The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-11-22

he Is seriously scs:T wnimpsred Ken
with the tears. et ;Sst released. run
ming down her cheeks.
Bu. 4 was not for him that Miss
Bostal spent her sympathy.
lit will be a lesson to him" she re-
peated. rather frigidly.
"And Jem-he will certainly keep
his word and give information to the
police tbs time"
Information of whatw
"Wny, of-the robbery: of what he
say1 he saww said Nell. fixing anxious
eyes on her friend. and droppin. her
voice.
Miss Eostal smiled in an amused
way.
Haven't you got over your dread Of
that yet: For my part, shall be very
glad when something Is known. Ny
father has been at the expense Of an
extra bolt on our back-door since this
scare has been about; and I myself
can never sleep more than an hour
without jumping up with the fancy
that l hear a burglar in the drawing.
room underneath"
But Nell said nothing. She remained
sitting i'm n constrained. almost awk.
ward attitude. crorching over the fire.
and throwing at her companion. from
time TO time, glances full Of shy in
curry and of unmistakable alarm.
Miss Bostal began to regard her pro-
tege with looks, il not of suspicion, at
least OF perplexlty.
It was plain that the old difficulty OF
8 maid and her lovers had begun to
cast the shadow OF arrangement be-
tween the friends.
There had been silence on both sides
for some Einrtes. when. at last, the
colonel's knock was heard ut the front
door. II had been his habit, until the
news Of the robberies st the Blue Liot
was whispered about. 10 let himself
into his house by simply turning the
handle. But now. in common prudence,
they deemed it necessary TO keep the
doors fastened from the inside.
With a sigh Of relief Miss Bostal
sprang NJ and hurried out te admit
her father.
"Why. papa. what makes ydH Sc
late? Nell has been with me. or
should have felt quite nervous"
The colonel came in with much
quicker steps than usual, but hi
stopped short on hearing the girl'i
name mentioned.
"Nellr' exclaimed he. And by hi:
manner Miss Theodore saw that some
thing unusual had occurred. Before
however. she had time to ask any
questions, he added. with a slight tosi
Of the head: "0h. well. the girl mus
hear it. Where is she:"
Nell had not moved from her seat by
the fire; but she held up her head
listening. 1t was in this attitude that
Colonel Bostal discovered her when he
threw open the dlninc-room door and
entered, followed ty his daughter.
"Well. papa, what is this wonderful
news" chirped Miss Theodore. quite
anxious for a little bit of gossip.
swell it's something very serious
very dreadful. indeed. A man was
found lying by the side Of the road this
evening. just outside Stroan. and IL
seems it is Jem Stickels."
.Dear. dear. not Intoxicated again.
hope, after all his promises:" said
Miss Theodore. apxiously.
mo, poor fellow" answered her
father, gravely. He was dead"
Both his hearers uttered cries Of as.
constituent and horror.
But it's not possible! They must
have made a mistake" urged Miss
Bostal. why. Nell and were talk
ing to him little before seven o'clock
And he was then quite well, perfectly
recovered"
The colonel looked from one to the
other in surprise.
"You We're talking to him. WhereT
eat Mrs. Mann's cottage. where he
lodges. He came TO the door and
spoke to us himself. He was very
disagreeable and rude to us. poor fel
low" said Miss Theodore. who seemed
unable to grasp the fact that the man
who had been so very fun of life and
its passions three hours before should
now be lying dead.
"-Ah. well. then you will both have te
make your appearance as witnesses
that's certain. For there will be an In
quest held tomorrow"
AS witnesses? How dreadful! Be
sides. what can We prove? He. wal
quite well then"
That's what you will have to prove
And hope you may succeed" said tho
colonel, obviously. "For II you don't
the young fellow that knocked hin
down and stunned him" Mel
looked up. pallid with fear-"thil
King. viii certainly be had up f0;
manslaughter."
Nell started up with a heartbroker
CRY.
"Oh, no, oh. no. How can that b
possible? He had quite recovered
when we saw him; Miss Theodore tell