The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-11-06
lCopyright, 1895, by
CHAPTER X.
Continued.

high road. But Jem, who did wish to
be heard, bawled out his answer at the
top of his voice:
"Yes, Mr.. Hemming, it's me right
enough. And maybe I've got as much
to tell you as you've got to ask me,
sirw
The detective saw that Nell, who
was now at the corner of the road, and
about to turn to go up to the front
door of the house, stopped, hesitated,
and seemed half-inclined to return to
where Jem stood.
Perceiving this, Jem drew back a
step and appeared to wait for her. But
Nell did not come back. After a few
moments of indecision, she disappeared
round the corner of the white house.
Jem Stickels, however, seemed either
10 have changed his mind about telling
the detective what he knew or to have
only meant to frighten the girl by
pretending that he was going to do SO;
for instead of speaking again to Hem
ming, he jumped over the fence into
the garden, and, running at full speed
across the now bare fower-beds, flat
tened his nose against the window Of
the kitchen, where light was burn
ing.
BY moving a few PAGES to the left,
the detective, from where he stood out
side the fence, could see that there
were figures moving inside the kitchen,
and could presently distinguish the
two figures within as those of Nell and
Miss Bostal respectively. He could
see, also, although he could hear moth
ing, that Nell was pouring out some
narrative in an excited manner, and
that the elder lady was quietly listen
ing.
"Ah! ah! ahr'
The hoarse sound of Jem Stickels's
derisive laughter suddenly startled The
two ladies, who sprang apart and
glanced at the window.
"Ah! ah! ah~ roared the young fish
erman agIin.
The detective was on the point of
leaping the fence, with the intention of
addressing Jem, when the back-door
of the house was suddenly opened, and
Miss Bostal, we'll muffled up in d thick
woolen shawl, so that only her little,
thin pinched nose and gentle light eyes
could be seen, addressed the fisher
man in kindly tones from out Of the
woody depths Of her covering.
"Jem Stickels, is that you? What
are you doing out there, frightening us
out of our lives? If you have anything
to say to us. come inside"
But the lady's voice, kindly yet I'M
perious, seemed to render the surly
young fellow somewhat abashed. He
would have skunk away and got back
over the fence into the field again, but
that there was tone of command IN
the prim little lady'S voice which made
him pause.
81 haven't got nothin' to say to neith-
er of you" grumbled he, sullenly.
"Who said as 1 had? I haven't said
nothin' to nobody, barrin' just this:
That I don't see why Miss in there
should treat me as if were dirt, and
that if she goes on treatin' me that
way, I've got the means Of being even
with her."
The little prm lady could be heard
to sigh. She seemed genuineiy con-
cerned about this matter.
"But haven't you heard" said she.
with a prim little affectaticn of
sprightIiness, "'that faint neart never
won fair LADY" How is it thnt you
are so sure that Miss Claris means to
treat you badly"
How am 1 sure?' beloved Jem,
flaming up into wrath. "Why, I'm sure
of it because she does it-because she
never meets me but what she turns
her head away as If was beneath my
lady's notice That's why I am sure,
an that's why say Ill be even with
her."
Dear, dear" bleated Miss Bostal, as
she drew her shawl more closely about
her. 81 shouldn't have expected a
brave fellow like you to threaten a
lady"
Jem only grunted-
II should have expected you to have
more patience. Come, now, shall /
speak to her for you? I don't know,
mind, that can DO any good; but if
any word of mine can help the path
of true love run smooth, why, I'll say
It with pleasure"
Rut Jem only replied by q jeering
laugh.
81 mean it," chirped the lady. "rll
speak to her myself. And now Will you
come into the kitchen and hear me
speak to her? Perhaps that will sat-
isfy you"
After a few minutes hesitation Jem
sl0uched into the passage; and Miss
Bostal was about to close the door,
when the detective, who had taken
care to hear every word of this COLO
guy. appeared suddenly before her, and
put bis hand upon the door.
Peg pardon, na'am, but / should
like q few words with you, if you'll
be so good as to see me for few min
utes privately. My names Hemming,
maam; and daresay it's got to your
ears that I'm here about tnis robbery
business at the Blre Lion
Miss Rostal, who had uttered little
shrill scream of fright on the first
appearance Of the stranger, now re-
covered herself and gave little gasp
of acquiescence.
"Oh. yes, l kunw-I've heard. You
are the-Yes. come in
He entered. waited while she shut
the door, and then followed. by her
direction, not into the kitchen, but to