Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11

, gravely. There was nothing in her face
that showed that his speech particularly in
terested her. And yet, in wide ignorance
of facts Sim had spoken words that might
some day lead to his discontinue and ruin.
For he had lied, and Mrs Sweetland knew
it.
He drank and talked on, and suggested
in his speech and ideas a man of simple
rectitude and honorable mind. His admira-
ton for Minnie he made no attempt to con-
ceal. 1t presently fired Mrs. Beer into a
ra Their personal remark.
Lord. what a couple you'd make! she
said. cycling them. do hope TO say II
my dear; for Titus here be cut out for you
an everybody be Of the same opinion. When
a mans saved enough to open a puonc
house, that mans a right to look high Tor
his partner, and he has right to the re-
spect of US females. Take the case or my
Beer. He waited, so patient as Jop' III
the critical cash was to his name IN tne
bank at Moreton. Then he Hinged over
service as gardener up to Archerton ana
lifted his eyes to me; but not afore ne
got three figures to his name An we an
know that Mr. Sim be very snug man;
II won't deny it," said Titus. Twouid
be idle to do so. / am a snug man as
young men go. The guests at Middiecott
are generous, and hve-pound notes Soon
mount up. But we mustn't talh oi f, saat
Mrs Sweetland hopes that my poor 1rleno
an her dear husband be still In the lana
of the living. An, though 1t cuts the
ground from beneath me, l hope SO TOO;
They say he's not likely to get over ms
lass bout Now there's a man famed 1or
poaching since his childhood, ana as .cieVgt
at it as any chap ever L nearo VI. IL
strikes me that he knows lot more imam
his felloW-crea lures have heard him speak.
Anyway I'm going to see him tomorrow,
if he's well enough to see me- be S lot
above a bit of sport by night stili' thousH
7 guess he's shot his last bird now, poor
chap! Put a gun in that man S hand an
he was sober in a minute, twas an III
stinct with him..
Minnie listened and said nothing she
appeared to be working on piece or req
flannel but in reality her mind and at
tention were elsewhere. She had private
reasons for close personal scrutiny Oh
Titus. and now, from under yelled mas,
observed his every acton, MS uress, iiS
speech.
from time to time He moved his right
shoulder gingerly and occasionally, forget
preston of suffering, when tWinge re-
minded him of his accident. He was clad
in an old shooting jacket and breeches, the
gift of one~of his masters guests at the
end of shooting season. One leg was
torn and the rent had been carefully drawn
together. His CATERS were fastened with
yellow horn buttons; but upon the rlght
leg button was missing. 1t had. how
ever, been replaced with a black ones
Sim smoked and finished his cider; then
he loaded his pipe again; talked ten min
uteS longer ana prepared 10 uepdlt
IT was forgetting he said: Mrs
Sweetland, at the lodge. sent special
message by me. She wants for you to
come down and take supper along with
ask me also And 1 said as 1 would do 1t
and be proud to see you home after II
agreeable to you. -.
-"I'H come gladly. l shall be at More
ton tomorrow. My fowls have beginned to
lay finely an hope to have dozen eggs
for market
AN may see you home after?'
"If you've a mind to. though there's no
need-a married woman like me-
"You'm so brave. Good nfght-good
night! See how the moon is shining on the
fog-banks. There'll come rain before morn
ing, for the winds fallen lot already"
He departed. and soon afterward Mrs.
Beer also returned to her home. Then
Minnie locked up. brought in from his ken
mel her sole companion-a great yellow
mongrel dog, loved Of Daniel-and then
locked the door.
Next she turned out from drawer In the
kitchen table piece of broken wood and
examined it very closely: 1t was the bowl
of a pipe broken roughly from the stem.
The fragment had been carved to represent
fox's mask, and upon the bottom of it
were cut in small letters ct. s. from D. s."
| Minnie Sweetland collected some of the
shreds of Mr.. Sims tobacco and compared
| 1t with that still pressed into the broken
| pipe. Thus, while the footman walked
| home we'll satisfied with the progress of
| events, and full of dreams for his future
prosperity, she. upon whom it rested had
| made a remarkable discovery. That Titus
| Sim was involved in the murder of Thorpe,
| Minnie could not guess or prove; but that
| he was implicated in the recent raid-that
| it was, in fact, Sim who had fallen in the
| quarry-it seemed impossible to doubt.
Mrs. Sweetland's first thought was to tell
her father-in-law upon the following day.
But she abandoned the idea. I'm go on
| alone" she said to herself MY Dan shall
have none to thank but me. I'll prove
| afore all the world that he told the truth;
| an maybe I'll live to bring the truth to
| light. An If there's danger in it, let the
| danger fall on me. / never was afeard of
| a human, an never will be, please God"