The Washington herald., 1910-12-27
A SWARM OF BEES IN MAY
By NORMAN INNES.
Author of 1.-THE Surge of War; -s'nrson Croft
@My Lady's KISS" 1''rhe Lonely Guard &c.


Two swarms abroad; now was the time
for action.
In the distance he caught a glimpse OF
the careering figure OF his curate. heard
The melancholy rattle of the stones with
in the rusty kettle.
Mary beloved he. MARY, You go
after Mr.. MINIS and the first swarm,
and don't lose sight OF them Wen CONS
and help when we've got the others"
The two queen bees had taken almost
parallel courses. Away across country
staggered Quintus Minis, closely pur-
sued by the buxom housemaid, the cloud
OF insects all but out of sight by now.
But three fields of, Plumsett and Baker.
the groom, were following the second
swarm, with the Reverend Daniel pant
ing IN the rear a few boys had joined
the chase. and the uproar gradually died
in the distance. as the quarry made for
the Northbourne plantations.
What are you doing with that woman.
in that get-up, in my coverts?" demand
ed Squire Sparkett, peering over the
hedge into Ditton's Spinney.
we are after the bees. Mr.. Sparkett."
gasped Minis.
After what bees? There are no bees
here. You are after my pheasants. you
rascal. that's what you're afteri Don't
try 10 run away, the place is full of
man-traps. What's your name? Who are
your
The curate's answer was drowned in
the screams OF the woman at his side.
She had gone across pillow and meadow
nobly, had marked the swarm enter the
wood. but man-traps were too much for
fthe hOuSemaid's nerves
The squire was facing the unfortunate
/ curate, VINO was leaning helplessly
against tree in the last stage of ex-
haustion
My name, sir, is Minis"
"Binns?"
MINIS. I am after a swarm of the
Wears bees
Who's yickers?" demanded sparkett,
angTily.
The Vicar Of Greenleach. have fol-
lowed Mr. Prout's bees"
"Oh. Old PTOut,' exclaimed the squire.
How dare you follow MIR. Prouts beesg0
4 am his curate, be told me to-"
You are his curate, are you? And
| Prout had the audacity 10 tell you to fol-
low his bees into my coyerts. Where Is
Mr.. Prout?"
Eagerly the curate jumped at the OPP
portunity Tor shifting the weight OF the
squire's wrath upon other shoulders than
bis. He is over there, ] think, sir" said
| he. smiling aifably, and pointing to an
oak-paled fence some 90 yards distant.
Il fancy I hear his gong"
Quintus Minis must have been hard OF
hearing. There was no mistake about
the gong: it was being beaten vigorously.
and pots and pans were swelling the
! raucous din.
He is in my garden Their" screamed
the squire, growing purple with rage.
Beating a gong in my garden. Is ths
man mad. l say Send that woman home
and come with me. you"
Pushing Minis as a shield before him
through the hedge, Sparkett leaped into
the road, and AZ a brisk double made for
a gate in the oak fence with the wretch
ed curate at his heels. A moments de-
lay IN fitting the key into the lock, but
added 10 the sources passion.
Get in he cried, clutching al Minis
alpaca jacket, which rent in his grasp.
Up a graveled path he dashed down an
other, and confronted ais gardener, Jo-
seph Clegg.
What's all this uprOar. Clegg? What's
all thisz" demanded the master. What's
the meaning Of this Internal din?"
Please, sir, it's that ERE Prout-beg
pardon. sir, the Rev Prout-arter is
bees, with thar old fool Ted PIumsett and
the 'obade'0y VIII Baker, and a scum o.
young ruffians. making a mess OF the ole
place"
I'm reverend him" roared the squire.
catching sight Of an excited group upon
MS crOquet lawn. Get the grOoms. get
the keepers. get the dogs get pltchforks"
IN another moment he was upon the
lawn, slashing right and left with his
ash plant among 2 knot Of urchins that
were staring upward into the leafy depths
OF the lime tree.
The sudden vengeance immensely re-
lieved the squire; the effect his stick pro-
duced was most soothing TO his RULED
feelings. Every cut told; if he missed the
boys, he cut the curate on the calves
All eyes were turned from the thick
black cluster overhead
Good morning, Mr.. Sparkett." said a
portly, perspiring gentleman in clothes OF
clerical cut My bees are swarming.
and / took the liberty Of"
You have taken a liberty. sir" inter
rupted the wTathful squire; "a liberty
that I will not permit"
But. sir, my bees are sWarming"
ing all over my garden. And so are your
ruffianly following That is nay COM
plant II is scandal, sir, that clergy
man should drive his insects over the
countryside. Look at this, sir" cried
he, swinging Quintus Minis roughly by
the arm. What is this? Look at his
coat. at his footgear, at that outrage
upon his head Is this fitting? Is this
seemly? Is it disgrace to your cloth
and 10 my village. or is it note
The Rev. Daniel was at a loss That
the circumstances were most unfortunate
ne could not but admit. He was about
TO apologize. was racking his brains for
some means of appeasing the squire's
wrath, when suddenly the offended gen
tleman looked up.
A grOan burst from him.
You knavei" cried he. shaking his
stick in fury you would. would your
Dare 10 tamper with my timber in my
garden. Drop that saw this instant, or
I'll send for my gun"
The man-it was the wears groom,
Baker. who. greatly daring. had climbed
the tree, saw in hand. TO cut the branch
wherein the swarm had settled-looked
horror at the infuriated speaker.
Don't zee shoot squire. Don't zee
shoot" he wimpered. TN COON down
straight"
What's more, the luckless groom suited
the action TO the word, promptly and
involuntarily His hold slipped. for a
moment he struggled 10 save himself,
fell with a crash upon the branch TO
which the bees were clinging. and slid
TO the ground. alightng IN the squires
favorite bed of caiceolarias.
smothered exclamation escaped
Sparkett, the trespassers gazed awe
stricken at the damage that had been
wrought. Then an angry buzZing and
the vision Of cloud Of furious insects
scattered the group.
The squire was q braVe MN and net in