Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-02-14
again. and finished his remarks.
(Which so she are now"

(Which SO she are now"
1t was at this moment that Betty
Siggs came in from the bar with a lit
tie tray, on which stood some glasses
and jug Of water; but she no sooner
entered the room than she stopped
dead, uttered an exclamation, and let
fall the tray and its contents.
Inspector Tokely had his eyes fixed
upon Mr.. Siggs, SO that he almost
faced her as she came in; yet he could
have sworn that, in the half glance he
had Of her, she had been looking
straight over his head. Turning swift
ly, SO soon at least as he had got out
of the way of the flowing liquids, he
saw that, at the spot to which her eyes
had been directed, was window part
ly shrouded by a curtain. Looking at
Mrs. Siggs again, however, he came re-
luctantly to the conclusion that he
must have been mistaken; for that ex-
cellent woman, with much laughter at
her own carelessness, was picking up
the glasses and rearranging them on
the tray.
There's a butter-fngers for you'll
she exclaimed. Never knowed my
self to do that before. It's tryin' to do
too much at once, that's wot it IS.
Howsever, it amt no use cryin' over
split milk, or split spirits; an I'm a
keepin everybody waitin' for their
liquor
In a moment she hustled out again,
appearing to be in much better tenn
per than before--indeed, quite desir-
Gus of making herself pleasant to ev-
eryone, and propitiating the guest as
much as possible. On coming back she
was careful to a nicely about mixing
his drink, and even suggested ne
should taste it, to be sure that it was
to his liking, before she proceeded TO
mix the others Yet there was about
all her movements certain 1lutterlns
anxiety which had not been there be-
fore.
"'Pon my word, Clara" she exclain1'
ed, suddenly, Il never see such girl
in all my days! Fancy lightin' up the
gas, an never DRAWN the curtain
even; wot could you ave bin a-thlnk'
in abOut?'
She hustled across to the window
and pulled the curtain sharply across
1t; yet seemed to look out of it for a
moment, too, the inspector thought,
before doing so. She came back to
her seat-a seat which faced the win
dow-and gaily pledged the two men
with her glass. But Immediately after
ward she got up and moved toward the
door.
"Toby, old boy, l wish you'd come
and see to this ere tap for minute,
she called out: and Toby Siggs got up
heavily and followed her.
Immediately Inspector Tokely rose
also, and strolled-quite casually, aa
it seemed-across the room. Coming
to the window he said-apparently
for the benefit Of Clara-"I wonder
what sort of night it is, and Jerkeo
back the curtain again.
Outside the window, however, was
nothing but black darkness; after q
moment the inspector turned away
halt making up MS lHlnu ludI He mus
be mistaken, and resumed his seat. AT
the same moment Mr.. and Mrs Slggs
came in-evidently on the best posi-
Bile terms with each other-from the
bar.
Now. it was a curious thing that
Mrs Siggs, after one glance at the
barred window made no further re
mark about it; nor did Mr.. Siggs. Fur
Their than that, Toby Siggs suddenly
developed an extraordinary liking fol
the inspector, and a mad desire to be
convivial with him, quite out Of keep
ing with his general character. Fol
he slapped that respected man upon
the back; forced his glass upon him;
ran out into the bar to fill it himself
the moment it was empty, insisting
that it should be at his expense; and
altogether woke up wonderfully. More
than that, the inspector, after sippins
his renewed glass, pronounced it to be
mighty good stuff-but rather strong
er, he thought, than the last; however
he drank it. and it seemed to loose1
his tongue in an extraordinary fashion
Ito Be contnued.)