Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-12-03
CHAPTER X.-(ContinuedD


"Or what she thinks we ought to do.
propose we 60 the abbey and find
out what has frightened her.
at wor murder, she said re-
marked one of the slowest and most
deliberate of the natives, land that
was one of the murderers hat"
"Aye!" said the others.
"And Joseph Morley, he says
straight out, says he, that is Gentle
man Parker's hat, and we know who
he be. If he's up and killed the black
looking chap as he come wi first to
the Star and Garter, why, | for one
shan't profess to be sorry"
Nor me if it weren't felony" said
Morley. But mayhap that would
clear the road for Jack; and I'd pre-
fer him to follow me at the Star and
Garter, with Mary for his missus, than
see her married to the starchiest no
bleman that ever wore coronet and
robe OF ermlne."
Morley is a trife flowery," said
Taylor to Wilson; and as he delivered
himself of this declaration, he went
into the inner room and left the COM
pany with their surmises and their
varied suggestions of what it should
be their duty to do under the circum-
stances.
While they were discussing the sub
ject over the last of the second bowl
OF punch the storm rose in fury. For
moment it seemed as II the wind
had driven in the door; but it was not
the wind only that came banging into
the hall and then into the room, but
Squire Bellingham's groom.
Before any one could question him,
he said in slow, numbering fashion,
II was takin' q sup at Hark-to-Rover
on the way hum, for 1 expected Squire
In hauf an hour. and was a-ridin'
ovid mare in from farm, when we
hearn such a hammerin' on t'road as
you'd a. thowt devil hissen was ridin'
a race, and we goes to door, and there
in t'moonleet l seed Squire's own nag
come tearin' weet its main Almost
on end, its mouth open, its eyes like
Goals o. f1re And out into road, and
l says so no! So no, William' as its
naame he knows hissen by; and he
pulls UP straight, and stands a-trem-
bin as If he'd seen a ghostl And /
says as If he could answer me, says |;
Where's the SQUIRE? and then ovid
man at Hark-to-Rover, he brings out
a lantern, and there was blood on t.
saddle, and | thowt mayhap t. con-
stable might be here and may be he'd
like to go wi me down t'Harrogate
Road to see what's up-for summat's
up, that's sartin, and summat awful il
1 knows owt of William"
"The constable is not here" said
Taylor "but we will go with you, some
Of us, and see what can be done"
"Thank you kindly" said the groom
tapping on the counter.
Tom answered the summons with
the remark: II reckon missus Is bit
out O. sorts, and gunner, too. What
might 1t be, James?"
"a glass O. rum, hot said James.
IT reckon mayhap a bit o. Dutch cour-
age mebbe useful, If we're to seek
Squire down by t. abbey; for mex
out O. William that he hadna come
far at that pace, seein' as weren't in
no sweat; and | allus towd Squire as
I hated that bend T. the road, by plan
tation, where they said murder was
done doant knaw how many years
agone and they do say as that's where
they gibbeted t. malefactor, though it
nun been long afore my time. Here's
looking towards you. gentlemen"
Both Tom AID the company watched
the gnarled. sturdy, slow old groom as
he told his story, drank his rum and
then invited them as nd loike the
job" to come and see what was up,
Wilson and the rest followed the
'Squire's man; all except Tom and Mr..
Taylor.
Tom stood silently behind the bar.
Mary was sitting by her uncle's side,
pale, troubled, fearless, but suffering
great mental agony.
Jack Meadows was on his feet,
watching the girl and listening to old
Morley with acute interest,
Taylor paused as he closed the door.
II am an old friend" he said. 'can 1
be Of any service to you, neighbor
Morley, or to Miss LOCKWOOD"
II was just telling her." said Morley
in his piping tones; 81 was saying it
will be Of no avail to try and hide
anything from justice. II murder has
been done, and she holds the clue, it
is her bounden duty, even if was the
culprit, or whoever the oulprit might
be, to give him up"
you don't know what you say"
Mary answered. ASK me no more
questions tonight"
Morley stepped aside to speak conf
dentially to Taylor.
AS he did so Mary whispered to