The Washington herald., 1906-12-12
CHAPTER XVI.
The Unexpected.

I
adored and obeyed her in quite a feudal
manner When at supper IN the servants
hall-all old and all sedate-they might
have been a company Of Quakers from
the sobriety Of their demeanor. The head
of the table was taken by the cook, and
| the foot by James the coachman. Those
two were married and were both fat.
both devoted 10 Miss Berengaria, and
both rulers Of the other servants. The
coachman swayed the little kingdom of
domestics. with his stout wife as queen.
On the very evening Miss Plantagenet
came back from Cove Castle. the serv-
ants We're enjoying a good supper, and
James was detailing the events of the
day. After this his wife narrated what
had taken place during his absence. And
at the side Of the table sat Jerry. looking
the picture Of innocence. occupied with
his bread and cheese. but taking every
thing in. The information conveyed TO
James by the cook related to several
/ tramps that had called and TO che killing
Of two fowls by a fox terrier that be
longed to a neighbor
And a nice rage the missus will be in
over Them said cook
/ You should have set Sloppy Jane on
/ the terrier" said James. our poultry
/ is prize birds and worth a dozen Of
/ them snappy dogs as bite the heels Of re-
/ spectacle folk"
/ Sloppy Jane was with me-" said a Sc
/ date housemaid- a tramp came to the
gate asking for Miss Alice, and couldn't
get him away"
What did he want with Miss Alice?"
/ demanded James, aggressively.
"Ah, what indeed said the house
maid. Il told him Miss Alice wouldn't
/ speak 10 the like Of him. But he looked
a gentleman. though he had a two days
beard and was dressed in such rags as
you never saw"
Did he go. Sarah?"
"Oh, yes, he went in a lingering sort Of
way. and I had 10 tie Jane up in case
she'd fly on him. I didn't want that"
why not2' said the coachman. dicta-
torialy. ''Tramps is tramps"
Sarah pOndered. well, cook and James
| it's this way" she said, with some hesi-
tati0n This murder of old Sir ST.
mon" jerry picked up his ears ~ this
and looked more innocent than ever.
Go on" said the cook, wondering why
Sarah stopped.
lur4 6diQ lil0 EIdNuSVh Nbir H.
And that I'll never believe" cried
James. pounding the table. "A noble
young gentleman 2ir Bernard. and
many a half-crOwn he's given me. He
never did it. and even il he did. he's dead
and gone.
Sarah drew back from the table. I
really forgot that." she whimpered- 1t
must have been his ghost" and she threw
her apron over her head.
What's that, Sarah? A ghost, There's
no such thing Whose ghostY'
Mr.. Bernards." said Sarah. looking
scared. as she removed her apron. "Oh.
10 think I should have lived 10 see a
ghost, Yes, you may all look, but that
tramp. ragged and torn, was MT. Gore.
Don't I know him as well as l know
myself?"
sarah" said James. while the cook
turned pale and Jerry listened more
eagerly than ever. you rave in a crazy
way
"Oh. well. there's no knowing" cried
Sarah. Historically, but the tramp was
Mr. Gore. and / forgot he was dead His
ghost-it must have been his ghost. No
wonder Jane wanted 10 fly at him"
Mr.. Beuard's ghost wanting TO see
Miss AliCe2" said cook Get along with
you. Sarah. He must be alive. I don't
believe all the papers say. Perhaps ne
wasn't drowned after all"
we must inquire into this" said
James, magisterially and feeling for his
glasses. "Oh. by the way"-he drew a
dirty envelope out of his pocket-"here's
something for you. young shaver" He
threw Il across TO Jerry. Il was sitting
IN the kitchen in his lOTdshp's castle and
being waited on by dark-eyed wench. !
told her OF Us here and mentioned you
She said she knew you and asked me 10
give you that. And. TO be sure, she would
know you, added James, half to himself
seeing Mrs. Moon is your grandmother,
and fine figure Of a woman. But touch
ing this here ghost"
Jerry rose from the table and retreated
to Il corner Of the warm room to read
his note. But he kept his ears open all
the time to the c0achman's investiga-
tion of Sarah's dOings with the tramp
The note was from Victoria asking Jerry
10 come over and see her. and stating
that there was a gentleman stopping at
the castle. There's something queer
about him. Jerry. as he keeps himself
very much to himself Also he knows
your whistle as you whistles to me.
which is funny. Can't you come over
and see me?@ This, with all allowance
for mis-spelling, was what Jerry deciph-
cred. Then he thrust the note into his
pocket and returned to the table.
He had an awful cough. this tramp"
sail Sarah.
Ghosts don't cough" remarked the
cook
This one did awful and he looked that
pale and thin as never was"
He went away in broad dayIight?'
asked James
It was getting dark-aboUt o'clock
maybe. was sorry for him. and
would have let him in to see Miss Alice.
he seemed so disappointed"
All. Sarah, It's a pity you didn't let
him in"
But Mr., James, you can a-bear
tramps2"
"Or ghosts?' added the cook. fearfully.
1t were no tramp and no specter."
said the coachman- Il see 1t ALL" He
looked solemnly round the company.
This was Mr.. Bernard come To see if
Miss Alice viii help him. He's alive, God
be praised!"
Amen said the cook. bowing her
head as though in church.
And if he comes again. we will let
him in and say nothing to the police"
Il should not" said Sarah; he looked
so sad and pale. Oh. dear me. and such
"A fine, handsome young gentleman he
was, to be sure"
We viii swear to be silent" said
James. solemnly, seeing as We are all |!
sure Mr.. Bernard never killed old Sir
Simon.
I'd never believe it If a jury told me-" |
said the cook
Young Jerry. swear to be silent"
"Oh. I'm fly, Mr.. James," said Jerry. |
easily; but who is Mr.. Bernard? and 1
why did he kill Sir Simon?"
He didn't, and he's the present baronet
at the Hall, young Jerry. You don't /