Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-04-07


81 don't know much about it, sir"
replied the gardener i've told all l
know to the jury"
The colonel sat down on window-sill
and lighted cigar.
"You can trust me, you know, Mat
thews, am an old friend of the fam
ily."
"Oh, l know that, sir, well enough"
"You have been in Mr.. Strong's serv-
ice long time, Matthews, and you may
now 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 epemy2"
Matthews stared at the lawyer for
moment in silence and then sat down
on a chair and folded his hands nervous
ly over his knees.
81 can't say have, colonel, he said:
"and yet-well you know, my master
was a very excitabic, suspicious sort of
a man."
81 never knew that"
"Well, he was, sir. He used to have
spells of it, sir-spells call 'em. He
didn't seem able to sleep well at times.
lie 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 uneasiness at those
times?"
well, I did have 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 inthought,
for moment, then he said:
Eyes, do remember somethin' rather
cdd, 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
cyenin' master told me he was loollin'
for a visitor to see him on important
business, and that l was to stay bacl;
here till he left"
Did you see the man?"
'Yes, sir. / opened the door when he
rang"
How did he look?"
Every queer-lookin' individual, sir, it
struck me. He looked like he might be
a 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' a appointment
with him. To tell the truth, sir, kinder
thought it might be some poor relation
in trouble, that master didn't care fol
people to sec about. / showed him into
the parlor and went back into the
kitchen. About Is minutes after that
l thought I heard loud words and q
scramblin' @ feet in the parlor. Theil
voices would sink down and then rise
up again like they was quarrelin'
was frightened, but was afraid O dis
pleasin master if went in, so just
come as far as the room next to the par
lor."
"Did you then hear anything?"
"They kept it up, sir. Master seemed
to be arguin' with him in a low, steady
voice, and the stranger would break il
and beat the table with his fist. Once
heard him say he wanted half of some
thin, and just after master answered
| heard blows and the fallin' of chairs
l thought | had waited as long as
could, and grabbin' a old pistol that
always kept by nae, I rushed in. Mas
ter was on one side of the room, behinC
sofa, and the fellow was holdin' ;
chair by the back and just about t.
raise it. When he saw me and my pisA.
he put down the chair, and, with al
oath, backed out of the room. l fol
lowed him as far as the front door an,
saw him spring over the fence and wall
away quick.
Then went back to master. TO m,
surprise, he was tryin' to smile as i
nothin' had happened; but he was a
white as a ghost. For q minute h
couldn't say a word. Presently he said
Rather nasty temper he has, Mat
thews. My friend was little upset
but he would have come around al
right. You frightened him away wit
that pistol
Didn't he strike you, masterY
asked. I thought I heard you fightin'
And then l noticed a bruised spot on hi
forehead which showed mighty plaii
under his white hair an on his pal
skin. He saw me looltin' at 1T, and pu
his hand over it, but he was so excite
he couldn't keep from showin' that h
didn't want to let me know what tn
cause of the trouble was.
THAT fellow was drunk maste
said. I think his mind is wrong, too,
little. Yes, he did strike me. and Irecl
on you were right to come when yo
did
Then he asked me If / was sure m
pistol was loaded, and told me 20 slee
in his room, and see that the window
aud all the doors were locked"
"Was that all2" asked the colone
deeply interested.
"Yes, sir, except he made me promis
not 70 mention the affair TO Mr. WhiJ
by nor anyone else. I'm sure he didn
sleep a wink that night, for ] hear
/ him rollin' and tumbliu' in bed, an he
Get up every now and then and cat