The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-09
! A Convic+'s Dress
A Lady Entertained Him Unawares,
hut Did Not Care to Visit Him
aud Ills Wife Afterwsrd.
BIZ B. +. CRESSWELL.
Y Copyright, 1899, BY Beatrice I. Cresspcu,
BIZ B. +. cREssWELL.
Copyright, 1890, by Beatrice I. Cressp

came to stay with her at her Dartmoo
farm. ! had been ill; change OF air wal
recommended, SO offered myself to mi
cousin, In that fashionable manner. as 4
paying guest" and | must admit that
after long, billy drive to Brackworthy
! thought she surely would be glad of so
ciety in SO isolated a spot.
But her welcome was not Of the hearty
kind ! expected from 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 he
better acquainted.
you'll find us very dull and lonely
here, Florrie," she said. "You won't want
to stay long"
During the days that followed she often
asked me II were not getting tired of
the place, In style suggesting that she
would not be sorry If l left. One morn.
Ing she observed to me-: II am expecting
visitor here, Florrie. He may come any
day, I'm not sure Of particular time. 1t
it is a gentleman who is coming to see
the farm. You know am selling the
place. I intend going to America"
1t was the first time had heard of any
| of her plans, and l 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 not
| come with her?
"Oh, I've plenty to amuse myself with"
l answered. II 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 I, just to tease her.
Ellis 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. ""Tis all
here in the paper. III leave it for you to
read, since you're not able to come with
us, Miss Florrie."
She thrust a dirty local paper, some
two days old, into my hand, and then
ran after Annie, who was calling her.
After they left read the account Of
the conyict's escape with no particular
interest. 1t was written in sensational
style, giving a graphic description Of
the man, Jim Phipps, who was under
sentence Of 25 years for manslaughtcr
under such doubtful circumstances that
it seemed almost like murder.
Later in the morning some one opened
the gate. l saw tall. good looking man,
clean shaved, with something in his ap-
pearance that suggested an actOr-I knew
not why-carrying knapsack over his
shoulders.
Miss Rigwell at homer" he asked,
when l opened the door.
mo. My cousin has gone to Ashburton
and won't be home till late" Then sud-
denly remembering who this must be, I
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"
offered to dispose of his knapsack, but
he would not part with it. All my impor-
tunities only served to make him slip it
Aioli Hio suouiuelS, lay IL vi the taple
ana lean one elbow on it, while he ate
tne iuheneoh l had prepared Tor nm.
bad Dnrtmoor 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
look at the place"
Evidently he did not care for my So
clety, reflected. He was very willing to
leave me. Some men would have invited
me for stroll, or have staid to enter
tam me since he knew was alone. Mr..
Aartlands behavior did not progresses
me in his favor.
finlshed fome letters, made some do
nestle preparations and then thought Of
looking for my guest.
Out OF the back door I glanced over
the moor, where no tree or obstruction
hlndered the view for miles. l saw Mr..
Hartiand about quarter of mile from
the house. where brawling stream
dashed down the HILL But what was he
doing! Evidently he had found a spade,
FOR he seemed to be digging big pit
md deep. What an extraordinary per-
fOrmance!
crept up TO him, step by step, my
footballs making no sound on the soft
turf. He neither heard nor saw my ap-
proach.
The inseparablc knapsack was beside
him open, and it did not take long to dis
cover that Mr.. Hartland was burying
something. 1t was a conyict's dress! The
stranger was no man of business, but an
escaped criminal!
In an instant remembered the news
paper description. Jim Phipps was tall,
Of gentlemanly appearance and a man
Of good education. An involuntary ex-
rlamation escaped me. The man turned
round and saw me there. Never have I