The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-03-30
CHATTER XVII

my business
10 zee Master Hannibal Tinscomh,"
answered !.
Thy namc;''
"Hc shall hear Il In time. Say that
come on business concerning the estate.
The voice muttcr'd something. AMI The
footsteps went hack. had been kicking
my heels there for twenty minutes or
more when they returned. aud the voice
repeated the question
Thy namci'
Being by this time nngcrcd. | did y
foolish thing: which was To- clap the
muEzlc OF my pistol against the grating.
close 10 the fellows nose. Singular TO
say. the trick sc-y'd me. \ bolt was
slipp'd hastily back and the wicket door
opened stcalthlly.
Il want" said |. room for my horse
90 pass"
Thcrcupon more grumblins follow'd.
and n prodigious crcakins of bolts and
chains: after which. the bi: gate swun;
siiiily back.
"Snrc. You must be worth deal l
said, ''that shut yourself In so careful
Before me stood a strange fcllow-cx-
traordinarily old and bent. with wizcnd
face. ono eye only, and n chin that Al
most touched his nose. lie wore dirty
suit OF livery. that once had been canary
yellow: and shook with the palsy.
Master Tinscomb will see the young
man." he squcak'd, nodding his head:
"but II a.rcading just now his Bible"
lie led the way across the court, well
paved but chok'd with weeds. toward the
stable. I found IL n spacious building,
and counted sixteen stalls there, hut all
were empty save two. where stood the
horses | had seen in Bodmin the day
before. Having stabbed Molly. left the
place aud followed the old servant into
the house.
He tottcrcd into n stone corridor. ] af-
ter him. Along this he hurried. muttcr-
Ing all the way. and halted before door
nj the end. Without knocking. he push.
ed IL open. and motioning me 10 enter,
FASTENED back as he had come.
"Come in" said voice that seemed
familiar 10 me.
Though twas still high day. in the
room where now found myself WAS cv-
cry appearance or nisht; the shutters be-
Ing closed and six lighted candles stand
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 q great book that
lay open on the table. | guessed Il TO be
the Bible, but noted that the candles had
shades about them, so disposed rs TO
throw the light. not on the page, but on
the doorway where | stood.
IL speak. believe. 10 Master lIanni-
bal Tingcomb. steward 10 Sir Deakin
Killigrcwi"
"Yes. young sir. that is my name
steward TO the late Sir Deasin Kill.
grew"
'The later ! cried. Then you
know"
surely know that Sir Dcakin Is
dead. else should | bc but an unworthy
steward"
"And his son a!So:''
"Also his son. Anthony, hcadstrons
boy. fear me-"
"And his daughter. Mistress DcliaT'
Alas and he fetched deep sigh.
"Do you mean, sir. that she, too, Is
dcady'
"why. 10 be sure-but le, us talk on
less painful matters"
"In one moment. sir: but first tell mo
where she did die. and when!'
For my heart stood still. and | was
fsln 10 clutch the table between us 10
keep me from falling. | think this did
not escape him. FOR he gave me sharp
look. and then spoke very quiet and
hush'd
"Shc was cruelty killed by highway.
men. at tho 'Tarec Cups inn. some miles
gu; OF Hungcrford. The date given me
Is the 81 OF December last"
With this n great rush OF Joy came
over me. and blurtel out. delighted:
There. sir, you are wrong. Her faith
or was kill'd on the night OF which you
speak--cruclly enough. as you say; but
Mistress Della killigrw escaped. and
after the most incredible adyenturcs--'
was expecting him 10 start up with
10Y at my announcement: but instead OF
this. he gard NJ me very sorrowfully and
shook his head: which brought me 10 n
stand.
"slr." I said. changing my tone, 81
speak but what ] know: for twas i had
the happy fortune to help her 10 escape,
and. under Gods hand. 10 bring her safe
to Cornwall"
Then. where Is she now?"
Now. this was Just what i could mol
tell. so. standing before him. gave
him my name and history OF all my ad'
ventures In my dear comrades company,
from the hour when saw her first In the
Inn az Hungerfori. lie heard me TO the
end attcntivcly. but with a curling OF
the lips toward tie close. such as / did
not like And when | had done, 10 my
amaze he spoke out SHARPLY, aud rs if to
q wLippd schoolboy:
IT'S n cock-an'-bu!I story. sir, OF
which | could hope 10 make ron asham'
ell. You were at fiat inn. and OF that
night. with her muricrcrs. Boy. have
evidence that. taken with your comics
sion. would weave you a halter: and am q
justice OF the peace. BE thankful. then
that I am a mcgciful man; yet be-
abash'd."
Abash'd. indeed. was; or ut least
taken aback. TO see this holy indigna.
ton and the flush on his waxcn cheek
Like a fool l stood staggered. and won
dercd dimly where had heard that thin
voice before. In the confusion Of my
senses I heard IL say solcmnly:
The sins OF her fathers have over
taken her. as the Book of Exodus pro
claim'd: therefore Is her inheritance
wasted. and given TO the saiyr aud the
Wild ass"