Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-03-24
CHAPTER Xv-(Continued.

SNaiI4He MIN, ne SnlIIed uHed54iy A4Oi'
one foot TO the other, blinked his blear-
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 feepIe
old creature, and questioned him sharp
~, as though he were talking TO SOL
der who had done wrong. On her part
Meg left the most part of the exam
iation to the Major; but she listened
with anxious looks and parted lips 10
every word which fell from the tramp 5
lips The death of the man whom she
had loved so deeply had inflicted terri
bic anguish upon her loving heart, ana
as a tribute to his memory, she was
anxious to punish his assassin. But at
present, Influenced by the views OF me
Major, she began to waver in her opin-
ion regarding the guilt of the weak
Drained creature, who stood trembling
nervously at the doorway.
What is your name, MANI" 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. 1 was brought
up in Battersea, so I took that name,
! did, not 'avin' any right to another
name"
How do you get your living?"
I 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. 1 found it"
Where 2"
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'man was kin
ed"
And why didn't you give it up TO
the police?"
4 wanted money for it. / did, an
they wouldn't give no tin to me fur
findin' it. She" pointing to Meg, is
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"
4 tell zee I found it. did," growled
Battersea, becoming FESTIVE 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. 1 was
coming up to git some food from missy
an l sowr that 'andle shinin' in the
sun. ! goes, and l looks, an | fms it
! knowed as the perlice wanted it.
cause l card talk of it dom murder
but as perlice wouldn't give me tin,
wouldn't guy it to they" added Bat
tersea, cunningly, so I keeps it for 'er
but she amt paid me yit," he conclud
ed with the whine of a mendicant
Tor 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. Undoubt-
edly the tramp was telling the truth
But here the question of the dried-uu
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 inficting death
Therefore-upon the evidence of the
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 mus,
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 turouoise
gems indented the concealed bag: Al
once the iron fang protruded from the
end of the stick, and on looking close
H. the Major at the end of the spil,e
observed an Oblong drop of greenisr
hue. The evidence of his own eyes was
enough, and Jen replaced the devil
stick upon the table. with the fun con
vfction that the bag had been files
with a fresh preparation of its origin9,
venom. This discovery-to the Major
mind-confirmed the guilt of the ne.
gress.
what is the matter?" said Meg .
she saw the Majors face grow dark
with his thought is anything wrong?'
Yes. Dido is wrong." he said. 81
always thought that black witch vss
at the bottom of everything. I am sure
of it now. I believe she killed Man
rice; but the evidence is. as vet. toe
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. l believe be found the devil
stick as he says: within the sround
OF Mrs. Dallas. mind your"
Well and what does that prove ~
Proved" retorted Jen, sharply. sim
ply that it was dropped there by that
black field, after she had killed Mau-
rice" Then. turning to Bettersea. he
resumed his examination:
You know the negress Dido. who
is in the employment of Mrs. Dallas p
he asked, mildly.
is! She knows things as amt good
fer EN-. Bout that devn-sticll es you
talks Of"
oh cried Jen. recalling Dido's de-
NAL She knows of that. does she?"
Yes, sir. she do. Arsked me bout
1T but I l1now'd muffin, I didn't
What did she say. concerning it?"
Well sir, when I brought a message
from DR.. Etwald bout that devil sticl
'What?" cried Jen, interrupting
sharply. Did DR.. Etwald know abou
It also?"
He did, sir. Leastways he arsket
me to arsk Dido bout it."
I thought as much" said Jen, in al
excited tone, Then. after pause, ht
added: "Battersea would you like fire,
quarters and plenty of food and drinl
for a week?"
I amt a fool, sir said the tramp