Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-05
CHAPTER


We went inside at once, and made all
fast. The women betook themselves 10
the sick chamber, and settled myself
by the fire. In two minutes a knocking
came at the door. a parley ensued,
and then William bargained to admit
the constable and no one else.
"There's no other man got n right
i'm here. and I'll nave no noisy crowd
trauplirg about this house and my
mistress on her d~eath-bed," said VIII
liam.
Humphrey Brown, the constable,
agreed to this, and a momen later he
walked into the kitchen-a big, broad
faced, good-humored- looking rustic.
IT'S a thing / never looked for from
Won. Humphrey" said William, follow
ing him, and my mistress as she Is"
'You don't suppose, William, I'm do
ing this for my OWL pleasure, do ye?
yer man been threatening me with
goodness knows what because L
wouldn't up and rush here twenty min
utcs agone.'
Thanks, good Humphrey thought
"Ha' we got the old doctor about,
WiIiam?" asked the constable, in n
confidential voice, and who's yon
young MANI"
I'm tell you who are in this house
besides ourselves, Humphrey said
William, ana JHdl ) lhc lIloll CSS bNN-
daughter, a lady come this day from
Wales, and her two servants, ana thal 8
one Of them"
LAY, ay," said the other, wagging his
head, zone on the poor creatures with
never a word but his own outlandish
tongue, / suppose. Well, William, I'll
look about a bit just to please yon
busybody and say alrs clear wi ye."
They left the kitchen and l sat and
listened eagerly.
Suddenly a sharp wall came from the
sick room. The doors were open and
I caught family the cry, MY mistress,
my poor mistress"
Death, thought I. Poor lady, she is
gone and death it proved. L heard
William cry out and run to the room
and a moment after the constable strobe
heavily down the passage to the door.
He drew the bolt ard murmured softly
to some one without.
Then / demand admittance,"- cried q
sharp voice. My precise orders are to
take charge of everything instantly
upon the Gecease Of Mistress Whitgift.
Make way
SO far as I can learn, no one either
disputed the claim or barred the way,
and in bounced q small, stout, fussy
man, dressed in black, and looking him
about on all sides, as IL he expected to
make important discoveries at every
glance.
And whom have we here?" he cried
pointing at me a can which he carried.
Pray, who are your"
| made no haste to answer, and the
good-natured constable put in a word
for me.
"'Tis a servant of the young lady
from Wales, Master Johnson" said he,
and has never a wore OF our lam
guage."
This flight on the part of honest
Humphrey did me excellent service,
and / took care to continue mute.
The attorney paid no more heed to
me, as a person too insignificant for
his notice, and now began to issue
shgill orders and browbeat William,
who, his face running with tears, had
presented himself at command.
AS | watched this turn of affairs with
an uneasy mind, l saw Enid come in ut
the door and move swiftly down the
Dom toward me. At sight of her the
nan at law lifted his head, as If 10 call
her to book, as he was doing everyone
else; but luckily, both for him and for
me, he thought better of 1t hen he saw
who she was, n let her pass with
nothing more than a broad, insolent
stare, for which l would have willingly
buffeted him.
That she should come TO give some
orders 10 her servant was a thing nat
uraI enough, and when ! stood up to
listen to her, no one paid any further
heed 10 US, WE were Isolated by the