The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-06
50 NEIGHBORS."

Caroline Ann Stevens sat in her
small kitchen and thought over the
events of the morning. She was not
accustomed to reflection, and her brow
was puckered with the effort. She
would have given a fortune, had she
had one, to undo her action of an hour
ago, but as it could not be she was
suffering more than she would ever
have confessed to any one. A sombre
peace reigned in the little whiteWashed
square which inclosed her cottage and
three others. The gossip and excite
ment of the early morning had subsid-
ed, and the neighbors sat in twos and
threes in their homes discussing wheth-
er any of them would be required to
give evidence if 1t was really true that
the police had been sent for. In the
next cottage sat Mrs. Treglisson, whose
s*souI had been torn out of the top OF
her head" as Wilmot Tregarth ex-
pressed it. and with a grim smile on
her face which i'll accorded with her
two black eyes and the white cloth
round her forehead.
AS Caroline Ann meditated she heard
a knock on her door. She was a DfaVe
she said Come in" 1t was Police
Caroline Ann looked up at him quick
" and he coughed slightly as he put
his hand in a determined way on tne
''1 s.yybatever do e want 'ere?" the wo-
-'' You" replied Constable Uren.
"Sakes!'' said Caroline Ann what
ever fur?" =.
a formal way, for he could hear peopie
stunning round the door, Into the rea-
son why Mrs. Treglisson have peeh
furiously assaulted by you.
Caroline Ann had finished her thlnk-
ing and the relief was gradually APP
nearing in her face. She was essentially
a woman of action. In the hVe years
she rad lived out nthe west IN AIneL
she had lived out IN the west IN Ahlel,
hecause of her strength of character ana
oS1nost masculine courage. Even in this
little village few people cared TO pro-
woke her as it was rumored that she
still kept a pistol hidden IN neI posoIh
as she did in the Wilds of America 70
wen by report, and he did not mean 10
he conciliated. So when she busted a
chair and offered it to him, ne salo
sternly: mo, thank you. can near
better standing" This seemed TO upse.
Caroline Ann. She had a dim feeling
that if she could stand over him as she
talked. she could COW him; but he STOOD
before her as straight as a ramroo- ,o,,
seWhat ave you to soy for yourself =
said he, for he heard Suppressed
cough outside.
Caroline Ann folded her arms in de-
terrnined way, STROBE out into the MD
die of the room, and stood in a nghtlng
attitude with her feet apart as she an
DO YOU 'appen to know the beastly
toad as is at the bottom of all this %
ssIssi' answered the constable, re-
lapsing into his native tongue sne oe
a relation mine" -
aObis' said Caroline Ann, then it's
we'll for her as there be a policeman IN
the family, for maybe he can give sne
a. hint or two. She's real varmlnt, l
can tell 'e, and no mistake.
verely. as an answer to giggle at the
door as well as to the woman before
him. You're only making matters
worse for yourself in court by ana by.
What am here for IS 70 know why YOU
assaulted the woman? p
| Fer the reason gave you answered
| Caroline Ann, sullenly. shes a real
she devil, and enough to upset worlo
| to. saw nothin' of a village.
| Police Constable Uren raped marc
on the table. for he heard a litter out
side. and he knew that half the Vllla2e
was there by now. 1t was time to DC
getting to facts. woman outside NUT
! tered, "She've got he there, sure
| enough and so put him on his mettle
Tell YOUR story, Mrs. Stevens, ne
said, sternIy, without caiuHny he
almost heard the "ohP' of wonder and
/ admiration outside.
He had not been in the force very
long, and he was glad to have a little
practice in dealing with Offenders,
MY story be short enough an
swered Caroline Ann, placidly. She
and me be Eeighbors, and keep a few
head of poultry. and once or twice the
/ pullats have wandered into her gar
! den Fowls amt Christians she said
appeaIingly, as she looked up into the
constable's face. They don't know
notifn' about the rights o. property
How should they? A blade O. grass in
one place Is like a blade O. grass il
another to they Well" she went on
in weary voice. s'she worried and
worried ever they hens going into hel
garden till her husband told mine as
I he believed she'd take i'll over it. Bu1
she didn't She threw a stone one day
and famed my best rooster instead
! "a cI1raa m, slammed her foot sava sre.