Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-07-18
Copyright, iess, By
iCOpl
CHAPTER X.

TO De DearQ, Stlll waking along the
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. Jcm drew back
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
TO have changed his mind about telling
the detective what he knew or to have
only meant to brighten 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 flower-beds. fiat
tened his nose against the window of
the kitchen, where q 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! ali! ah"'
The hoarse sound Of Jem Stickels's
derisive laughter suddenly startled rhe
two ladies. who sprang apart and
glanced at the window.
"Ah! ah! ah!" roared the young fish,
erman again.
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 muffied up In thick
wooden 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? II 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 Meth
kr of you" giumbled he, snllenly.
"Who said As / had? 1 haven't said
hothin to nobody, barrin' just this:
That | don't see why Miss in there
should treat me as if I were dirt, and
that IL she goes on treatin' me that
way, I've got the means of being even
with her."
The little prim lady could be heard
20 sigh. She seemed genuinely con-
Cerned about this matter.
"But haven't you heard" said she,
with prim little affectaticn OF
sprightliness. THAT faint heart never
won fair lacy" How is it that you
hre so sure that Miss Claris means to
treat You badly
"How am l 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 I was beneath my
lady's notice. That's why / am sure.
an that's why l say I'll be even with
her"
Dear. dear" bloated Miss BOstal. as
she drew her shawl more closely about
her. Il shouldn't have expected n
brave fellow like you to threaten a
lady"
Jem only grunted.
81 should have expected you to have
more patience. Come. now, shall
speak to her for you? don't know
mind, that / can 30 any good; but if
any word of mine can help the path
of true love run smooth, why, I'll say
i with pleasure"
But Jem only replied by a jeering
laugh.
Il mean it," chrpcd the lady. 'Tll
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 Jcm
slouched into the passage; and Miss
30 ,tal was about to close the door.
when the detective, VINO had taken
care TO hear every word of this collo'
uuy, appeared suddenly before her, and
put hi. hand upOo the door.
BEG pardon. ma'am, but l should
like a few words with you, IL you'll
he so good as 10 see ne for few minis
utes privately. My names Hemming'
maam; and daresay It's got to your
ears that I'm here ab'nt this robbery |
businMs at the Blre Lion
Miss Bostal, who had uttered little
shlfl scream OF fright on the first
appearance Of the stranger, now re-
covored herself anu gave little gasp
If oon,ipS .p0cc