The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-07-13
IN.
fG--4;D-n1N

bolt was slipp'u hastily back and the
wicket door opened stealthily.
II want" said l. room for my horse
to pass"
Thereupon more grumbling follow'd,
and q prodiSious creaking Of bolts anu
chains; after which the big gate swung
stifiy back. -.
Sure. you must be worth 4 DEAL
/ said, that shut yourself in so care
full"
Before me stood a strange fellow
extraordinarily old and bent, Win a
wizen'd face, one eye only. and a min
that almost touched his nose. He wore
a dirty suit of livery, that had once
been canary yellow; and shook with
the palsy.
Master Tingcomb will see the young
man." he sQueak'd, nodding his mead;
"but is a-reading just now his Bible"
"A pretty habit" answered l, Leading
in Molly-"if unreasonable. But why
not have said so?"
He seem'd to consider this for a
while, and then said abruptly:
Have some pastry and some good
Iider?"
why, yes" I said, with all my
heart. when l have stabbed the sorrel
here"
He led the way across the court,
well paved but chok'd with Weeds'
toward the stable. l found it a spa
cious building, and counted sixteen
stalls there, but all were empty save
two. where stood the horses ! had
seen in Bodmin the day before. HaV-
ing stabbed Molly, 1 left the place
(which was thick with cobWebs) anu
followed the old servant into the
house.
lie took me into a great stone kitch-
en-. and brought out the pastry II
cider, and poured out half a glass
only.
"Have a care. young man! IT'S a
luscious. thick, seductive drink" n
he chuckled.
"'Twould turn the edge Of a knife"
I said. tasting it and looking at him.
but his one bleared eye was lnscrut-
able. The pasty also was moldy n
I soon laid it down.
Hast a proud stomach that cometh
of faring sumptuously: the beef there
in is our own killing" said he.
"Young sir, art a man Of blood. l
greatly fear, by thy long sword ana
hardness with the firearms"
"Shall be presently" answered l, II
Won lead me not to Master Ting
comb"
He scrambled up briskly and tot
tered out of the kitchen into a stone
corridor. l after him. Along this he
hurried. muttering all the way, ana
halted before a door at the end. With
out knocking he pushed it open, and
motioning me to enter, fastened PACK
as he had come.
Come in," said a voice that seemed
familiar to me.
Though, as you know. twas still
high day, in the room where now l
found myself was every appearance OF
night: the shutters being closed ana
six tighten candles standing on Il
table. Behind them sat the venerable
gentleman whom I had seen in the
coach. now wearing a plain suit OF
black ard reading in a great book that
Law open on the table. I guessed 1t to
be the Bible. but noted that the can
dies had shades about them, so dis
posed as to throw the light. not on the
page. but on the doorway where 1
stood. -.
Yet the old gentleman, having bid
me enter, went on reading for a While
as though wholly unaware Of me,
which I found somewhat netting, SO
began:
81 speak, 1 believe, to Master Han
nibal Tingcomb, steward to Sir Dea-
kin Killigrew:"
He went Oh as if ending his SEN
tence aloud:
"And my darling from the power OF
the dog"
, Here he paused with finger on the
place and looked up.
tsYes, young sir. that is my name
steward to the late Sir Deakin KILL
grew"
1.-THE late?" I cried. "Then you
know"
Surely I know that Sir Deakin is
dead, else should 1 be but an unworthy
steward"
He opened his grave eyes as if in
wonder.
"And his o also?"
"Also his son., Anthony. a headstrong
boy, l fear me, a consortec with vile
characters. Alas, that I should say
it,"
"And his daughter. Mistress Della?'
"Alas." and he fetched q deep sigh.
do you meal sir, that she, too, is
dcad?'
"Why. to be sure-but let US talk
on less painful matters
In one moment, sir: but first tell
ne-wherc she did die. and when"
For nv heart stood still, and l was
fain to clutch the table between US to
keep me from falling. I think this did
not escape him, for he gave me a sharp
look, and then spoke very quiet and
hush'd.
'She was cruelty killed by highway
men, at the Three Cups Inn, some
miles out of Hungerford. The date
given me is the Cd Of December last"
With this q great rush Of JOY came
over me. and l blurted out. delighted:
"There, sir. you are wrong! Her
father was killed on the night of which
you ~spcak-cruelly enough. as you say;
but Mistress Della Killi%rew escaped,