Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-13
CHAPTER XIII.
Hazel Speaks.

ont into the passage, and down the
stair To the side door, which found WIDE
onen. Here 1 was brought up against
Mrs. Steele, who was coming In from
the garden, with an ordinary travelling
bas In her hand, and a face as gray
40 ashes. We both recoiled at the un-
expected recontre. 1 was the hrst 10
recover my voice
"What has happened in the garden!
! said.
"Martin has been shooting at imag-
mary thieves" answered Mrs. steeie'
cooliy. 81 suppose the whole house is
aroused. He fancied that he saw tne
Blackbird, Joe Bagley. creeping out
from the servants quarters"
As she spoke, Martin himself appear
ad IN the walk, bareheaded, and with
his gun still smoking in his hand.
"By my soul, ma'am, twas no IAN
cy," he cried; II did see the JAY anu
q woman with him, under the chestnut
trees. What do you call this?" ne held
nm q dark. blue wrap, enthusiastically
feminine. 81 found 1t lying on tna
gravel. She got a scare-heard me
coming, most likely, and skipped IN
one direction, and he in another
didn't hit him-more's the pity. But
take my word for 1t, If he shows NM
se,f again in these grounds by night'
pu let a streak of moonlight into his
in'ards."
Mrs. steele shook her long, lady-hn-
ger playfully at the excited and peih-
gerent Martin.
"That wrap belongs to Jael,' she
said. "Ah, we understand your zeai
against Joe! Positively, that foolish
girl must not keep so many lovers IN
her train. nor allow the favored one 10
come here at unreasonable hours.
"The woman / saw under the chest-
nuts.~ answered Martin, stoutly, was
:, full head shorter than Jael. dom
know who owns the wrap, maam' out
7 can swear that the party as wore II
WAS about your own size, and not 1aei
at all"
Mrs Steele smiled. 1t might nave
been the uncertain light, falling through
the open door, and distorting her paie
face hut at that moment she looked
simply diabolic, and as like the eA-
teacher, Miss Dee, as two peas IN the
same pod. ...-.z,-.,.-s-s.
"A party about my size? Fie' mar.
tin. You must be dreaming. Jaei
few by me into the house not nVe
minutes ago. Come, you have given
hoth Miss Ferrers and myself great
frigbt-brought her from her bed'
dare say, and me from the plate-cioset'
where 1 was just locking up the SILVER
for the night. Here am l. running
about with the spoons in my hand.
She made a slight rattling noise WIN
the bas that she carried. why, II any
Blackbird chanced to be prowling near
he might snatch them in a moment
and Colonel Rivers holds me RESPONSE
BILE for the safety Of his silver"
Martin looked unappeased.
"I sha'n't contradict a lady, ma'am;
but I know what / saw, and I'm not
dreaming. There's something deuced-
lv queer in this business! I'd be giao
to know why Colonel Rivers doesn
arrest Joe Bagley, and charge MIN
with some Of his doings."
Mrs. Steele deigned no reply, put
took me gently by the arm, and drew
me into the house.
INV dear Miss Ferrers," she said'
kindly, you are trembling from head
70 foot. Come into the dining ROOM
and let me give you glass of wine.'
followed her mechanically, and took
the glass which she held out to me-
At a tall buffet stood Jael, gathering
up some pieces of plate. Mrs. Steele
advanced. with the blue wrap In her
extended hand.
Is this your property, Jael?" she
asked, sharply.
Yes, maam," acknowledged Jael'
with a sidelong glance at me.
You have been in the garden to-
night with Joe Bagley?"
yes, ma'am-"
Mrs. Steele gave me a nod, as mucn
as to say, II told you So" Then, with
real or assumed anger, she went on:
why will you persist in keeping
that fellow about you. girl? 1t Is ridi-
culous for you to imagine that you can
-.
him packing, and Immediately, or
shall lodge a complaint with Colonel
Rivers, and you will lose your place
Again the girls sloe-black glance
rested on me-again she answered, i'm
passively:
YES, ma'am."
1 put down the glass of wine untast-
ed.
Thank you, am better now" l said
and flew up the stair to my own room
glad that the remainder Of the house
hold had not been disturbed by Mar
tins shot. My door stood wide open
as I had left it in my sudden fright.
ran to pick up the letter and the mar
rage lines," dropped by me at the re-
port Of Martins gun. Neither was any
where to be seen. The lamp still burn
ed on the toilet table, nothing had beer
disturbed in the room; but the pre-
cious papers-the intellectually import
ant papers, wherein all my disgrace
and sorrow were set forth-these were
gone!
l searched the room with GREATNESS
haste. Had some sudden draught OF
air blown them into a corner? No
Out of the half-open window?
leaned and looked. The broad ledge
the dark walk below, were unlocked
by any CLINT of white. I wrung my
hands in horror My mothers letter
with it's dreadful revelations, might be
picked up, read by the servants-bS
the guests-possibly by Sir Griffin
Hopewood himself. Maddenine
thought!
was overwhelmed by this mysteriou:
loss! Had any person entered my
room and abstracted the papers In my
10 q