The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-10-27

thought my cousin, Annie Rigwell,
would have made me more welcome when
/ came to stay with her at her Dartmoor
farm. l had been ill; change of air was
recommended, 50 l offered myself to my
cousin, in that fashionable manner, as n
paying guest" and l must admit that
after u long, hilly drive to Brackworthy
thought she surely would be glad of So
ciety in so isolated a spot.
But her welcome VS. not of the hearty
kind l expected frSn a west country
woman. She greeted me without enthu-
siasm. | observed that we were almost
strangers to one another. and she made
no professions of wishing we might be
better acquainted.
You'll find us very dull and lonely
here. Florrie," she said. You won't want
to stay lcng."
During the days that followed she often
asked me if | were not getting tired Of
the place, in a style suggesting that she
would not lie sorry if / left. One morn
ing she observed to me: Il am eXpectin.
u visitor here, Fiorrie. lie may come any
day, I'm not sure Of il particular time. 1t
it is Il gentleman who is coming to see
the farm. You know l am selling the
place. | intend going to America"
1t was tic first time had heard OF any
of her plans, and | observed with what
difficulty she now spoke of them.
One morning, few days afterward,
she said she must drive into the town for
business and would be absent all day.
might be lonely, added she. Would l not
come with her?
"Oh, I've plenty to amusc myself with, !"
l answered. Il shan't feel dull, and who
knows?-your possible purchaser may
turn up. and l can show him the farm.
What's his name, in case he should turn
up?'' said l. just to tease her.
"ITis name? Hartland," she answered,
in suppressed tone.
I watched her drive away, our maid
beside her. Eliza could not understand
| was staying at home for my own pleas
ure and tried TO cater for my amusement
before she left.
Zone o they convicts from Princes
Towns escaped" she said to me. when
Annie was out of the way. Ills all
here il the paper. I'll leave it for you to
read. since you're not able to come with
us, Miss Florrie."
III ullAS ioSui popSis s'ihS
two days old, into my hand. and then
ran after Annie, who was calling her.
After they left | read the account of
the convict's escape With no particular
interest 1t was written in sensational
style, giving n graphic description of
The man, Jim Phipps, who was under
sentence of % years for manslaughter
under such doubtful circumstances that
- vnnpol olYy,pSt lilo rnurlcr
Later in the morning some one opened
the gate. saw tall, good looking man,
clean shaved, with something in his ap
pearance that suggested an actor-I knew
not why-carrying Il knapSack over his
shoulders.
Miss Rigwell at home?" he asked,
when l opened the door.
NO. My cousin has gone to Ashburton
and won't be home till late" Then sud-
denly remembering who this must be, l
added, "Are you not Mr.. Hartland! We
were expecting you. My cousin was so
sure you would not come while she was
away. But can show you the farm"
l offered to dispose of his knapsack, but
he would not part with it. All my impor-
tunities only served to make him slip it
from his shoulders, lay it on the table
the luncheon | had prepared for him.
Had Dartmoor the effect Of making peo-
pie taciturn? thought l.
I'm sure You must be busy" he pres
emily said Don't let me hinder you.
III take walk round the farm and have
a look at the place"
Evidently he did not care for my So
ciety, reflected. lie was.very willing to
xf-,,,ll how ipyitoI
me for q stroll, or have staid to enter
tain nae since he knew l was alone. Mr..
Hartland's behavior did not progresses
me in his favor.
| finished some letters, made some do
nestle preparations and then Thought or
looking for my guest.
Out of the back door / glanced over
the moor where no tree Or obstruction
hindcrcd the view for miles. | saw Mr..
Hartland about Il quarter of mile from
the house, where Il brawlng stream
dashed down the hill But what was he
doing? Evidently he had found Il spade,
for he seemed to be digging big pit
where the soil near the stream was soft
and deep. What an extraordinary per-
formancc,
l crept up to him, step by step, my
footballs making no sound on the soft
turf. He neither heard nor saw my APP
preach.
The inseparabe knapsacl was beside
him open. and it did not take long to dis
cover that Mr.. Hartlard was burying
something. 1t was a convict's dress. The
stranger was no man of business, but an
escaped criminal!
In an instant l remembered the news
Tfv,,D FOL