The Delta independent., 1897-12-03
CHAPTER XI,

me. ~ tuOusohu anu one Queov1o00
whirled through my head.
But my lawyer had departed. I ANAL
ly strobe 10 the window In the hope Of
finding him within hailing distance.
He was far down the TwineburRA
road, too far TO call him.
saw him pull up his horss and lsaa
forward and address . man who had
approached him from the opposite d.
rection.
The conversation lasted but minuAa.
and then horsemsn and pedestrian sAsA
went on their several ways.
When the pedestrian drew nearer I
saw 1t was Hunter, the station agent =
Sidington. or. a. Sonnta9 had informed
me, Skinner. 1t seemed very odd that
he should have assumed smother nams.
Then my eye caught the glimpse Of .
horsewoman coming down the road
from the direction of the Morley red
dence. It needed but that glimpse 70
tell me that II was Florence. She was
coming toward the house, perhaps to
see me.
When she reached the cross-road Iced
ing to Sidington and TwineburGh, up
which the man Hunter was approash-
ing. she refined up her horse.
When the fellow came up to Florence.
was surprised to see him stop and en-
gage her in q conversation which last
ed some minutes and appeared 70 b
rather earnest. judging by the way
Florence leaned down toward him.
Finally the young woman turned her
horse's head and galloped hack In The
direction she had coms.
The station agent watched her ~
treating form. then slowly began 70 ~.
trace his steps. He had gone but .
short distance when he stopped and
looked toward my house, tAsa again
turned and came baek.
wstchsd him from behind IL ear.
tains. Az he spproaehsd near NV
his clothing was wet and bsdraggied,
which plainly showsd that ~ hsa bssa
out In the Fecent showe9.
He eans up - ~ hesss hi hestas1r
ing WV. elsneing IN ssou,A furtivelSS
and was about 70 paD up into ~ yarz,
when I leaned fFu0 ~ window and
hailed him.
"Halloo. theFsi what's upf What do
you wantf' demanded. Z
Glancing up 1t me with his stupid
stare, he spoke. "When you want to
send anything away BY freight, have II
at the station before nine o'clock In the
morning." he said, in the deliberating
way Of one who y compelled to manu-
facturs . speech on The spur Of the
moment.
'Is that all you wish 70 say 70 me?
You did not come all the way from Sid
ington to tell me that7' inquired.
caustically.
"why. no." he began, glancing all
around. - though seeking for his
words in the surrounding objects. 81
Il thought perhaps you didn't know
hatOhst-s-are you having . good
timer
"A most enjoyable time indeed" ex-
claimed, enthusiastically, II somewhat
sarcastically. "Just such . time a.
I needsd-restful. quiet and perfect
peace"
Just . trace Of . smile seemed TO fiit
across his face 1t my words.
"Ohi then there Il nothing the mat
Ter with the placer" he ssked, Gu
riously.
Iwss considerably surprised at this
question. II should say not. What
should be the matter with II p asked.
"6Oms folks say les kind O. queer
like. Some say dead people use the
house at niglsts for mectings," he re-
piled. sinking his voice down low, and
glancing aroWnd nervously.
rs that a,3 Well, let them. Al
long - the dead ouss don't disturb me,
am sure ] have no objection. What
part of the house are the spirits sup
posed 70 frsquent7" asked, thought
Of the walled cellar coming to me.
The fellow seemed trihe Austered,
I thought, by my sudden question. He
gave vent 20 . nervous laugh, and at
the SANE time dartsd . sharp glance
- me, which, momentsry - Il was,
nevsrthsIsss Wa % Different from his
usual half-woDdsrinG stare that was
Impressed BY II.
"Oh, doo't know what part Of the
houss is ussd b. ~ spirits. How
should I knowT
There had besn soasthinG Initiating
70 me In the fellow. and, - there wss
. Ains of insolencs in his last words,
gave way 70 NY impssienes.
-oss here; yoa have given mo some
sersnge hints about my house." b.
90 sessnly; ~n0W. tAsn, you'n pleass
sxplaia noss faIl1 whss you mean,
n. Munsss. q pssAaDA I sAould ~,
NJ. 9kia.R,-
Do nos knew whAS impsiIsd ~ 10
cd - na0s WAasA 0santAg snid w.
~ correct oae. ~ - s9ose % ~
SslloW seaFs1sd - eoaaideeably.
Hls syss 9FsW seasing. ed . tsrTiAed,
Aantsa szpssaeoo sa0s ovss M fnes.
0Daaein9 fursiveay aeouna ed esow-