Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-05-26
CHApTER NY.-iContinued.l }

threshold of the library conducted .pN
the disguised footman. When the door
was closed behind him, and he stood
alone before those who were about 10
examine him, he shifted uneasily from
one foot to the other, blinked his hlear-
ed eyes and blushed, as with the shame
of guilt, Through the sallow darkness
of his skin. Jen, with the military IN
stinct of command fully awakened
within him, looked sternly at the feeble
old creature. and questioned him sharp-
Iy, as though he were talking to SOL
dier who had done wrong on her part
Meg left the most part of the eXaml-
iation to Hhe Major; but she listened
with anxious looks and parted lips TO
every word which fell from the tramp
lips The death of the man whom she
had loved so deeply had inflicted terri
BILE anguish upon her loving heart and.
as a tribute to his memory, she was
anxious to punish his assassin. But ut
present, influenced by the views OF the
Major she. began to waver in her opin-
lon regarding the guilt of the weak
Drained creature, who stood trembling
nervously at the doorway.
What is your name, man?' demand
ed Jen, commencing in the orthodox
manner.
"Battersea, sir. My father was black,
an my mother she was white; an
they weren't married. l was brought
up in Battersea. so l took that name
/ did, not 'avin' any right to another
name"
How do you get your living?"
Il begs!" said Battersea, candidly.
"And when I can't get muffin, steals
I am sure of that" remarked Jen,
taking the devil-stick off the table.
"And you stole this, I'll be bound"
4 didn't. l found it,
"Where?'
"At Missus Dallas place"
Jen started, and looked sharply at
the old man, who, to all appearances,
was answering his questions with all
possible candor
BE more explicit, man." he said,
sternly. What do you mean by Mrs.
Dallas place? The house or the
grounds"
THE groun's, near the gate. The
day after tn young gen'm;.n was kill
ed"
And why didn't you give it up to
the police?"
Il wanted money for it, I did, an
they wouldn't give no tin to me fur
findin' it. She" pointing to Meg, "ts
fond of pretty things, so 1 sold it her;
but she didn't pay me for it"
No. said Meg. speaking for the first
time, because I did not know if you
had come by it honestly"
Z tell zee l found it, l did," growled
Battersea, becoming restive under the
constant questioning. Found it near
the gate of Missus Dallas place"
Inside the gate" asked Jen, ''or out
side, on the road?"
Inside; jus among the grass. was
coming up to git some food from missy,
an 1 sowr that 'andle shinin' in the
sun. l goes, and l looks, an l fms it.
/ knowed as the perlice wanted it,
cause 1 card talk of it doin' murder;
but as perlice wouldn't give me tim I
wouldn't guy it to they" added Bat
tersea, cunningly, so 1 keeps it for 'er,
but she amt paid me yitns he conclud-
ed, with the whine Of mendicant.
For the moment, Major Jen did not
ask any more questions for the very
simple reason that he did not exactly
know what course to take. Undouht-
edly the tramp was telling the truth.
But here the question of the dried-up
poison occurred to Jen. If the poison
had evaporated by the lapse of time,
the devil-stick must have been innocu-
GUS and incapable of inf1icting death.
FT-t- ha of n
saturated handkerchief, the bag con-
cealed in the turquoise studded handle
must have been reflled by Dido!-
Dido. for the significant reason that
she. inheriting the traditions of her
Ashantee grandmother, alone must
have been capable of manufacturing
the deadly drug. To prove this as
sumption-a feasible one-the devil
stick was close at hand.
Jen picked it up, and slightly press
ed the handle At once the turquoise
gems indented the concealed bag; at
once the iron fang protruded from the
end Of the stick, and on looking close
Iv the Major at the end of the spike
observed an oblong drop of greenish
hue. The evidence Of his own eyes was
enough, and Jen replaced the devil
stick upon the table, with the full con-
viction that the bag had been flied
with fresh preparation Of it's original
venom. This discovery-tO the Majors
rnfnd-eonfrmed the guilt Of the ne
gress.
what is the matter?" said Meg. as
she saw the Majors face grow dark
with his thought. Is anything wrong?"
yes. Dido is wrong," he said. Il
always thought that black witch was
at the bottom Of everything. I am sure
of It now I believe she killed Mau-
rice; but the evidence is. as yet, too
slight upon which to accuse her. II
thought that she"-here the Major
checked himself, and resumed In an al
tered tone, But I must think of these
things later on. In the meantime
must conclude my examination Of this
man"
DO you think he knows everything"
NO. I believe be found the devil
stick as he says: within the ground
Of Mrs. Dallas. mind you!"
We'll, and what does that proven"
T. -. frr 81