The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-09-25

'I can't say have. colonel" he said;
"and yet-well, you know, my master
was . very excitable. suspicious sort Of
a man."
81 never knew that"
"Well. he was. sir. He used to have
spells of IL, sir-spells / 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"
"Ahi Is that sou
"Not often. sir. but perhaps twice
year, or thereabouts."
do you recall anything that might
have caused him uneasiness at those
tsmes?"
"Wen. did have q sort of idea that
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:
Eyes, do remember somethin' rather
odd, 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
eyenin' master told me he was lookin'
for a visitor 10 see him on important
business, and that was 10 stay back
here till he left"
ibid you see the man?"
"Yes. sir. Iopened the door when he
reng."
"How did he look?"
"Very queer-lookin' individual, sir, II
struck me. He looked like he might be
drinlkin' man. He was tall and thin,
and had dark eyes and white hair. He
was so queer-lookin', sir, that i thought
strange o. master havin' a appointment
with him. To tell the truth, sir, / kinder
thought IL might be some poor relation
in trouble, that master didn't care for
people 10 see about. showed him into
the parlor and went back into the
kitchen. About Is minutes after that
/ thought / heard loud words and n
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
pleasin' master II l went in, SO just
come as far as the room next 20 the par
lor."
"Did you then hear anything?"
"They kept il 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 l
heard him say he wanted half OF some
thin, and just after master answered
/ heard blows and the fallin' OF chairs,
1 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' a
chair by the back and just about 10
raise IL. 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 70 master. To my
surprise, he was tryin' 20 smile as Il
nothin' had happened; but he was as
white as a ghost. For minute ht
couldn't say word. Presently he said
"'Rather nasty temper he has, Mat
thews. My friend was little upset
but he would have come around al
right. You frightened him away Will
that pistol
"'Didn't he strike you, masterT
asked. Il thought heard you fghtin'.
And then noticed a bruised spot on hii
forehead which showed mighty plaiI
under his white hair an on his pail
skin. He saw me loolSin' at II, and pu
his hand over it, but he was so exciteC
he couldn't keep from shown that h
didn't want TO let me know what tn
cause OF the trouble was.
".That fellow was drunk maste
said. L think his mind is wrong, too,
little. Yes, he did strike me, and reck
on you were right to come when yo'
did
"Then he asked me IL was sure m.
pistol was loaded. and told me to sleel
in his room, and see that the window
and all the doors were locked"
''Was that ALP" asked the colonel
deeply interested.
es, sir, except he made me promls
not to mention the affair TO Mr.. Wild
: by nor anyone else. I'm sure he didn'
sleep a wink that night, for i hear
him rollin' and tumblin' in bed, an he
get up every now and then and cat
tiously look out OF the window"
AFTER that, did you see anything :
. indicate that Mr.. Strong was eve
frightened or greatly excited abou
, nnything?''
"Nothin', sir, except he bought fin
watchdog, the one that died last wir
ter, you know. He was always inter
ested in him, and particular about lea'
in him unclaimed at night. Then d
, seem 10 remember that now and the
master would get a letter that woul
excite him somewhat They alway
, came in strengthening blue envelopes
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