The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-09-08

I
"That" was branch of the s1est-
nut tree out in the lane which gust
of wind had blown against the iron
gate, rafting It across the bars with
rather an uncanny sound. I'm get
ting horribly frightened, Fergy," said
her mistress. But Ferguson, a
stout old lady or the mother-of-the-
British yeoman type laughed at her,
sat down in the armchair by the fire,
and drew Miss Aggie's" head onto
her shoulder.
'T do wish John would come back"
remarked Mrs. Carrisbrooke again.
"Fergy, there's somebody down at the
gate leading into the lane-a man!
| saw him, and he's trying to climb
over oh. Fergy, Fergy, we shall all
be murdered in our beds!"
Now, don't be foolish, Miss Aggie
don't you now!" said Ferguson.
1--WE can't be murdered in our beds
while we're sitting by the drawing
room fire. And there isn't anybody at
the back garden gate. Why should
there be-"
The gate leading into the lane be-
hind Hambredon Cottage was never
used, and had not been opened since
the Carrisbrookes had been there. 1t
was at the back of the house, and
even the tradespeopie used the front
gate as rule Still, as Ferguson
presently said, there wasn't any rea-
son why one of the tradesfolk should
MT have more manners than the rest
and go round to the back for en-
trance, as they all ought to.
The wind was whistling loudly,
too-whooing like mammoth owl, and
presently above it rose a Changing,
Gathering sound, which the two wom-
en- in the drawing room both heard,
though very family.
Hes trying TO get fn!" almost
screamed Mrs. Carrisbrooke. THAT
was the sound of mis- boots on the
sheathfng inside the lower part of the
railing. And can see him. Look,
look, Fergy! There. Don't you see
there's man, standing right up
against the gate?'
"And if there is. Miss Aggie, what
of that?" said Ferguson. Its prob
ably somebody with the petrol which
master ordered, and which the lazy
bones at Tantler's didn't think to
bring up to the house till now. I'll
just go down and let him in
"Fergy, you. shan't, you shan't!"
and little Mrs. CarrisDrooKe became
almost hysterical. But Ferguson
was made OF sterner stuff, and, after
a short lecture on tie foolishness of
sitting there without light, and
thinking about ghosts and burglars
and such things as that, when there
was cheerfuInesss and light down at
the bottom OF the garden, she put her
shawl on and declared her intention
of going down and letting in the man.
What we heard was probably him
ringing at the gate" she said.
ut couldn't be-" gasped Mrs. Car
risbrooke. crying a little. ut could
MT be! The b-b-bell is broken.
noticed that this morning"
''Then he was kicking of his toes
agin the ironwork along the bottom,
Miss" said FERGUSON. "lt isn't man
ners, but it's JUST exactly what
should expect Of that young man from
Tantler's. And now I'm going down"
"Then take Johns pistol with you,
Fergy. or the carving knife, or some
thing"
Miss Aggie." sainr the old lady,
with chuckle, II wouldn't carry one
of them revolver things down the
back garden in the dark. not If there
was burglar, but know I should
bad characters a'waitin' to get in.
might brighten the burglar. II it
was burglar. but I know should
do myself an injury. And don't you
be so foolish. dearier. Burglars don't
make no noises down at gates They
just gets in and burgles. That's their
business" And. kissing her young
mistress. Ferguson told her to look
at the fire and not at the window,
and went down to the gate leading
into the lane.
1t seemed to Aggie Carrisbrooke
that her old nurse had been gone
several hours. She had her fingers
tightly rammed into her ears, and
tried hard to keep her attention on
the fire. but couldn't manage it, and
suddenly she jumped up and ran to
the window. Yes, there was no doubt
of it. The gate into the lane stood
open wide, and up the garden path
came Ferguson. running as fast as
she could. her gray hair fallen
down and streaming out behind her,
and her usually rudy face white with
ungovernable terror.
Aggie tore out to the front door to
let her in. slammed. bolted and chain
ed 1t behind her, and, before giving
or asking any explanation. the two
women. womanlike, fell into one an
others arms and sobbed for SYM
pathy
1.-The knife. the knife!" said Fer
gusson. when she could get her
breath. when | got down to the