Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-07-11

threatened.
But Jem Stickels knew with whom
he had to Geal. Thrustng his hands
into his pockets, lie contented himself
with barring her passage with his per-
son, skillfully battling each attempt she
made to pass him. These attempts on
her side. and the successful move
ments by which Jcm frustrated them,
brought both the young people near
enough to the detective in his place of
concealment for him to hear the words
which the fisherman addressed to the
girl.
look here" lie said roughly, and
in no very subdued voice, ''you had
better listen to what I've got to say.
and so I tell you. For II you don't, I'll
just take myself off and say it to some
body else instead"
Indeed, that is Just what l want
you to do" answered Nell, Indignantly.
you know very well that don't wish
to talk to you now or at any other
time, DuC especially now.
"What do you mean by especially
now,' eh, Miss Fine-Lady- PeacOck?"
asked Jem, who had evidently been
drinking, although he knew what he
was doing.
But for answer the girl turned sud.
denly and started to run back to the
inn. Jem, however, being prepared for
such attempt, soon caught her, and
this time they were too far away from
the detective to hear what they said,
although he could distinguish the tones
of their respective voices.
1t was evident that the very next
words uttered by Jem made a great
and terrible impression upon Nell.
Her face, which had at first expressed
nothing but loathing and disgust, be-
came in a moment rigid with horror,
Us the young man, standing quite close
to her, and speaking in hoarse whis.
Per, said something to her In an ex-
cited and earnest manner.
So anxious was the detective to learn
what it was which produced so strong
an effect upon the girl, that he crawled
from his hiding place to the ditch
which ran alongside the road, and
crept along, sometimes in the water,
and sometimes only in the mud. until
lie was close enough to the two speak.
crs to catch most Of their words. When
he stopped, the girl was refusing some
request Of the mans, with all the en-.
crgy Of loathing and detestation.
"Of course 1 will not" she was say
ing vchemently. "Of course, nobody
would believe you for a moment. And
l don't suppose you would dare to tell
them to anybody else, for fear of be-
ing taken for lunatic."
Don't you? Oh, all right, then.H
sneered lem. 81 may tell that Hem
ming then, that's been spying round
here lately, and that's put your uncle's
back up so by the questions he's been
asking. l may tell him, eh, Miss"
The detective could not see the girls
face as she answered, after little
pause:
"You may conc up with me to Shin
gle END, and tell your story to the
colonel and Miss Theodore; that's
what you may do-if you dare"
There was another pause, and tho
detective knew, from the way in which
she had uttered these words, as we'll
as from the attitude in which she wait
ed for the fishcrman's answer, that she
was less defiant than her words. At
last the fisherman spoke again. And
it was clear that the proposal was not
TO his taste.
Look here, Miss Nellw said he. in
argumtntative tone, do you really
dare me to do that? Come, you know
as shouldn't have dared to have spok-
en- to you so open if hadn't got proof
positive. Now, come, should I? Why,
your face told as how you knowed l
knowed, and SO what's the good of
Drawing me? And knowing what
know, isn't it plain / mean no harm,
when l could easy earn pound or two
out of peachin' to the detective chap?
Come, now, you must see it, eh?
Come and say it out. then. before
Witnessed dare you to do itv' re.
tortcd Nell, with a little more assur-
ance as she noted the mans reluct-
ance to take this step.
mo, shan't" he replied, sulIenly.
II shall go to work my own way. And
/ say this: if you choose to speak civil
to me, don't ask for much more, and
TO ask me in to tea with you and your
uncle, just how you asked the young
swells as were down here three months
sack, why, hold my tongue, and it'll
go no farther tnan you and me. But
If you don't choose to do this"
Il don't chooser' retorted Nell, quite
fiercely. II tell you the whole story
is absurd, and that nobody would be-
iieve you for a moment, and you can
tell it to whom you please"
And she suddenly sprang away from
Jem, and gaining the road with rapid
steps, walked quickly in the direction
of Single End.
"All right! shouted Jem, threaten
ing,y, in stentorian tones, as he kept
pace with her, walking towards the
colonePs house by the fields, as she
went by the road. "But If you'll take
my advice, you'll make a clean breast
Of it to your grand friends. and see If
they don't say you'd best keep in with
mop