Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-07-21

a
That's soon told" answered the
poacher, doggedl. 'All the gents has
left Deanshurst 'ceptin' you"
.'Well:"
..Some one of you gentlefolks saw t
young squire's body afore l dbl ne
saw no worser' retorted Brann, with
almost savage energy. why amt he
come forward to say so!
"You must be mad or dreaming" ex-
claimed Stephen, staring INTO the
mans eyes rs though he would read
his very soul. How dare you MAKE
such an assertion
Zoos it's true!"
'Your proofs?'
MY own two eyes. measter! BY
main chance. as l hurried away from
L spot where lay L bodies, | seed some
fresh-made tracks and follered EN-.
thinkir' | might, p'rhaps, o'ertake !
chap as made 'em. | lost EN- nah
times. but. keepin' towards t Manor.
house II guessed somehow they'd trehd
that Way / allus picked EN- up again.
And | came in sight o him | was foi-
lerin'. maxim straight for I gate
lodge"
Did you recognize himT' gueried
Stephen. almost b~reathlessly, despite
his self-control.
The poacher saw his chance, anu
was not slow 10 profit by it.
IF | said | saw him rs plainly as 1
see you now, measter," he made an
swer. 'rd be lyin'. What's more, Ia
rather saw nothin' as 10 how much or
how little | seed o. t gentleman. COS
-. ..o.. q, .xnt NO ono into M frOll-
BILE. 'ithout I'm druy to 1t. But YOU
may take this much as Gospel trnth-
IL was put on oath
mo one would believe you" inter
rupted Stephen, with professional ab-
ruptness. He was satisfied that Brann
had so far spoken the truth, and was
now about TO lie that he had, as ne
said. obtained a distant view or a gen
tleman entering the avenue. but hau
failed 10 identify him. The question
now was: Would il pay to do what
the rascal wanted. and get him out or
the way
..See here, Brann,'' he added. less
harshly. Il have listened TO your sto-
~. and. dlsreputable as you admit
your past TO have been, ! believe You
have told me what you actually saw
and did. Were | not thoroughly con
vinced that you had no hand or part IN
the death of my cousin, n h club
bling of my brother, | would at once
hand YOU over TO the police. As II Il,
| quite see that a very strong case
might be made against you. and that,
in your desperation, you see no better
loop-hole for escape than to attempt To
drag one of Sir Derek's recent quests
into the wretched affair. This could
avail you nothing, but ii might cause a
great deal Of scandal and unpleasant
ness. which, as Sir Derek's represent
alive. | am anxious To avoid. | am.
therefore, uDon consideration. dis
posed 70 assist you in your American
plan, provided you answer two ques-
tions to my satisfaction
And what be they, measter: asked
Brann. eagerly.
THE first is: What evidence has
Ashcroft against you?
MY left foot be all out o. shape, as
you can see. sir" explained the poach-
err. land it amt hard TO spot my track
in soft ground. Perhaps, too, he has
heard / was in the wood. Y see, with
all the keepers away in the fields along
with you gents, l thought I'd stand a
chance o. baggin' a few rabbits in the
timber"
by snaring?"
'No, sir by shootin' 'em. l hadn't
no snares set"
Il rather fancy the fact that you had
a gun in your possession would seal
your fate in a court OF Justice Ste
phen remarked. grimly land 1t an
swers my second question
wilt help me, measterT' There was
almost an agony Of appeal i'll voice and
eyes,
Yes" was the reply. 81 will, be-
cause, whatever your misdeeds. | be-
lieve you innocent in this matter. and
your only chance lies in flight. There!
spare IN eyour thanks"
Sooth TO say, the ~poacher's jerky ex-
pressions of gratitude We're as obvious
ly insincere as was Stephens philan.
thropy. The lawyer had given in sole
ly for his W good reasons, and they
both Of them knew it. There remained
only the question OF departure.
There may be a German boat from
Southampton on Wednesday, as'd do
me fine, measter." suggested Brann.
who had clearly made inquiries before
hand. 'Quite close an handy. too"
"A great deal too close. should your
disappearance lead to inquiry as to
your whereabouts" retorted stephen.
"You must sail from Liverpool. whence
there are steamers almost every das'
for one or other of the American ports.
Are you prepared TO start ut oncer"
Sooner the better. measter," was the
prompt reply. But wot bout the
BRASS
You mean money? Well, / shall
give you twenty-five pounds. so that.
after paying your passage, you will
land in America with twenty pounds
in your pocket-a sum more than suffi
cient to give you a fair start, If you
really mean to turn over a new leaf
Twenty pounds amt much" pro.
tested Brann. with all the greedy in.
stinct of his rae Make it forty,
measter."
But stephen vas inexorable, and, In
the end. the poacher accepted the prof.
fered terms. Stephen. for obvious rea.
sons, could not safely give him bank.
notes. and, not having sufficient gold,
made an appointment to meet him thaI
night near the cathedral, i'm Winchest.
er, when he was to receive the none
together with final instructions for o
circuitous journey to Liverpool.
II understand. measter." grinned the
poacher. I'm to wind, an double. an