The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-12-15

very drab and discouraging that had
we not had the boys word for it that
Leach lived there we should have been
in doubt as to whether Leach's house
was really a house ora stable, not
withstanding the evidence of the Chin
ney and the smoke. -
I'VE hitched our horse to a cherry
tree and went into the yard. The sound
of hoofs and wheels had aroused thei
mates of the house, and before we
reached the door a small colony Of chill
dren and dogs came trooping round to
the northern corner OF the building and
stood looking at us wonderingly. The
children were clad scantily. They were
about the ugliest children ever saw in
my life. They had straight light hair
and dirty faces and pale blue eyes. They
were of various ages and sizes, in which
respect they were like unto the dogs,
which also represented a wide latitude
of years and growth. Tatman stepped
up and addressed the tallest boy.
Where's your father?' he asked.
''The boy pushed back the tow-colored
name through which he had been star
ing and nodded toward the rear. of the
house. The sharp whack of a descend
ing AK striking against hard wood en-
phasized the boys nod. 1t was now ap-
parent that the sound of the chopping
which had been breaking on the still,
heavy air at intervals since we began
to descend the hill originated on Leach's
premises. In response to the boys ST.
lent request to follow him, Tatman and
1 fell in with the group of boys and
girls and dogs and went around to the
back yard. Once in sight of this dreary
spot, we came to dead stop. The
chopper was an old woman. Her fore
head was network of wrinkles, Her
hair was a yellowish gray. There was
only wisp of it. This was twisted into
tight little knob at the top of her
head, all except few thin strings which
had escaped the thralldom of the comb
and struggled down around her bony
neck. The woman's cheeks were thin
and creased and her eyes were sunken.
Her thin calico gown displayed every
angle of her gaunt, ungainly figure.
Taken all in all, she. was very home
ly, uncouth woman, but somehow there
was something about her that made me
feel timid. Tatman saw my trepidation
and took the initiative. He stepped for
ward and stood directly before the
chopper. She held the ak poised in the
air for moment, then let.it sink down
easily on the hickory chunk. She rested
her. hands on the handle and bent her
tall body slightly forward,
"'Well,' she said, what do you want 2
"Her steady look disconnected Tat
man, too, for minute, but he braced up
and came to the point without any use
less preliminaries.
Does Hiram Leach live here?' he
asked. ...s.... ga d.
eyes she said, stifay.
lis he at home?' continued Tat
man.
EYES, she repeated
"'I should like to see him. said Tat
''The woman grasped the ak handle
tighter and then leaned over little
farther. What you want of him?' she
| asked. l.
"Tatman looked at her significantly
I'm the sheriff. he said, bluntly and
cruelty. Perhaps you can guess the
rest.
"The ak dropped to the ground at, that
and the woman pressed, her coarse red
hands TO her cheeks, over which snow
flakes were drifting like half-frozen
tears. She made no audible reply to
Tatman's communication, but the chill
dren, who had gathered close about us,
took alarm at the dread word sheriff
and broke out into concerted wall of
alright, as though they had heard the
crack of doom. - -
care you Leach's .wife?' said Tat
man.a ~,
"'No, his, sister. His wife's dead.
DEED when this n was baby she said,
laying her hand. On. the head of the
smallest child which had escaped to
take refugee-in the folds of her scant
skirt. My name is Marthy Leach, ), she
added, as an afterthought. I've stayed
1ASAS WV oA4SC luOlucI
went and sort O. looked after 'em.'
Again Tatman hesitated. =
"'You understand my errand here,
I'm quite sure, Miss Leach he said.
You have undoubtedly heard the ru-
mors that have been current for weeks
past concerning your brother. I have
a duty to perform. I must search
your house.
'The woman's thin, hatchet-li like
face grew more peaked and haggard.
For a moment look of defiance
glowed in her eyes. When that died
away she lifted the smallest child into
her arms and started toward the
house. .
"'Come on she said. He's in here
"Tatman and followed her into a
long, low room, and the children and
| dogs crowded in at our heels.>- The
room was almost dark. The greater
part of what poor light there !Was was
derived fremfa fitful flame that, leaped
up from the log in the open fireplace,
for the windows, which were toosssmall
to admit much light even in their
prime condition, were rendered almost
opaque by the rags which were sub
stituted. for the broken panes, and the
swirls of snow that coated the few re-
naming ones. A man sat at one cor
mel. Of the fireplace. He was coughing
violently when we entered, and T no.
ticed that the hand he held up to his
lips was almost transparent in its
| thinness. The woman stood silently