glance toward the gate, where
Mrs. Weston stood, shading her eyes
with her hand, the better TO peer down
the road.
What's the trouble?'' I sang out to
her.
THAT pesky Hiram oughter been
back hours ago." said she ''What can
he be a doin' of, anyhow"
Where did you send him?"
down to the beach with the team,
after load of gravel
Perhaps he's been begged It's
quite possible, if he didn't keep his eyes
open. Just where did you bid him go?"
Il toll him the best place was the
South Cove, but he might find some
good 'nough at pinch near Jofnson's.
Whichever place he went, he oughte1 be
back. want to see him partic lar this
afternoon"
$50 do l. If he turns up in the next
half-hour, please let me know of it,
"Yes, indeed, doctor, I'll be glad to-
she answered.; and after parting sur
yey of the neighborhood, she reentered
the house. 1t was the afternoon fol-
lowing the day on which Jones had
come to the aid of Miss Gray in such
timely fashion, but neither she nor l
had yet succeeded in getting an oppor-
tunity to thank him for his assistance.
Both of us were anxious to prove our
gratitude, and dorothy, as 1 knew, had
decided to give him token of it in the
shape of a trinket, a quantity carved
watch charm, which she had picked up
in one of her trips abroad All things
considered, it was rather a curious
choice she had made, although the
thing was sufficiently pretty to appeal
to the unframed instincts of the boor
she had every reason to suppose him to
be. So far as i was concerned. the
question was more puzzling, but I
had determined to offer him money.
Whether he would accept it was doubt
full, but, at any rate, the prefer might
be made, with the alternative idea of
picking out some present later on
which would meet his approval in case
he declined the cash.
The half-hour passed with no It'd
ings of the missing man. After an
other fruitless survey of the road, Mrs.
Weston, dolefully shaking her head,
vanished again, after once more in
forming me that his prolonged absence
was wholly inexplicable. Presently
one of her sons brought my horse and
carriage TO the door, and, somewhat
reluctantly, forsook the cool quiet of
the office to begin the drive to the house
of one of the patients whom / was
attending during Mr. Banks GONZALES
eence from his injury. Miss Gray was
reading in the shade of the porch of
the house over the way. and, in hopes of
persuading her to join me, crossed
the road and went up to her.
Really, L should be delighted, but
I've promised my aunt to see her safe
ly Off" said she, in response to my in
vitation. you know she is to take
tea in the village, and her hostess is to
sent for her / don't know vt just what
hour"
"Oh, then there's no hope for me-"
said |, grumpily. However, / shall
be back in an hour or two. I'm expect
ing DIR. Banks TO call for my report
of the case, and he may appear before
my return. If he does, will YOU kindly
ask him to wait for me? Then, too. if
Jones coudescends to drive up with
his load of gravel, and you happen TO
speak TO him, please he so good as to
tell him that l should like to see him."
IF you care to wait little" she an
swered, 1--WE may interview him to-
gether. The team is in sight now"
Looking along the track toward the
house of the knoll, saw Mrs. Weston's
horses jogging homewartl at a trot,
which indicated that the wagon they
drew could not lie loaded very heavily.
Where's the driyer?" Miss Gray
asked. do YOU see him?''
NO. l don't said /. 'Quiet as the
team is, it must have got away from
him"
One of the boys ran up to the APP
preaching horses and stopped them.
We could see him pick up the reins
from the ground, examine the wagon.
and clirub to the seat. BY the time
he drove up to US Mrs. Weston, Mrs.
Clark, and one or two others had joined
the group. and Mrs. Loring, who looked
down from the window of her room.
al rothyl Dorothy!" she called out,
''tell me, tell me, has anything hap
pened? anything terrible? Where.
oh, where is the man? Is he dead?
Is he killed? Oh. Dorothy, I'm sure he