Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-05-19

| They all entered the room in a body.
There was no one there. The room
! was empty.
Every one looked into each others
face with establishments! Even Venus,
because she knew the secret perfectly
we'll, opened her mouth and eyes Wild
CT than any one else.
The master was the first to find his
voice.
What in the name of the demons of
darkness is the meaning of this?" he
demanded. in terrible voice. turning
from Cybele to Venus.
"Deed an deed, an deed. marse,
doesn't know, sir" replied Cybele,
trembling with alright. although She
was speaking the truth.
can afore all de angels in hebbin,
marse. l don't know muffin nuther"
affirmed Venus. with all the more con-
fdence. because she knew she was tell
ing a lie.
You are both deceiving me! But,
take care"'
"Deed an deed. marse. fore de
Lord we ain't!' exclaimed both, in a
breath.
"W'ho saw her last?" demanded the
master, in furious tone.
NO one burst answer.
what was the last you saw of her
Cybelc?' lie Numbered, turning to the
Old woman.
"Lor marse: soon as ebber She done
her breakfas' yes'day mornin' she
went out o dc dinin'-room. an fought
! how she was a-going to you 'cordin'to
orders, cause 1 heard you tell her to
come myself! An dat was the berry
las l see of her"
And you? You saw her after this :?
You saw her when she said she was
going to lie down and sleep:" said the
planter, turning abruptly to Venus.
Yes. marse! yes. sir! l was stan'in
in de back door when she come out'n
de dinin' room, an open her own room
door an say to me. Venus. is gwine
ii lie down an try to get some Sleep
An so she shut her own door an lock
it on de inside. an dat de berry las, l
ebber see OBJ her, fore all dc angles
i'll heaben!'
1t was terrible to look on the white
rage of the batfied man. His face
was as pale and grim as death itself;
his eyes cleaned with a baleful fire:
his jaws We're locked: and his words
came from beneath clenched teeth.
Call Saturn to me, was his next
order
The old man was summoned and
questioned; but could give no satsfac-
ton.
Her sleep was n sham,' said Rum
ford. between his set teeth. Then
turning to Saturn, he said:
Cause inquiries to be made through
out the plantation for her Go your
self down to the negroes quarters and
ask there: see SteEpin$, the overscer,
and question him. Say that l will
give hundred dollars to any Of my
people who will bring me any certain
information about herr
Saturn hurried away to do his or
rand. The others dispersed upon the
same mission. The search began in
earnest. and was pursued the whole
morning with vigor, but without effect.
Towards evening Rumford once more
called Saturn to his presence.
The old man stood bowling before
him.
This girl, Fora, is very delicate; she
has but recently recovered from a Sc
we're illness; she has already probably
passed one night in the open air; she
must not pass another: it might be her
death: she must be recovered, by any
means and at all hazards; loose the
two old bloodhounds, Castor and Pol
lux. and bring them to this ROOM"
"Oh! marse! You would not hurt a
young gal with bloodhounds" ex-
claimed the old man.
why not? They will not hurt her;
they are too we'll trained: they will
only track her and hold her until we
only way, or. at least. the quickest and
su:est way Of recovering her! Besides,
blame you! am l accountable to YOU
for my acts?' said Rumford. half
laughing, as was his custom, when be-
trayed into supposed infringement of
his dignity.
The old man went out and did as he
was bid, and very soon the passage
door was burst open. and two beauti-
full hounds bounded before Saturn into
their masters presence, and, jumping
upon him, began to cover him with
caresses
Good dogs! come! Gomez said the
AStrea'S room.
Here he looked about in vain for
| some article of her clothing but, fail
IAiS W u1lu any. anu icCOllccllIlS, Dc-
sides that she had brought nothing
with her except what she wore. he felt
quite at a loss; until, suddenly, think
ing of the arm chair in which, he had
learned, she had passed the night. he
made the well trained dogs scent that,
and then he started them upon the
track with the usual words:
Good dogs! good dogs. seek her!
seek her, Them
They snutfed about the chair, and
then about the room, and, finally reach
| ing the door, struck her trail; but
seemed soon to lose it again in the
passage, and again to recover it in the
yard. And thus, sometimes at fault,
sometimes on the trail. they passed
through the yard and the garden and
the poultry yard to the back gate,
where it will be remembered that AS
trea stood talking a considerable time
to Venus.
Here they set up howl, and, as the
fence was very low, they soon scram~
bled over it, and set forth in full cry
upon the path she had taken.
Meantime Rumford had mounted a
horse that stood ready saddled to re-