The Holly chieftain., 1898-11-18

| suo were keeping II up as usual.
The clock ticked on in its silver-gilt
frame ON the tiled chimney piece. She
was very tired, for she counted by
sleepless nights the nights when Wan
assisted her father to his bed. She
started nervously on hearing knock.
and then, remembering there was only
one person in the bouse who knocked
with thet deferential modesty, she said:
Come in.''
Entered Wan, most respectable Of
yellow house servants. bearing a neat
tray.
you like some tea. Miss Bing gham p
Thank you, Wan. Setit here, please.
That was very good of YOU"
Tea velly good. You NO eat much
dinna. ! see all plate when he come
out. say: Abby, who plate that-no
likee dinna? Abby come down panty,
eat plenty dinna, dlink plenty wine
Abby say: Her plate. She no like
Chinaman cooking"
Il do like your cooking, Wan. The
dinner was very good"
Il no much sabe cook; all same camp
cook; 20 men-$4O mont"
mo, no, Wan; you are no camp-cook;
very good cook-very good man."
Wan beamed with pleasure; he pro-
duced from beneath his blouse finme-
colored silk handkerchief, with which
he mopped his face, deprecating the
smiles of qualification that it was man
ners to conceal.
81 no speak velly good; heap sabe;
heap sabe ev'ything. Abby mean wife
woman; too much talkee-talkee-all
time talkee. no talk. By IN by tell
you.
"Say, Miss Bingham!" Wan came n
step nearer, and lowered his voice dis
creetly. You sabe one nice man,
Da'cie-all same miner, all same boss?"
HAS he got partner named Mike
McGowan?" asked Faith, sitting up
straight in her chair.
Same man. same man! You sabe all
light. Mrs. Bingham. you tell Abby
tel Mike McGowan-tell Da'cie-come
see you to-night?"
"Whati"
"You want see Da'cie, all self lone,
'leven o'clock to-night?"
What are you saying?"
miss Bingham."-Wan approached
still nearer rs his manner grew more
excited and mysterious; he was evil
IDENTIFY much wrought up over the COM
munication he was making-"I tell you
cne little thing you no tell Abby? Abby
heap mean wife woman"
go on, Wan; will not tell Abby.
What is this thing, for PHYS sake?"
'Miss Bingham, Abby talk Mike Nc
Gowan, all same good friend-Abby
say, lady want see Da'cie all self lone
'leven clock tonight. You tell Abby
say that?"
"Merciful Heavens! What are you
saying? Do / want to see that man to-
night, alone? Did Abby send him that
word from me? Is that what she has
done?"
Wan responded with mods and grins,
and mopped himself with tremulous
hands.
"You no tell Abby, Miss Bingham2"
Don't be afraid. Tell me what this
thing means. Tell me all you know
about 1t, this instant"
'You catchem all light: Abby send
word you want see Da'cie. I sabe all
ting she say. pick up some tin can;
'longside old dump plenty tin can-sell
him some Chinaman-me,t him-get
plenty lend-make some littee money"
"Never mind the cans! Tell Inc why
Abby did this thing. Does she want
Darcie to get hurt? Is that it?"
II no sabe. Abby know heap bad
men. Union miner; no like Mike Nc
Gowan; call him 'scab.' No like
Da'cie. Nail paper on Da'cie house
say you go! Da'cie laugh-say no go
anywhere. Da'cie heap good shoot.
Mike McGowan heap good shoot. All
time heap good friends. Union men
get mad; no can catchee Da'cie. Send
word lady want see-all self lone 'leven
clock night. Da'cie come see lady.
Mike no come. Lady no come. Man
cleep behind tlee-plenty gun-good-
by Da'cie!"
Wan illustrated his meaning by an ex-
pressive pantomine, which was un-
necessary so far as Faith was con-
cerned. She understood him perfectly.
She looked at the clock; II was half-past
ten.
Where is this place?" she asked.
"You no want go there, Miss Bing-
ham!" Wan protested, hurriedly.
81 want you to go there, and take
this letter-to Mr.. Darcie." Faith was
writing the note as she talked. ''You
are very good man, Wan. You have
saved mans life. I will give you
anything you ask II you'll get this let
ter there In time"
Nm, Miss Bingham!" Wan grunt-
ed an impassioned negative. II no can
go that place. Heap bad place. heap bad
men,"
'But you must go; there is no one else
to go. What, you won't take the letter?
You miserable. creature, will you let
that man be killed? You wretchcd
coward, did you come here TO talk?'
Wan was shaking in his loose
starched blouse; his lips and nails were
livid; his eyes rolled in his head with
fear. He was incapable Of speech. He
had exposed the plot, out of spite to
Abby, without an idea Of possible
consequences to himself. Faith saw
that his eyes were on the door. She
flew and locked II, and set her back
against it:
"Now, see here, Wan; you must tell
me where that place is. am going
myself. Hush, will you'll You will go
with me as far az the place, because 1
might go wrong. Then you can run
away. Win you do that? You need