Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-16


but you needn't lie to me this mornin'
cause it won't be healthy. l don't feel
like hearin' it., You understand that,
do you?"
Mr.. Saunders thought it time to blus-
ter little. He rose to his feet threat
eningly.
"Cap'n Hedge he said, mo man II
call me liar"
There's a precious few tnat calls
you anything else.
you're an old man, or Td'-
"Never you mind how old 1 am. A
minute ago you said l didn't look
moren forty; maybe 1 don't feel any
older either"
"If that Preston girl has told you
any
"She hasn't told me anything. She
doesn't know that know anything.
But do know. l was in the entry
upstairs at the schoolhouse for about
ten minutes last night"
Mr.. Saunders start was perceptible
this time. He stood for moment
without speaking. Then he jerked the
chair around, threw himself into II,
and said cautiously, well, what Of
itp
II come up from the house to git
Elsie home cause twas rainin'.
was told you was with her, and l
thought there was somethin' crooked
goin' on; fact Is, I had suspicion
what twas. So when I got up to the
door didn't go in right away. jest
stood outside
"Llstenin', hey! Spyin'"
"Yup. l don't think much Of folks
that listens, gin'rally speakin', but
there's times when l b'lieve in it.
When I'm foolin' with snake I'd jest
as soon hit him from behind as in
front. didn't hear much, but heard
enough to let me know that you'd been
takin' money from that girl right
along. And I think know why"
"You do. hey?"
"Yup."
Then Mr.. Saunders asked the ques-
ton that bigger rascal than he had
asked some years before. He leaned
back in his chair, took pull ut his
cigar and said sneeringly, "Well, what
are you goin' to do bout it?'
I'm goin' to stop it, and I'm goin'
to make you give the money back.
How much has she paid your"
"None of your business"
The captain rose to his feet. Mr..
Saunders sprang up also and reached
for the coal shovel, evidently expect
Ing trouble. But IL he feared a physic-
al assault his fear was groundless.
Captain Eri merely took up his coat.
Maybe it amt none Of my BUSINESS"
he said. 81 amt s'lectman nor
sheriff. But there's such things in
town, and p'raps they'll be interested.
Seems to me that I've heard that black
mailin' has got folks into states prison
afore nOw."
lis that so? Never heard that folks
that set fire to other peoples prop'ty
got there, did you? Yes, and folks
that helps 'em gifts there, too, some
times. Who was 1t hid coat q spell
agoY
It was Captain Eri's turn to start.
He hesitated moment, tossed the pea
jacket back on the settee and sat down
once more. Mr.. Saunders watched
him, grinning triumphantiy.
"Well% he said with sneer.
"a coat, you say7"
"Yes, a coat. Maybe you know who
hid it. I can guess, myself. That coat
was burned some. How do you s'pose
it got burned? And, say, who used
to wear a big white hat round these
diggin's? All, ha! Who did,?
There was no doubt about the cap
tain's start this time. He wheeled
sharply in his chair and looked at the
speaker.
"Humphw he exclaimed. "You found
that hat, did your"
"That's what I done! And where do
you think found 1t? Why, right at
the back Of my shed, where the fire
started. And there'd been a pile OF
shavin's there, too. and thered been
kerosene on 'em. Who smashed the
bottle over in the field, hey~
Captain Fri seemed to be thinking.
Web evidently set his own interpreta-
tion on this silence, for he went on,
raising his voice as he did so:
"Did you think was fool enough
not to know who Get that fret I knew
the night she burned, and when met
DR.. Palmer Jest comm from your
house and he told me how old Baxter
was took sick goin' to the fire-oh,
yes, goIn'-I went up on that bill right