The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-03-11

replied the gardener. 1--WE told all
know to the jury"
The colonel sat down on a window-sill
and lighted cigar.
"You can trust me, you know, Mat
thews. I am an old friend of the fam
iIy"
"Oh. 1 know that, sir, well enough"
"You have been in Mr.. Strong's serv-
ice a long time, Matthews, and you may
Tow remember some things that you
did not think of when you were .testi-
| flying. For instance, have you any rec
election of ever having seen anything
which might tend to show that Mr.
Strong had an enemy?"
Matthews stared at the lawyer for
a moment in silence and then sat down
on a chair and folded his hands nervous
! Iy over his knees.
Il can't say l have, colonel he said:
land yet-weil, you know, my master
was very excitabie, suspicious sort of
man.
| Il never knew that"
''Well, he was. sir. He used to have
spells of it, sir-spells l 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"
"Ah. Is that so:'
Not often. sir. but perhaps twice a
| year, or thereabouts."
do You recall anything that might
have caused him uneasiEess at those
times?'
''Well, did have a 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 a moment, then he said:
Yes, 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
evenin' master told me he was lookin'
for a visitor to see him on important
here till he Left
did you see the man?''
YES. sir. Iopened the door when he
rang"
"How did he look?''
Every queer-lookin' individual, sir, it
struck me. He looked like he might be
q drinkin' man. He was tall and thin.
and had dark eyes and white hair. He
was so queer-lookin', sir, that thought
strange O. master havin' appointment
| with him. To tell the truth sir, kinder
thought it might be 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
I thought I heard loud words and a
scramblin' O. feet in the parlor. Their
| voices would sink down and then rise
up again like they was quarrelin'. L
| was frightened, but was afraid O. dis
| pleasin' master if went in. so just
come as far as the room next to the par
| Ior"
did you then hear anything?"
"They kept it 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
I heard blows and the fallin' of chairs.
I thought I had waited as long as 1
could, and, grabbin' old pistol that I
always kept by me, 1 rushed in. Mas
ter was ON one side of the room, behind
sofa, and the fellow was holdin' a
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,
bnt he would have come around ali
right. You frightened him away with
that pistol
Didn't he strike you, master?' 1
asked. I thought I 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
he couldn't keep from shown that he
didn't want to let me know what the
| cause of the trouble was.
THAT fellow was drunk master
said. Il think his mind is wrong, too. a
little. Yes, he did strike me, and reck-