Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-11-18

who's Trusa PlumleyW asked VAL
entine, gruffly, setting down the big
blue and white saucer with sucn force
that the coffee stopped upon the snowy
tablecloth.
"She's a liver in Fairville. She goes
out Professional and was sent fur to
nuss old Mrs. Dryer, who is bedrid
with rheumatic. Seth Towne told her
he was going out to the Dwyer place:
it's a good ten miles from Fairville,
and II she could manage to get as far
as Sheepridge he'd give her a lift the
rest OF the way, so she started good
and early. The snow made it some
hard walkin' She's been shet up at
the Dryers ever sence till last week,
when old Mrs. Dwyer died. She'd
heared of Mrs. Owens death, but they
don't get papers or news much. The
old cOlored man does the STORM and
he's clost-mOuthed as they make 'em,
sc Irusa didn't hear till she got home
how you heared the yells and renlem-
berdng Tom was OF with the milk and
the money all there you raced to the
house just In time to see the rascal git
into the woods. Well, she says that
mornin' as she wuz going along she'd
got as fur as that big bowlder when
she seen man Scoot outer the woods
jist above inter the road. It was kinder
dusky yet, and she bein' old and not
spry, she jist stepped behind the bowl
der to let him pass"
"And that's the yarn, is it," said
Valentine, sneeringly.
Eyes, and it looks convincin'," said
Miss Rachel. mind you, there was
only one set o. tracks through that
snow in the woods, and it went from
Wilder Owens back door to the road
way, and then they couldn't trace 'em
further, the road was so cut up by the
passin', but Trusa saw the man come
out, and she says he didn't run to-
wards town, as we all thought, but
back towards Wilder Owens, and
she'll take an alfiddayid that he
turned into Owens gate, for when she
seen him she jist went on
laughin' at herself to think she'd
been fool enough to be scared of Tom
Owens. She was so sure it was
him that she forgot all about it
until she come back to Fairville and
heared all the talk, and that it was
that very mornin' the murder wuz.
and Tom off to the station with, the
milk. Well, the constable got hold Of
her story and he gave her orders to
shet up"
There was scraping of chair .egs
along the bare wooden floor and Val
entine arose from the table. .
j "Ain't had no pie, Valentine said
Hitty, solicitously. ''It's molasses-
lemon, too, and had uncommon good
luck with it."
"So time for pie" he replied; II
amt got my winter appetite, and the
plowiu' IN the south lot amt dom it.
SELF"
1t was some twenty minutes later
that Rachel, going to carry the table
scraps to the setting hens, found Kit
tie, her own trotter, standing harness
ed at the wagon-hOuse door.
Coin away, Valentinew she in
quired
SCOT to see that man who's buyin'
my place promised me the money yes
terday. Was goin' to wait a day or
two before 1 went and then I heard
you say Kittie'd ought to get out and
you couldn't go to-day, so l thought
1 wouldn't delay"
Rachel helped him into his coat and
carefully picked a few straws off of it,
saying, as she did so: ''Be sure and tie
Kitty, for she won't stand" And then
she watched him drive away and shut
the lane gate after him.
It was growing dusk when an anx-
ious whinny attracted the attention Of
the sisters as they sat waiting for
Valentines return to supper. Rachel
went to the kitchen door and looked
out Kittie stood at the gate, but no
driver was in sight.
oval, l declare. Hittyr' she ex-
claimed; ''there Valentine has left that
horse united, after all, and home she's
We might as well tend
to her and then git supper
Clocks as if she come home pretty
furious" said Miss Hitty.
''No: she's tired and her coats mat
ted with perspiration, but it's dry.
Wisht he hadn't driv her so hard.
She'll need warm mash and good
rub down, and we'd better do it and
not wait for him."
The barn work was finished, supper
eaten and still Valentine did not APP |
pear
Rachel fidgeted about uneasily, try
ing the kitchen door latch and read |
JuSllnS Iu6 udIIS IudI SeCufeu Ill the
downstairs windows.
81 do wish Valentine d git here if |
he's COMM" she fretted. 81 declare I |
DO believe I'm spilled. 1t seems that |
lonesome around. I'm all a-tremble. |
There! That's himw
And at the sound of steps on the |
stoop she went hastily and opened the |
hall door.
But it was Tom BARLEY and a
stranger that she ushered in instead |
md then she sat down to wonder |
vaguely what Tom could want at that /
lime of night. The surprise of his
coming somehow weighed upon their
spirits and they didn't ask his bust
less and even forgot to inquire about
he latest news Of the murderer. which
lie, as constable, might be supposed to
Know. He talked of weather, crops
ind village news and then asked sud
Ienly: where's Valentine?"
Rachel started to explain his visit
@ town and Kittie's trick of leaving
him. but right in the midst of her
ak Constable Tom exclaimed:
'Cracky! he's got wind of it and lit
,ut!' And then to the abject astonish-
nent of the sisters. he told of the de-
ective's work and how all the cir
pointed to Valentine Ches-
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