The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-04-27
SILVER SPUR
CHAPTER XVII.

now at last came the SOUND or 1O0tStepS
shutting across the court within. The
shutter Of the grating was slipp'd back
and a voice, crack'd as the bell, asked
my business
ITO see Master Hannibal Tingcomb,"
answered l.
Thy name?"
He shall hear it in time. Say that /
come on business concerning the estate"
The voice mutter'd something, and the
footsteps went back. / had been kicking
my heels there for twenty minutes or
more when they returned. and the voice
repeated the question
Thy manner"
Being by this time angered, did a
foolish thing; which was to clap the
muzzle Of my pistol against the grating,
close to the fellows noss. Singular to
say, the trick serv'd me. A bolt was
slipp'd hastily back and the wicket door
opened stealthily.
II want" said 1. room for my horse
to pass"
Thereupon more grumblirg follow'd.
and a prodigious creaking Of bolts and
chains; after which the big gate swung
stifiy back.
"Sure, you must be worth a DEAL" 1
said, that shut yourself in so careful
Before me stood a strange fellow-ex-
traordinarily old and bent, with wizen'd
face, one eye only, and a chin that al
most touched his nose. He wore dirty
suit OF livery, that once had been canary
yellow; and shook with the palsy.
Master Tingcomb will sec the young
man." he squeak'd, nodding his head;
''but is a-reading just now his Bible"
He led the way across the court. well
paved but chok'd with weeds. toward the
stable. / found it spacious building,
and counted sixteen stalls there, but all
were empty save two, where stood the
horses | had seen in Bodmin the day
before Having stabbed Molly, l left the
place and followed the old servant into
the house.
He tottered into a stone corridor, af
ter him. Along this he hurried, mutter-
ing all the way, and halted before door
at the end. Without knocking, he push
ed it open, and motioning me to enter,
fastened back as he lad come
Come in" said voice that seemed
familiar to me.
Though twas still high day, in the
room where now l found myself was ev-
cry appearance of night; the shutters be-
ing on the tablet. Behind them sat the
venerable gentleman whom had seen in
the coach, now wearing a plain suit of
black and reading in a great book that
lay open on the table. l guessed it to be
the Bible. but noted that the candles had
shades about them, so disposed as to
throw the light. not on the page, but on
the doorway where stood.
II speak, / believe, to Master Hanni-
bal Tingcomb. steward to Sir Deakin
Killigrew?'
Yes. young sir. that is my name
steward to the late Sir Deakin Kill
grew"
THE late?' 1 cried. ''Then you
know"
Surely l know that Sir Deakin is
dead, else should 1 be but an unworthy
steward"
And his son alsoY'
ALSO his son. Anthony, a headstrong
boy. l fear me-"
And his daughter, Mistress DehaT
"Alas,' and he fetched a deep sigh.
DO you mean, sir, that she, too, is
dead?"
why. to be sure-but let us talk on
less painful matters"
where she did die, and whenT'
For my heart stood still, and / was
fain to clutch the table between us to
keep me from falling. l think this did
not escape him, for he gave me a sharp
look and then spoke ve- quiet and
hush'd.
"She was cruelty killet by highway
men, at the Three Cups inn, some miles
out Of Hungerford. The date given me
is the Sd of December last"
With this a great rush of Joy came
over me. and l blurted out, delighted:
There, sir. you are wrong! Her faith
er was kilrd on the night Of which you
speak-cruelly enough, as you say; but
Mistress Della Killigrew escaped, and
after the most incredible Adventures"
/ was expecting him to start up with
Joy at my announcement: but instead Of
this, he gaz'd at me very sorrowfully and
shook his head; which brought me to
stand.
Sir" l said, changing my tone, 81
speak but what / know; for twas had
the happy fortune to help her to escape,
and, under Gods hand, to bring her safe
to Cornwall"
Then, where is she nowr'
Now, this was just what l could not
tell. So. standing before him, 1 gave
him my name and history Of all my ad
ventures in my dear comrades company,
from the hour when l saw her first in the
Inn at Hungerford. He heard me to the
end attentively, but with a curling Of
the lips toward the close. such as / did
not like. And ri.el / had done, to my
amaze he spoke out sharply, and as if to
q wldpp'd schoolboy:
"'Tis q cock-an'-bul, story, sir, Of
which 1 could hope to make you asham-
ed. You were at that inn, and on that
night, with her murderers. Boy, have
evidence that, taken with your confess
ZION. would weave you halter; and am a
justice Of the peace. Be thankful, then,
that ] am a merciful man; yet be
abash'd."
Abash'd, indeed, l was; or at least
taken aback, to see this holy indigna-
ton and the flush on his waxen cheek.
Like fool / stood staggered, and won
dered dimly where had heard that thin
voice before. In the confusion Of my
senses I heard it say solemnly:
The sins of her fathers have over
taken her. as the Book of Exodus pro-
cIaim'd; therefore is her inheritance
wasted, and given to the satyr and the
wild ass"
and which of the twain be you, sir p