The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-02-14

over the way-and there can't be any
thing much thinner than that-you
won't get nothing out of me. l know
much, in fact-and what | does know
| amt a-goin' to tell"
so you defy the law, do you|'
roared Tokely, for, Betty Siggs still
keeping her hands tightly pressed
upon her ears, there vas no other way
10 make himself heard. But Betty
Siggs did not wait to hear an account
OF whatever terrors might be in store
for her; watching her opportunity
she wrenched open the door and dart
ed through into the bar, w~here-judg'
ing by a confused murmur which pres
emily sprang up of heavy rustic
tongues, leavened pretty strongly by
her own shrill voice-she Immediately
began to stir up war against Inspector
Tokely.
Nor did the inspector see her again
for some time. His meal was served
him by a very pretty black-eyed girl,
INDEPENDENTLY secretly instructed by
Mrs. Siggs-returned eyasiye answers
to his questions, and remained In the
room as little as possible. The IN
spector, having refreshed himself at
his country's expense to the very best
of his ability, sailed forth again into
the bar, with a general view, as he
would have expressed it, of keeping
an eye on things"
There was no one in the bar: but
glancing through a side door, Tokely
had a view of a very snug inner room,
where three persons were seated, IN
the glow of a small fire, very COM
fortably. One of these persons was
Mrs. Siggs herself; the second, he
b~lack-eyed damsel who had waited
upon him; and the third, a map OF
some sixty years of age, with a rtund,
Jolly. innocent face, half hidden by an
enormous gray beard and mustache,
and family illuminated by a pair OF
sleepy, good-tempered blue eyes.
This man was reading a newspaper,
following the words and sentences in
a sort of low, comfortable growl, k
the purring of a huge cat by the ire;
Mrs. Siggs was stitching away busily,
in a sharp, energetic fashion, which
denoted that her temper had been ruf-
fed; the girl was sitting with her eyes
pensively fixed on the fire and her
hands clasped in her lap.
The room appeared so very COM
Portable, and the inspector had so
clearly made up his mind to devote
the remainder Of the day to pleasure
leaving the more serious business 1
his visit until the morrow, that he adj
yanced his head a little into the room
and inquired whether he might come
in.
"You look so very cosy here. you
know" he said, land I'm quite sure
you couldn't be hard on a lonely man
who has nobody to talk to-" he added,
in an appealing tone.
Depends a good bit on what you
want to talk about" said Mrs. Siggs,
quickly, without glancing up from her
work: I'VE don't want no law ere, my
friend"
The man who was reading the paper
glanced up mildly and pushed his
chair back a little from the fire.
Them as comes in the way OF trade.
my angel" he said, as slowly and
heavily as though he were spelling the
words out of a newspaper in mis- hand,
".as a right to come where they will,
IL CO ha-r
"Oh, | dessay." interrupted Mrs.
Siggs, wrathfuIly. IVY don't you
ave the ole Noah's Ark in to tea vile
you're about it. an Am to cut the
bread and butter for 'em?"
Inspector Tokely, feeling that he
had received as much encourage
ment as he was likely TO gel. passed
into the room and sat down. After a
few moments he ventured to suggest
a little refreshment for himself and
his host-evep %delicately limiting that
Mrs. Siggs might be tempted to par
take of a glass at his expense. Mrs.
Siggs, relenting a little, passed into
the bar to get what was required; and
the visitor, feeling the necessity for
in%gratiating himself al much as pos
sible with them all. turned to the girl
your mother. l suppose, miss?" he
asked, edging a little nearer to her.
The. girl glanced at him for a mo.
ment, nodded, and looked again at the
fire.
"And a fine-looking mother. too
went on Tokely, feeling that it was
more uphill work than he had antsci
pated. "You. sir"--he turned TO the
man with the newspaper-"ought 20
be proud of such a wife and daughter
This at a venture, for he knew moth.
ing of the relationship they bore to
each other.
"w'en ! fust drawed near to Betty,
t'other side the earth. there was a
matter of nine men, one on 'em nigh
on to eighty. a-makin' eyes at 'er, an
even goin' so far as to sleep on 'er
doorstep. l polished of rs many as
could get at, and spoke words Of kind
advice Gas was throwed away on 'im)
to the old I'M, an drove 'er nigh q
'undred mile to Q a parson. An she
were then as fine a woman. or finer
than any In them parts" He laid
49, Dll -