The Holly chieftain., 1904-02-05
CHAPTER TX.
A Startling Discovery.


occurred to him that he would be the
better for wash and meal. There
was an unassumng little inn not far
from where he stood. II looked clean
and inviting to the weary young fel-
low, and thither he bent his steps
only to find that the modest little
hostelry was already besieged by
those whose Grand had been the same
as his own. He was told by the land
lord himself, almost before he had
time TO frame the inquiry, that they
We're full up to the hay loft; but it
was Just possible that he might find
someone in the village who might be
able to take him in. Mine host strong
ly recommended the gentleman to go
and secure old Mother Jinman's room.
A small urchin who was hanging
about the door. was induced, by the
prospect of twopence, to show the way
to the old DANES cottage.
Having seen the room a funny little
place up under the roof, in which he
could barely stand upright, but which
,spotlessly clean as it was, seemed
very haven of rest to the worn out
young man, and having expressed him
sell as satisfied, and paid five shill.
ings in advance, as token of good
faith, the old dame departed in search
OF new laid eggs, from her own hens,
to serve up for her new lodger's break
fast. r.'.-'
In the meantime the young man
threw himself into chair with a
,i,rl, ;nh -, IL
heard as she shut the door upon him.
She returned to the room, in about
half an hours time with a tray, which
contained the homely but excellent
country fare she had prepared, and,
finding no notice taken of the knock,
with which she announced the arrival
of breakfast, pushed open the door
and entered.
She found the new lodger fast
resting on the table, and, depositing
her tray thereon also. stood regarding
him with motherly solicitude.
Poor, dear, young gentleman" she
murmured to herself, IF e donx look
dead beat! I'll jest put the breakfast
by i'm. SO as e can see it when g
wakes"
She left the room, closing the door
behind her, and still the young man
slept on, in spite of his constrained at
titude and the hardness of his pillow.
Another half hour passed, at the
end of which time another step was
heard ascending the crazy little wood.
en- staircase--a firmer step. but at the
same time lighter than the other and
another voice-this time masculine
one-might have been heard to say,
All right, Mrs. Jinman-don't you
trouble-will announce myself"
Which the speaker proceeded to do
first of all by the application of his
knuckles, which, proving Intellectual
was followed by the lifting of the
latch, and the appearance OF the figure
of DR.. jeremiah Cartwright upon the
threshold.
He, too, contemplated the sleeping
figure doubtfully. ''Humph!" he re.
marked, half aloud. Asleep, eh?
Good thing, too gone through a lot;
worn himself out. Hullo! What's
this? Breakfast, eh? All got cold,
too! Better wake him up after ALT"
This he did very gently; and Ted
Burritt started up, rubbing his eyes.
Then, recognizing the situation as
well as the personality of the indi-
vidual who confronted him.
"Oh, Lord!" he cried. with a groan,
I'D forgotten all about it. But tell me
what the exam"
The doctor interrupted him with q
gesture. Whats that | see?" look
ing at the viands through his gold.
-immed spectacies. Tea? eggs? but
ter? cream? brown bread? My
news will keep; your breakfast won't,
or, rather has been kept too long al
ready. Sit down at once and dispose
of the contents of that tray, or you
don't get another word out of me-"
Ted was astonished to find how hun
cry he was, and had soon cleared the
board; though. at the same time, he
found it rather embarrassing to feel
that he was an object of interest I'd
an individual in gold-rimmed spec.
tacles, who stared at him persistenty
through them, and kept up running
commentary under his breath all tho
time. Some of the calculations, too.
VIII n caught his ear were decidedly
of a nature to arouse curiosity on the
part c: the hearer, who now and then
could net avoid overhearing such frae.
ments as these-"Mysteriou affair
should like to get at the bottom of it.
Talk about sensational incidents!
Wonder how he'll take it!'' etc.
and now said the young man,