The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-20

N r. !.
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81 XIII.
Il 'sakes alive! what's keepin' that
sHiram?'
There could be no mistaking that
voice, which penetrated my Office,
though the speaker was out of sight. T.
was not 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
Al, never suggested nagging. At this
particular moment there WIS in
it note Of anxiety, which reused
me from pleasant after-dinncr half
hoze to throw up window and
send glance toward the gate, where
Mrs. Weston stood, shading her eyes
with her hand, the better TO peer down
the road. "a
rs rs. .s ss'' hats the trouble?" sang out to
her. ,.. .sg
,''1 at pesky Hiram oughter been
bacl hours ago." said she. What can
4 he I q dom Of, anyhow"
'sWhere did you send him?'
u: seDown to the beach with the team.
after load Of gravel"
IS .Perhaps he's been begged. It's
gu tie possible, if he didn't keep his eyes
OPP, a. Just where did you bid hir, go?'
':.stold him the best place was the
South Cove, but he might find some
good -'nough at pinch near Jolnson's.
Whichever place he went, lie oughter be-
back. y want to see him partic lar this
afternoon"
$50 do I. If he turns up in the next
half-houH, please let me know Of it,"
Z eyes, 1ndeed, doctor. ri be glad to-
she answ ired; and after parting SUR
vey Of theAneigAborhood, she reentered
the house It was the afternoon fol-
lowing the dag on which Jones had
come to thu aid Of Miss Gray in such
timely fash ION, but neither she nor I
had yet succ eedcd in getting an oppor-
tunity to thank him for his assistance.
Roth OF us Were anxious to prove our.
gratitude, anea Dorothy, as knew, had
decided to give, him token Of it in the
shape of tri;nket, q quantity carved
witch 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 untraine,d instincts of the boor
she had every re,ason to suppose him to
he. So far az Il 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 rsate, the proffer might
be made, with the alternative idea OF
picking out some present later on
which would meet his approval in case
he declined the ca. oh.
The hulf-hour passed with no It'd
ings of the missing man. After an
other fruitless surv, ~ of the road, Mrs.
Weston, dolefully shaking her head.
vanished again, aft&er once more in
forming me that his prolonged absence
was wholly inexplicFable. Presently
one of her sons brought my horse and
carriage to the door,x and, somewhat
reluctantly, forsook the cool quiet Of
the Office TO begin the dl. i've to the house
yof one of the patients whom J was
attending during Mr.. Banks convales-
cence from his injury. Miss Gray was
reading III the shade of the porch Of
the house over the way, an}a, in hopes Of
persuading her TO join mSe, crossed
the road and went up to her.
REALLY, I should be delighted, but
I've promised my aunt to se,e her safe
" off" said she, in response to my In
vitation. "You know she iSs to take
tea in the village, and her hofss'tess iszto
sent for her don't know at hust what
hour"
"oh, then there's no hope for me-
said I, grnmpily. However, shall
be back in an hour or two. I'm texpect-
Ing DIR. Banks to call for my report
Of the case, and he may appear before
my return. If he does, will you kindly
nsk him to wnit for me? Then, tsSoo,sif
Jones condescends to drive up with
his load of gravel, and you happe1Sa to
speak to him, please be 50 good sass TT
tell him that should like to see hiISn."
IF yon care towait q little she t..hS /
swered, 1--WE may interview him 4
gether. The team is in sight now.
Looking along the track toward TIVE
house of the knoll, I saw Mrs. Weston'tss
horses jogging homeward at q trot,s.
which indicated that the wagon they
&rew could not be loaded very heavily. 4:
"Where's the driver?' Miss Gray 1
asked. "Do you see. him?''
'No, don't" said I. "Quiet as the !,
team is, it must have got away from 7
him" f4y j.
One of the boys ran up to the APP
horses and stopped them.
We could see him pick up. the reinss
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. =
Dorothy! 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
must be!' 81 5ssS
Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Loring." said
l. saving her niece the trouble Of ex-
planning thatnobody knew more about
tile matter than she did .sThe horses
have probably started for home while
Jones eye VAS off them. No doubt
al d 3 - j l.