Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-06-28
CHAPTER XX.--Continued.,


you, and you shall set about making him
some broth. You have no idea how much
good that would do him.
When Heckleberry had been laid down
on his improvised bed, and the few In
structions which the surgeon from Rails
ton had given me for this crisis in the
affair carried out. l sent the cabman
away with generous fare. and a leaf
torn fron, my note book, which was to
be given to doctor In Market Fcyton,
and which. ! hoped, would bring him
over to the farm In the course OF the
afternoon.
When all was finished. and the old
woman. the dog and left alone will,
Heckleberry. who was now dclirious ana
raving of the accident. ! suddenly felt
a warm touch upon my hand rs ] stood
looking down at my strange patient. ana,
turning quickly, ! saw that the great dog
was smelling me and carcssing me with
his tongue. I pattcd the huge head.
almost out of proportion with the body.
and saw that the woman was gazing
with some apparent establishment at the
picture.
"That dog Is Jonas" she said. the first
words with any weight Of sanity In them
which had yet heard her speak. "Hc
bites strangers-if strangers come here.
Only they don't come very often"
II should imagine not" returned fer.
vently. "YOu see. the dog understands
that I mean well BY his master, AMI il
grateful for that"
YES" she vaguely responded. But
you oughtn't to have come here. you
know. Jonas won't like II when he
wakes up. He never let's anyone In, OK
cept them that comes to stay"
There was a slow, mysterious cnphn.
els about her last words which was at
loss to understand.
"Those who come to stay?' I echoed,
imprudently perhaps.
She pointed to the ceiling and nodded.
Then that's up there" she whispered.
"You don't mean the spidcrs!" | Iucs.
toned curiOusly.
She shook her head.
mo; not the spiders. Of course. Them
that come shut mp In carriages at night.
At the other place my daughter used to
look after EN-, and too. But that was
before I hurt my head. All. how l used
to make them jump and cry ont when
went In with the why! Them was the
good old days. But We had to come away
from there. It got too hot for us--that
was what Jonas said. And Naomi had
. good place. And thcn''--shc lowered
her voice-'thcn she came"
"SheY"
Eyes; the beautiful lady. oh. the night
che was brought here. no white. halt
dead! ] thought at first she was one Of
them. But no: Il was something worse
than that. My daughter Naon,i's clever.
Why, since Naomi went. you're the Hrs,
that's been, barrin' one y them. And
he's out there now. do you want t.
ssef'
She drew me by the coat sleeve TO the
window and pointed outward towards the
dark and rigid pines.
"Under one Of those trees" she vOlun,
teered, "JOnas made me help to dig. And
swore never to tell. but he was al.
ways afraid I would, ] know. That's
why he keeps me away from everyone
aud everyone away from me. Only yOu-
! know now that you're one OF his
friends"
A chill crept over me with her words
'Did-Jonas dig out there man,
timesY' I questioned.
I'm not sure how many. lie doesn',
tell me things any more. a. he used
Once walked In the night. and l coult
see him out there In the woods with 4
lantern, and I heard the sound OF hi,
spade In the sand. Next day, when
went to peep into that room upstairs. h,
was gone. And I've never seen him
again"
''By and b." ] said to myself. 81
shall have this blackmailer's secret lait
bare before me-a horrible secret 1t bid
fair to be. Then let him look for nj
mercy from me-
Then remembered the chance allusiO,
on the old wOman's part to the "beauti
Sul lady" who had come to them-whOs'
coming seemed to have been an epoch II
these strange and dreadful lives.
Heaven help her-it was the Woman
In Grayw I thought. But. though
might have drawn from those babblin
lips what would, now that the crea
lures confidence was won. ! determine,
to guard Consuelo's secret from nhysel
~ would 1rom the veriest stranger.
When ] heard it-as some day ! hope,
I.might-I would hear 1t from herself.
"Are you and your son living alon
In the house at PRESENT. ! asked eau
tiously, Cor" And came to sig
niAcant pause.
IAN but-the last" the beldame wills
pered. "Listen! And again she point
ed above.
I Obeyed. Save for the mutterings o
Jonas, there was silence for moment
and then heard, or thought l heard,
faint, irregular football, that went drag
ging to and fro over our heads.
"What makes that sOundy' l question
cd.
She started with sort Of nervou
jerk, like toy which Is pulled by
string.
what! Don't you know?" she in
Quired.
I'm NOT sure" ] responded caution,
~.
A look Of incalculable slyncss creI
over the thin face, and In that instant
recognized u likeness to Miss Trail, VIII
must be, ] was convinced, the old won
ans "clever daughter, Naomi"
"Ah, then. IL you don't know tina
you'd better so away from this-Inicl
Spiders! Yes; my son makes an homes
Twin out o. them. We rears 'em TO Sc
to the wine merchants, You know. an
gentlemen just startin' of wine cellars
who is in hurry for the bottles in thei
bins to look like old. You has no ide
what a call there Is for 'en. sir, and nc
but two or three more spider farms in tn
country"
The mother of the spider family seen
cd now to have completely forgotten he