The Lamar register., 1899-11-29

ner ndnu. Il he vines grew nlgh tnel
year. and the little maid as she sat was
almost hidden in the green valley; not
so much hidden, however, but that a
hot and fiustered police officer saw her
as he tramped heavily up the path, and
blurted out an abrupt question
Where's the young fellow gone tor"
She looked up with a pair of tranquil
blue eyes, growing round with aston
ishment. as she repeated after him. in
strong country accent
Young fellar? What young fellar
dye mean?"
She looked SO fresh and so pretty,
and the yellow fringe which peeped out
from under her cap was so infantile in
its innocent simplicity, that Mr.. James
Brown felt a momentary impulse, in
spite of his Illustration, to chuck her
under the cool rounded chin, and even
perhaps help himself to kiss from
her red lips. If he hadn't been so hot
and SO worried-wheres the dickens
could that young rip have got to?--he
would certainly have taken advantage
of his opportunities. As 1t was he pur-
sued his investigation and resisted the
temptation.
"a young fellar in light tweed suit
he was making straight for here" he
explained. Il saw him before me over
the fields not ten minutes ago. and III
swear hardly lost sight of him. He
must be in the house; there isn't an
other place this way-not even a shave
OF wood to hide him-and Smith and
Varley would have stopped him further
down. He must be in the house"
Maybe. ye can ask retorted the
damsel indifferently, reaching out her
hand towards a group of pods, as If
dismissing the subject.
The officer went his way, with Just
another admiring glance at the pretty
figure in the charming green avenue.
The door at the cottage stood wide
open: a black cat was dozing In the
sun; all was quiet and sleepy; there
was not sound about the place. The
officers loud knock brought a stupid
servant-girl with a snub nose and a
wide-open mouth to answer his reit-
Grated question.
Where's the-the young gentleman
who came In here Just now? l want to
speak to him
There's no young gentleman here"
she replied-"only my master and
misses, and they're both old
Where are they? Tell them Mr..
James Brown wants to speak to them !"
The girl preceded him into the parlor
at the end OF the passage, after knock
ing at the door, and gave his message
verbatim
"Mr. James Brown wants to speak
to ye"
A decent old man of the retired
tradesman class, disturbed in his after
noon nap. looked up with blinking eyes
at the impatient constable. whilst his
comely old partner put down the stock
ing she was darning. and prepared to
interview the visitor.
Good afternoon, sir" she said, civ
lily. Wont you take seat; it's
warm walking"
Was II real innocence or only
sham7 Mr.. Brown was not going to be
taken In; these people were probably
allies of Mr.. Charles Branscombe-old
servants or something of that sort.
The old gentleman's yawn was too
demonstrative, and he did not mean to
let the old lady's civility put him on
the scent-he was quite up to that
game He glanced sharply around the
| room, behind the old mans ponderous
| armchair, at the cupboard door, even
up the chimney. before he answered in
| his most official tone
"a young gent entered this house
about ten minutes or maybe quarter
of an hour ago, Mr.. Charles Brans-
| combe by name. I've got business
with him-very particular business. If
| you'll let him know"
"Mr Charles Branscombe," echoed
the old man; hes not here. and hasn't
been, to my knowledge"
Then it's without your knowledge,
| retorted Mr.. Brown, who was getting
cross. ''I'll take my davy he's some
where on the premises: and, as I hold
a warrant for his apprehension, I shall
| have to search for him-with your
| leave CIR without it."
| You're an ill-mannered upstart-
| that's what you are exclaimed Mr.
walker, very wide awake now, and
starting up to face Mr. Brown. "Anc
/ dare you to search my house-war-
rant or no warrant, I'm an honest mar
| m do with