Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-08-12
Copyright. 1896. BY J. B. Lippincot Col


he 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
spells?"
Matthews was silent, deep in thought,
for moment. then he said:
"Yes, do remember somethin' rather
odd, sir. II was when Mr.. WILDLY was
at the seaslore in the simmer, and mas
ter was maxim Inc sleep in his room
every night while he was gone. One
evenin' master told me he was lookln'
for visitor to see him on important
business, and that | was to stay beck
here till he left"
did you see the man"
Yes, SIT. opened the door when he
rang"
How did he look"
Every queer-lookin individual, sir, 1t
struck me. lie looked like he might be
II drinkin' man. He was tall and thin
and had dark eyes and white hair. lie
was so queer-lookin', sir, that ! thought
strange O master havin' a appointment
with him. To tell the truth, sir, kinder
thought it might he 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
thought | heard loud words and a
scramblln' 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
pleasin 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 Il low, steady
voice, and the stranger would break in
and beat the table with his fist. Once |
heard him say be wanted half of some
thin, and just after master answered
heard blows and the fallln' Of chairs
| thought | had waited as long as |
could, and, grabbin old pistol that |
always kept by me, 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. ! fol-
lowed him as far us the front door and
saw him spring over the fence and walk
away quick.
"Then went back to master. To my
surprise, he was tryin' to smile as if
nothin' had happened; but he was as
white as a ghost. For minute he
couldn't say a word. Presently he said:
"'Rather nasty temper he has, Mat
thews. My friend was little upset,
but he would have come around all
right. You frightened him away with
that pistol
"'Didn't he strike you, master" |
asked. 4 thought heard you fghtin'.
And then noticed a 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
be couldn't keep from showin'dhat he
didn't want to let me know what the
cause of the trouble was.
"'That fellow was drunk master
said. 4 think his mind is wrong, too, a
little. Yes, he did strike me, and reck-
on you were right to come when you
did
"Then he asked me il was sure my
pistol was loaded, and told me to sleep
in his room, and see that the windows
auo all the doors were locked"
WAS that all?' asked the colonel,
deeply interested.
"Yes, sir, except he made NE promise
not to mention the affair to Mr.. Wild
by nor anyone else. I'm sure he didn't
sleep wink that night, for | heard
him rolin' and tumbiin' in bed, an he'd
get up every now and then and eau
tiously look out of the window"
"Aiter that, did YOU see anything to
indicate that Mr.. Strong was ever
frightened or greatly excited about
anything?"
"Nothin', sir, except he bought fine
watchdog, the one that died last win
ter, you know. He was always inter-
ested in him, and particular about leav'
in him unclaimed at night, Then | do
seem to remember that now and then
master would get letter that would
excite him somewhat They always
came in strengthening blue envelopes
Once when | gave him one at break
fast he turned pale when he opened it
and didn't finish catiR."
Col. Warrenton rose and knocked the
ashes from his cigar
1--WE got an appointment down
town." he said. "See here, Matthews
don't say anything about what you
have told me. am Investigating q
little on my own account in this mat
ter and | don't want anyone to know
1t. Hold your tongue, and I'll see that
you don't lose anything by it,
A few minutes later the colonel wa;
in his office downtown. He had just
begun the dictatioa Of a letter to his