Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-11-11
CHAPTER Luv-scontinuca,

dressed ana puf 10 BED, ana lftciy
bled. cupped and blistered. The doe
tor. having done all that lis medical
experience could suggest for the relief
of his patient, left him to be watched
by Sam, and returned 10 the ether
room TO look at the "cataleptic girl"
rs ne called Astrea. and also to insti-
fute some inquiry into the Immediate
eause Of Mr.. Rumford's attack. lie
found .Astrea IN the deep sleep that
often succeeds an attack of c~atalepsy;
ald. after making a careful eXamina.
ton. pronounced her doing as well MS
could be hoped: and then, c%onsigning
her 10 the care of old Cybele, called
Vents TO accompany him into the
drawing room. where the oyerseer n
some of the principal servants were
lingering to see If they could be OF any
use.
My good girl" said the doctor.
throwing himself into a chair, and
reckoning Venus TO approach and
stand before him, Il gather from the
discourse of your fellow servants that
You were the only one of their number.
with the exception of the girl. Fora,
who passed the night in this house.
and can give any information as 10 the
origin Of your masters i~llness?'
Yes, sir. | dessay it was de or
angcs ms made him i'll. Dere was lots
OF dem deere billions, yellow things for
de dessert said Venus. with much
animation, delighted that the doctor
lad. as she thought. found a satisfac-
tory solution 10 the mystery. Yes"
she added: fac is. ! know il must a
been dc oranges rs made him ill!'
II am not talking of n you
b~iockhead, | said origin, | want to
know the origin, that is. the cause of
your masters sudden attack
"Oh. dat il? But. hi, nlarse doctor,
how | know who tackled him: nobody
didn't tack him rs / knows off,
You were in the room with the girl,
Fora, last night, l believer
Yes, sir; | has slep' in Zora's room
long o her ebber slice here she's
been" said Venus, reckiessly.
Very well. Now, then, it was in
that room that your master was found
in a fit, with Fora standing over him,
quite Incapable of giving an expiana-
ton. Now, then. what had happened
ITO bring about this extraordinary state
OF affairs You must know. since you
were there present all the time
I'll, marse doctor, how / gwine
know, when / SCUM sleep all de time:
i 'sures YOU. marse doctor, when de
sleep de come ober me, l can't keep
awake-nO, not III de house was a-burn-
in up, an me in it, said Venus, ear
ncstly.
"Yct you must have heard something
of his. else how came you to give the
alarm
ooh. yes, marse doctor. While | was
SCUM sleep, | hear somefln heavy fall
down-fiump-bung shake
de whole house. an den / look out,
an dcre lay ole marse. fallen down for
dead. Dere. dat all | know bout it,
'Isut the girl Fora, who was stand.
ing over him in that threatening atti-
tudes'
"Oh. yes, marse doctor. You sec.
Fora was sleepin' in de Armchair,
same as me sleepin' on de mattress.
An when she hear dat flump-bungtie-
lung fall down an shake de house.
she jump mp same MS | did, Only, YOU
see. she was struck all of q heap, an
1 had my senses bout ME; an so 1
rnng de 'larm an brought all de peo-
pie. An dat Is all l know bout itg'
"Why, then, did you say that Fora
killed your masterT'
Eli. marse doctor, sir, who 20 tell
yen that false? Who say l say ity'
inquired Venus, with q look of right
eous indignation.
"All your fellow servants"
.Lor', marse doctor. you needn't
blievc dem niggers. Dey say cherry
ting but DER prayers"
''rhen you didn't tell this story upon
Zcray'
"WLo. me? How | gwine tell it when
1t wasn't true?I neber chen fought o.
such 4 t'iag. marse doctor. sir! All
dem niggers formally falses.'
flake care. Venus, how you deny
your W words and SANDER your
companions. Remember it was to me
you told the tale in the presence OF
Others" said the oyerseer, joining in
the conversation.
"Oh, Marse Steppins. sir, you neber
was more 'staken in your life. sir.
Deed an deed. an deed In deed, l
neber said nothin' like ii. sir!' persist
ed Venus, with an astonishcd look and
an emphatic earnestness that made
the oyersccr doubt his own senses OF
memory. s,
''The fact is. | suppose. the poor
creature was so frightened that she
uiu itui kuUW Wutt Stc Situ,
ed the doctor.
That's it. She did look wild as a
WITCH admitted the overseer.
''Then she is not to be held respons-
ible for them, l suppose. She Is GER
tainly honest in making the deciara-
ton she does now. And, really, 1
think She is not very capable Of giving
any more lucid account of the affair
than she has already given. You may
retire, my GIRL" said the doctor; and
as oon as Venus had gone, he added:
'The cause Of Mr.. Rumford's attack
is easy enough understood. That late
dinner. He has been for years predis-
posed to apopleyy. And l have warned
him against late and heavy dinners
and suppers! but quite In vain, as you
know, Steppins. / saw how it must
end, ard IL has ended just as ex-
pected."
How is he, siry Is there any
hopey'
.He breathes. And while there is
breath there Is life. and while there is
life there Is hope. Nevertheless, l say
to you. Steppins. that IL he has any
near relations they ought to be sum
moned immediately"
IL will go to the city and telegraph
fo tbam diractIv Sirv