Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-11-02

'and yet-well, you, know, my master
was a very excitabie, suspicious sort Of
man." - ~ s@
II never knew that 81. -.
s'Well, he was, sir. He used to have
spells of it, sir-spells 1 call 'em. He
didn't seem able to sleep well at times.
He has once in awhile had me sleep on
the floor at the foot of his bed" j..
'Ah! Is that So" r.
"Not often, sir, but perhaps twice
year, or thereabouts.''
@ ''Do you recall anything that might
have caused him uneasiness at those
times?'' -
''Wen, I did have sort of idea that
ne might a. brought home some money
and was afraid o. bein' robbed of it."
Can you remember ever having seen
anyone about just before or after those
fspells?''4 ~ = + ~ 80
Matthews was silent, deep in thought,
for a moment, then he said: ~
Eyes, I do remember somethin' rather
cdd, sir. 1t was when Mr.. WILDLY was
at the seashore in the summer, and mas
ter was maxim me sleep in his room
every night while he was gone. One
cvenin' master told me he was lookin'
for visitor to see him on important
business. and that I was to stay back
here till he left.'' !"
did you see the man."
b Eyes, sir. I opened the door when he
rang" :.
"How did he look?'
Every queer-lookin' individual, sir, it
struck me. He looked like he might be
Il drinkin' man. He was tall and thin,
and had dark eyes and white hair. He
was so queer-lookin', sir, that thought
strange o master havin' a appointment
with him. To tell the truth, sir, kinder
thought it might be some poor relation
in trouble, that master didn't care for
people to see about. showed him into
the parlor and went back into the
kitchen. About Is minutes after that
I thought I heard loud words and a
scramblin' o feet in the parlor. Their
voices would sink down and then rise
up again like they was quarrelin'. /
was frightened, but was afraid O. dis
p1easin' master if went in, so just
come as far as the room next to the par
lor.''
''Did you then hear anything?''
"They kept it up, sir. Master seemed
to be arguin' with him in low, steady
voice, and the stranger would break in
and beat the table with his fist. Once
heard him say he wanted half of some
thin, and just after master answered
heard blows and the .fallin' of chairs.
I thought I had waited as long as /
could. and, grabbin' old pistol that
always kept by me, I rushed in. Mas
ter was on one side of the room, behind
a sofa, and the fellow was holdin'
chair by the back and just about to
raise it. When he saw me and my pistol
he put down the chair, and, with an
oath, backed out of the room. I fol-
lowed him as far as the front door and
saw him spring over the fence and walk
away quick.
'Then I went back to master. To my
surprise, he was tryin' to smile as if
nothin' had happened; but he was as
white as q ghost. For 4 minute he
couldn't say a word. Presently he said:
"'Rather nasty temper he has, Mat
thews. My friend was q little upset,
but he would have come around all
right. You frightened him away with
that pistol
"'Didn't he strike you, master?' I
asked. I thought heard you fghtin'.'
And then noticed bruised spot on his
forehead which showed mighty plain
under his white hair an on his pale
skin. He saw me lookin' at it, and put
his hand over it, but he was so excited
lie couldn't keep from shown that he
didn't want to let me know what the
cause of the trouble was.
"'That fellow was drunk master
said. L think his mind is wrong, too, a
little. Yes, he did strike me, and I reck-
on you were right to come when you
did, 80. =. : ~. *
".'Then he asked me If was sure my
pistol was loaded, and told me to sleep
in his room, and see that the windows
a,t all the doors were locked"
''Was that alp" asked the colonel,
deeply interested. ..y|s.
leS.7SlI, except ne mace me promise
not to mention: the affair to Mr.. Wild
by nor anyone else. I'm sure he didn't
sleep a wink that night, for heard
him rollin' and tumbiin' in bed, an he'd
get up every now and then and eau
tiously look out of the window
AFTER that, did you see any thing to
Indicate that Mr.. Strong was ever
frightened or greatly excited about
any thing ;
"Nothin', Sir, except he bought fine
| watchdog, the one that died last win
ter, you know. He was always inter-
estca in him, and particular about lcay-
in him unclaimed at night. Then lido
seem to remember that now and then
master would get a letter that would
excite him somewhat. They always
came in Strengthening blue envelopes.
Once when gave him one at break
last lie turned pale when he opened it,
and didn't finish catin'.' - r sri
Col. Warrenton rose and knocked the
ashes from his cigar. 4 ss '5*'f
'''.I'ye got an appointment down:
-