The free state., 1900-01-20


sound of hoofs and wheels had aroused
the inmates of the house, and before
We reached the door a small colony of
children and dogs came trooping
round to the northern corner of the
building and stood looking at us won
deringly. The children were clad
scantily. They were about the ugli-
est children l 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 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 staring and nodded toward the
rear of the house The sharp whack of
descending axe striking against hard
wood emphasized the boys nod. 1t
was now apparent that the sound of
the chopping which had been break
ing on the still, heavy air at inter-
walls since we began to descend the
hill originated on Leach's premises.
In response to the boy silent request
to follow him, Tatman and l 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 a network of wrinkles. Her
hair was a yellowish gray. There
was only a 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 thrall-
dom of the comb and struggled down
around her bony neck. The woman's
cheeks were thin and creased, and her
eyes we're sunken. Il er thin, calico
gown displayed every angle of her
gaunt, ungainly figure. Taken all IN
! all, she was a very homely, uncouth
woman, but somehow there was some
thing about her that made me feel
timid. Tatman saw my trepidation
and took the initiative. He stepped
forward and stood directly before the
chopper. She held the axe 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 tail body slightly for
ward.
We'll, she said, what you want?
''Her steady look disconnected Tat
man, too, for minute, but he braced
up and came to the point without any
useless preliminaries.
"'Does Hiram Leach live here| he
asked.
&" Yes she said, stif1y.
4" rs he at homer continued Tat
man.
Yes she repeated.
CT should like to see him. said
Tatman.
"The woman grasped the axe handle
tighter then and leaned over a little
farther. What you want OF him|
she asked.
"Tatman looked at her significantly.
I'm the sheriff, he said, bluntly and
cruelty. Perhaps you can guess the
rest
1.-The axe dropped to the ground at
that, and the woman pressed her
coase red hands 10 her cheeks, over
which snow fakes were drifting like
half-frozen tears. She made no audi
BILE reply to Tatman's communication,
but the children who had gathered
close about us took alarm at the dread
word sheriff, and broke out into a
concerted wall of alright, as though
they had heard the crack of doom.
" Are you Leach's wife| said Tat
man.
Z" NO, his sister. His wife's dead.
Diel wien this'n was baby, she
said, laying her hand on the head OF
the smallest child which had essayed
to take refuge in the folds of her scant
skirt. MY name is Marthy Leach,
she added, IS an afterthought. I've
STAYED here ever since the children's
mother went and sort O. looked after
'em.'
again Tatman hesitated.
You understand my errand here,
Tn quite sure, Miss Leach, he said.
You have undoubtedly heard the ru-
mors that have been current for weeks
past concerning your brother. have
a duty to perform. l must search
your house.
"The woman's thin, hatchet-like
face grew more peaked and haggard.
For q moment q look OF defiance
gIowed in her eyes. When that died
avay 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
long, low room, and the children and
dogs crowded in at our heels. The
room was almost dark. TIE greater
part OF what poor light there was was
derived from fitful fame that leaped
up from the logs in the open fireplace,
for the windows, which were too small
to admit much light even in their
prime condition, were rendered almost
Opaque by the rags which were substi-
tuted for the broken panes and the
swirls of snow that covered the few
remaining ones. A man sat at one
corner of the fireplace. He was cough
! jnR violently when we entered. and !