Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-08-22

mediately, he said to the servant
who answered inc he'll
Il am very much upset said Philip
Dyce: Il will step outside and have a
cigar"
Mr.. Ford inclined his head. and,
drawing a chair 10 the table. pored
over the parchment.
Half an hour elapsed Philip Dyce
strolling up and down on the balcony
smoking, the old lawyer leaning his
head on his hand, lost in thought.
A servant brought lights, and few
minutes afterward announced the ar
rival of Mr. Slime
The door opened, and in slouched
Slime.
He was sober. for wonder. but
he looked a deplorable object as he
came into the handsome room, with
downcasr eyes and sinking gait.
Take him into the library" said
Mr. Ford. with palpable disgust, and
he followed, beckoning to Philip.
When they were all three in the
library. Mr. Ford locked the door.
Then he turned to Slime, who stood
lingering his hat and looking askance
from one to the other and said:
Il won't to ask you a few simple
Ques ons. You remember Sir God
frey?'
Il remember him. said Slime, with
a sharp but eyasive glance at the
white, stern face of Philip Dyce.
"Of course you do said Mr.. Ford.
DO you remember Mr.. Williams, The
coachman ?"
Il remember Williams died"
answered Slime.
Yes; he died" repeated Mr. Ford,
thoughtfully, and glancing at the
parchment that lay spread out before
him
You often saw Sir Godfrey in
this room, Sline?''
often"
DO you remember seeing him in
This room with Williams, the coach
MANI"
Slime looked askant
No" he said; then. as if sud
denly recollecting, he added. "and
yes I do, Yes. I do recollect see
ing him here, Mr.. Ford. Sir Godfrey
sent for me and him"
How do you know he sent for
him?7 asked Mr.. Ford sharply.
Il DOM know for certain that he
did, but Williams was here when
came, and he wouldn't have been here
If Sir Godfrey hadn't sent for him"
What time of the year was this
when you we're here with Williams,
the coachman?"
In the beginning of the year. 3"
answered Slime, after a moments
consideration. Somewhere about
January"
Why do you remember That so par
ticuIarlg?' asked Mr.. Ford
Because Sir Godfrey asked me and
Williams to sign paper, and VIII
Jams and me did it, amt likely to
forget that"
oh! he asked you to sign pa
per, and you remember that? What
time in the morning was it,"
III TIC AlAtA uthS IepedlGu OiIHes
II warn't in the morning" he went
on, mechanically; lit was in the
evening; itw sa close after nine
O'clock"
How do you know, Why do you
remember that?" interrupted Mr..
Ford quickly.
Slime hesitated
Because saw the post come in
as I Went up 70 the Abbey and he
comes at nine O'Clock every night
Mr.. Ford leaned back in his chair
and covered his eyes with his hands
And this was the beginning of
the year?'
Yes" said Slime, doggedly. 1T
was in January; could tell you the
very day If had my stock book
here"
Your stock book. What has that
10 do with it?" said Mr. Ford
Because marked the day in the
book with my pencil, said Slime
Why did you do that?" asked Mr..
Ford, sternly
Il did it because ii was a singu-
lar thing. and out of the way like,
for Sir Godfrey to send for me in the
evening He mostly saw me In the
morning. And besides, there was
Williams, and we two signed a paper,
and it was something uncommon, so
| made note of it like
You made a note of it, said Mr..
Ford. Have you vot the stock book
in which you marked the date?"
I've got the book" said Slime. sud
denly
And you've signed a paper" said
Mr.. Ford, Should you know your
signature if you saw it?"
Most like. said Slime.
Mr.. Ford carefully folded the
parchment, so that the signatures of
the witnesses alone were visible.
then he beckoned Slime.
Come here" he said. Look at
that and tell me if that is your
name, written by yourself?"
Slime slouched forward and bent
over the deed.
Philip Dyce stood like a statue.
with folded arms and stern sci, face.
Mr. Ford kept his hand hard and
fast on the deed
Slime stared at the names for a
moment.
That's my name as l wrote it,"
he said.