Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-01-21
CHAPTER Nj.

( stood for some time gazing ut the
door through which Mr.. Sonntag has!
| gone. Amusement held possession of
| me. A thousand and one questions
whirled through my head.
But my lawyer had departed. I final
~ strobe to the window in the hope CT
finding him within hailing distance.
He was far down the Twincburgh
road, too far to call him.
I saw him pull up his horse and lean
| forward and address a man who had
approached him from the opposite d.
rection.
The conversation lasted but minute,
and then horseman and pedestrian each
went on their several ways.
When the pedestrian drew nearer
saw it was Hunter, the station agent TX
Sidington, or, as Sonntag had informed
| me, Skinner. 1t seemed very odd that
he should have assumed another name.
| Then my eye caught the glimpse of y
horsewoman coming down the road
from the direction of the Morley resi-
dencc. 1t needed but that glimpse to
! tell me that it was Florence. She was
coming toward the house, perhaps to
see me.
When she reached the cross-road lead
ing to Sidington and Twincburgh, up
which the man Hunter was approach
] ing, she refined up her horse.
When the fellow came up to Florenc2,
was surprised to see him stop and en-
gage her in conversation which last
ed some minutes and appeared to be
rather earnest, judging by the way
| Florence leaned down toward him.
Finally the young woman turned her
horses head and galloped back in the
direction she had come.
The station agent watched her re-
treating form, then slowly began to re-
trace his steps. He had gone but a
short distance when he stopped and
looked toward my house, then again
turned and came back.
I watched him from behind the cur
| tains. As he approached near saw
| his clothing was wet and bedragglcd,
which plainly showed that he had been
out in the recent shower.
He came up to the house in q hcsitat-
| ing way, CHANGING all around furtivcly,
| when I leaned from the window and
| hailed him.
"Halloo, there! what's up: What do
you want?' 1 demanded.
CHANGING up at me with his stupid
stare. he spoke. "When you want to
send anything away by freight, have it
at the station before nine o'clock in the
| morning,' he said, in the dcliberating
way of one who is compelled to manu-
facturc n speech on the spur OF the
moment.
us that all you wish to say to me:
! You did not come all the way from Sid
ington to tell me that??' 1 inquired,
caustically.
"Why. no." he began, glancing all
| around, as though seeking for his
words in the surrounding objects. II
I thought perhaps you didn't know
| that hat-a-are you having a good
| timc?''
~ most enjoyable time indeed" en-
claimed, enthusiastically. if somewhat
| sarcastically. ".Just such time as
! necdcd-restfnl, quiet, and perfect
peace
| u
across his face at my words.
ooh! then there is nothing the mat
ter with the place"' he asked, GU
j riously.
was considerably surprised ut this
question. II should say not. What
should be the matter with it? asked.
"Some folks say it's kind o queer
like. Some say dead people use the
house at nights for meetings, he re-
piled. sinking his voice down low, and
glancing around ncrvously.
us that so? Well. let them. As
long as the dead ones don't disturb me-
I am sure l have no objection. Nhat
| nart of the house are the spirits sup
posed to frequently asked, a thought
of the walled cellar coming to me.
The fellow seemed Il trifle f1ustered,
T thought, by my sudden question. lie
gave vent to Il nervous laugh, and ut
the same time darted 4 sharp glance
at me, which, momentary as 1T was
! nevertheless was so different from his
usual half-wondering stare that L was
impressed by it.
"Oh, L don't know what part of the
house is used Dy tHc sPhi's' 1o"
should T know?''
There had been something Irritating
TO me in the fellow, and, as there was
!, hint of insolence in his last words,
| gave way to my i:npatience.
.see here; you have given me some
strange hints about my house., l be-
gan sternly; snow, then. you'll please
explain more fully what you mean,
Mr.. Hunter, or perhaps, l should say,
Mr.. Skinner"
do not know what impelled me to
| ,.ld Tho n,r,,c which Sonntag said was